ESL Blogs

PUBLIC SPEECH

Public speaking is an art; and like any other art, it has to be learnt, both in practice and theory.  For those to say that they will never deliver a speech until they have learnt to speak, is like saying that they will never go into the water until they have learnt to swim.  One cannot learn to speak or deliver a speech when he comes to age of maturity.  Firstly if it delivered in schooling, it is well and good.  Secondly if one has to deliver a speech in public during his employment before his colleagues or if he/she is being groomed to become a politician, then they have to go to public and speak face to face with a crowd. In both cases one has to learn by practice and no amount of theory without practice will be of any avail. 

A thorough homework is to be done before going to talk on a topic in public.  The speech should always be carefully prepared beforehand.  Preparation includes collection, selection and arrangement.  First collect materials for the speech ideas, arguments, facts, illustrations (if required) bearing on the subject.  Jot the points down as the come to mind.  Then select the most appropriate, rejecting rest.  Lastly arrange the selected thoughts in an orderly and logical plan.

The written speech, however should never be learnt by heart.  Memorizing is a fatal mistake.  It turns the speech into a mere recitation; and reciting is not nearly so effective as speaking direct to the audience.  A speaker is bound hand and foot by memorizing or reciting, on the other hand he must be free to alter, omit or add as he sees his audience requires it.  Besides, there is the danger of collapse.  It the verbal memory fails, and the next sentence is forgotten, the speaker is lost and he may break down in the middle of his speech.   Let the points of the speech and the order in which they come be kept clear in the mind, the actual words will come as they are wanted.

Like I have said earlier that a prior study and preparation be made a benefit even for those who are authority on speaking and on topic.  In public speaking the management of the voice is very important.  For this self-confidence is must.  Neither too low nor too high.  Neither too slow nor too fast.  It should be in a way that the audience would have no chance but to listen.  The intonation of his voice vary according to the emotions of the thought of the topic enforcing what the speaker is meant to say.  Avoid monotony and should be well aware to maintain effective pauses.

The efficient speaker watches his audience and speak to it directly as to ‘get across’ to his hearers what he wants to say as persuasively and convincingly as possible.