Preparing to Deliver a Speech

Posture

It should reflect the formality or informality of the occasion. For instance, if you are speaking to a large crowd of people, you should not lazily slump over the lectern. This will communicate disinterest on your part. Stand erect, shoulders level, feet apart, back straight. Be alert but not rigid. Rigidity will give the impression that you are nervous or unfeeling

Interaction

Acting upon each other

Feedback

Verbal or nonverbal responses to a message

Speaking rate

When determining the appropriate speaking rate (i.e., words spoken per minute), a speaker should pay attention to feedback from the audience. If the audience appears confused, the speaker should slow down. If the speech or a portion of the speech is meant to motivate, the speaker should quicken the pace to reflect urgency and excitement

Volume

Whether or not a microphone is present, speakers should speak loud enough so that the audience at the back of the room can hear their every word. Speaking volume is controlled by the amount of air that a person takes into his or her lungs. Speakers who have trouble projecting their voices should breathe more deeply when speaking. Forceful, controlled voices demand attention; quiet, soft ones often don't. It's important to command the attention of an audience through projecting the voice enough to carry, but not so much that it deafens people in the front row

There are four main ways to deliver a speech. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The four methods are:

1. Extemporaneous 2. Impromptu 3. Manuscript 4. Memorized

Guidelines for speech delivery

1. Language style should be oral 2. Volume should be appropriate 3. Vocal pitch should be varied 4. The speaking rate should be appropriate 5. Movement should be purposeful 6. Posture should be natural 7. Facial expressions should be consistent with the message 8. Eye contact should keep audience attention 9. Physical appearance should be winning

Memorized

A memorized speech is a full-text speech that has been committed to memory and repeated to an audience word-for-word. Although memorized speeches tend to sound awkward and insincere, they are useful in particular settings. For instance, a religious service such as a funeral or a wedding might require the minister to repeat a portion of the liturgy from memory. The bride and groom may want to memorize their vows rather than use notes at the altar. Memorized speeches, like manuscript reading, lack spontaneity. Although a speaker is able to maintain eye contact with the audience, an ability to respond to the audience's feedback is restricted. Memorized speeches, in particular, allow for situations in which portions of the text are omitted. Because the speaker's manuscript is in his or her head, a word, a sentence, or even a paragraph may be forgotten, throwing the speaker off-track. To effectively deliver a memorized speech, a speaker needs to know the speech well enough to be able to present it in an interesting manner

Facial expressions

A person's face is capable of generating thousands of distinct expressions and is an effective tool in communicating emotion to an audience. If a speaker smiles while delivering a speech on a challenging subject, most members of the audience will listen more carefully. Likewise, if a speaker frowns or has a blank look on his or her face, the message, no matter how exciting or interesting its content may be, will be ineffective. Effective facial expressions are consistent with the message

Extemporaneous

An extemporaneous speech is prepared and practiced in advance; however, its precise wording is not memorized. A speaker will research the topic, gather supporting material, prepare an outline, and rehearse before delivering the message. However, the exact expression of ideas and words spoken are not predetermined. The major advantage of delivering a speech extemporaneously is that a speaker can be spontaneous. Because an extemporaneous speech is not memorized, the speaker has the freedom to adjust the delivery when necessary. For instance, if the audience does not laugh at the speaker's jokes, he or she can skip over any supporting material that is similar. Conversely, when an audience responds favorably to a point, the speaker can enlarge upon the point. Aside from preparation time, the main disadvantage of extemporaneous speaking is that it allows the speaker to commit serious errors. If a speaker doesn't have the speech memorized or typed out, he or she runs the risk of forgetting key ideas or committing grammatical errors. However, a sufficient amount of practice can help a speaker avoid these problems. Preparation time can be more than with other methods because a speaker must know more about the subject to be able to enlarge and reduce the amount of time spent on specific points. Teachers generally use this method.

Movement

If a speaker is more comfortable moving than standing behind a lectern, then he or she should do so. However, each movement should be purposeful. For example, if you want to move around a stage, you might walk to one side of the stage to make eye contact with that side of the room, then go to the other and do the same. Gestures help keep an audience attentive and should go with the message being given. For example, if you are speaking to your audience about an "open society," as you say "open," it would be appropriate to open up your hands toward the audience. When speaking to a large group of people where there is more distance between the speaker and a majority of the audience, it is appropriate to use gestures that are dramatic or bold. However, when speaking to a small group of people, dramatic gestures are not necessary

Impromptu

Impromptu speaking is performed without practice or preparation. Examples of impromptu speeches include responding to a question in class, voicing a concern at a town meeting, and explaining a difficult or complicated procedure without preparation. Advantages of "speaking off the cuff," as impromptu speaking is commonly known, include a high level of interaction between a speaker and the audience. Because there are no notes to read, a speaker can maintain eye contact with the audience. This enables him or her to respond immediately in an informal manner to any feedback. Another advantage of an impromptu speech is that it doesn't take any direct time to prepare. However, a speaker must have a strong background in the subject to be effective. Impromptu speeches have several disadvantages. When speaking "off the cuff," it is easy to get off track. Therefore, if you are asked to give an improvised speech, you need to organize your thoughts before you speak. You should also be as brief as possible. If you have the time, you should choose an organizational pattern that would best suit the situation. Another disadvantage of impromptu speeches is that they often lack proper research. If a speaker is asked to answer a question that requires more knowledge and insight than he or she has, an honest response of "I don't know" is appropriate

Eye contact

Many speech teachers encourage their students to stare at a fixed object or a point just above the heads of their listeners in order to help them deal with apprehension. While this may calm the speaker, the technique reduces the effectiveness of the speech. Looking at the audience has several advantages. Maintaining eye contact with an audience conveys sincerity and interest. It also encourages listeners to pay close attention. When a speaker sees that the audience is listening, it should have a stronger calming effect on the speaker than staring at a fixed point. A speaker should always look intently and sincerely at the audience

Physical appearance

Studies show that a speaker's physical appearance does have a significant effect on how an audience perceives him or her. A speaker's dress should reflect the event and show respect toward the audience. Dressing in keeping with your listeners brings about respect from the audience. For instance, if you are speaking to a group of college students, you might want to wear casual attire such as slacks and a sweater instead of a suit. If most students are dressed in shorts and t-shirts, a suit would communicate inflexibility and aloofness. However, dressing down too much shows a lack of professionalism. Speakers should ask coordinators of the speaking event about the dress of the audience and then dress nicely within that range of attire

Manuscript

The manuscript method involves reading the speech from a prepared text. Speeches that use a manuscript are often necessary. For example, the president of the United States reads from a manuscript on a teleprompter when giving the State of the Union Address. This decreases the chances of committing a grammatical error and making a statement that could have serious consequences. While reading from a manuscript can provide some obvious safeguards, it has some major disadvantages. Manuscript speeches often sound "canned" and insincere. People often read in a more monotone voice when reading a manuscript. A speaker may be limited in his or her ability to respond spontaneously to an audience unless questions are taken afterward. The biggest disadvantage is the inability to change direction according to audience response

Language style

The style of language used for writing is much different from the style used in informal or formal verbal communication. When speaking publicly, language should be personal and active. We need to speak to listeners, not read to them. If they miss something that was said, they can't go back and read it. Therefore, sentences should be short, easy to understand, and colored with lively, memorable phrases. Language should be formal, yet conversational. Speakers should avoid using slang words and jargon that might not be understood by some listeners. Words should be articulated in a clear and distinct manner, avoiding regional terms. Avoid, for instance, the tendency to leave off parts of words. (Doing is often pronounced "doin'," and business is often pronounced "biznis.") Communication is substantially enhanced when words are correctly spoken. The same rules apply to formal situations outside of speeches, such as job interviews and meeting people in a formal setting

Vocal pitch

The vibration of vocal cords determines vocal pitch. A female's vocal cords tend to vibrate at a higher rate than a male's and therefore create a higher pitch. However, everyone can alter his or her vocal pitch to some extent. To keep audiences interested, speakers should change the pitch of their voices to reflect meaning. Monotone speakers (speakers that do not alter their vocal pitch) will put audiences to sleep. Speakers who vary pitch and tone according to the message draw the attention of listeners