3: Delivery

Practicing delivery

1) Go through your preparation outline aloud to check how what you have written translates into spoken discourse. 2) Prepare your speaking outline. 3) Practice the speech aloud several times using only the speaking outline. Practice at least couple of days, but preferably more. 4) Begin to polish and refine your delivery. Practice the speech in front of a mirror to check for eye contact and distracting mannerisms. 5) Give your speech a dress rehearsal under conditions as close as possible to those that you will face in class.

Speaking Extemporaneously:

A carefully prepared and rehearsed speech that is presented from a brief set of notes. Used most of the time/for everything. Strengths: It is a mix of the other types of speeches, and it is the easiest to recover. Weaknesses: none.

Monotone:

A constant pitch or tone of voice.

Pause:

A momentary break in the vocal delivery of a speech.

Vocalized Pause:

A pause that occurs when a speaker fills the silence between words with vocalizations such as "uh" and "um."

Speaking Impromptu:

A speech delivered with little or no immediate preparation. Most stressful method and usually includes horrible nonverbal communication. Used during class discussions, business meetings, or committee reports to respond to a previous speaker. Strengths: You are not expected to do it well. Weaknesses: You have few seconds to prepare yourself, so you might not know what you are saying next after each phrase.

Reading from a manuscript:

A speech that is written out word for word and read to the audience. They are used when the speaker is expected to say certain/specific things; for example, the Pope or a president. Strengths: You have in front of you all the words that you are expected to say, so you don't have to memorize or improvise. Weaknesses: You might sound artificial because you read to your audience instead of talk to it.

Reciting from memory:

A speech that you have to memorize word by word. Hardest and oldest method. Used when you have to give the same speech over and over again or when it is short; for example, toasts, congratulatory remarks, acceptance, introductions, etc. Weaknesses: Takes forever to memorize it, it is hard to remember, and it is hard to recover if you make a mistake.

Dialect:

A variety of a language distinguished by variations of accent, grammar, or vocabulary.

Vocal Variety:

Changes in a speaker's rate, pitch, and volume that give the voice variety and expressiveness.

Inflections:

Changes in the pitch or tone of a speaker's voice.

What is good delivery?

It is an art, not a science.

Methods of delivery

Reading from a manuscript Reciting from memory Speaking Impromptu Speaking Extemporaneously

Pronunciation:

The accepted standard of sound and rhythm for words in a given language.

Pitch:

The highness or lowness of the speaker's voice.

Volume:

The loudness or softness of the speaker's voice.

Articulation:

The physical production of particular speech sounds.

Rate:

The speed at which a person speaks.