The Art of Public Speaking
If you were to tape-record one of David Letterman’s comedy routines, memorize it word for word, and stand up before your friends to recite it, would you get the same response Letterman does Not very likely. And why not Because you would not deliver the jokes as Letterman does. Of course, the jokes are basically funny. But David Letterman bring something extra to the jokes—his manner of presentation, his vocal inflections, his perfectly timed pauses, his facial expressions, his gestures. All these are part of an expert delivery.
No one expects your speech class to transform you into a multimillion-dollar talk show host. Still, this example demonstrates how important delivery can be to any public speaking situation. Even a common speech will be more effective if it is presented well, whereas a wonderfully written speech can be ruined by poor delivery.
This does not mean dazzling delivery will turn a mindless string of nonsense into a triumphant oration. You cannot make a good speech without having something to say. But having something to say is not enough. You must also know how to say it.
What Is Good Delivery
Good delivery does not call attention to itself. It conveys the speaker’s ideas clearly, interestingly, and without distracting the audience. If you mumble (含糊的说) your words, gaze out the window, or talk in a dull tone, you will not get your message across. Nor will you be effective if you show off, strike a dramatic pose, or shout in ringing tones. Most audiences prefer delivery that combines a certain degree of formality with the best attributes of good conversation—directness, facial expressiveness, and a lively sense of communication.
Speech delivery is an art, not a science. What works for one speaker may fail for another. And what succeeds with today’s audience may not with tomorrow’s. You cannot become a skilled speaker just by following a set of rules in a textbook. In the long run, there is no substitute for experience. But take heart! A textbook can give you basic pointers to get you started in the right direction.
Methods of Delivery
There are four basic methods of delivering a speech:
(1) reading from a manuscript
Certain speeches must be delivered word for word, according to a well-prepared manuscript. Examples include an engineer’s report to a professional meeting, or a president’s message to Congress. Absolute accuracy is essential. Every word of the speech will be yzed by the press, by colleagues, perhaps by enemies. Timing may also be a factor in manuscript speeches. Much of today’s political campaigning is done on radio and television. If the candidate buys a one-minute spot and pays a great deal of money for it, that one minute of speech must be just right.
(2) reciting a memorized text
Among the feats of the legendary orators, none leaves us more in awe than their practice of presenting even the longest and most complex speeches entirely from memory. Nowadays it is no longer customary to memorize any but the shortest of speeches—toasts, introductions, and the like. If you are giving a speech of this kind and want to memorize it, by all means do so. However, be sure to memorize it so thoroughly that you will be able to concentrate on communicating with the audience, not on trying to remember the words. Speakers who gaze at the ceiling or stare out the window trying to recall what they have memorized are no better off than those who read dully from a manuscript.
(3) speaking impromptu (即兴的)
An impromptu speech is delivered with little or no immediate preparation. Few people choose to speak impromptu, but sometimes it cannot be avoided. In fact, many of the speeches you give in life will be impromptu. You might be called on suddenly to "say a few words" or, in the course of a class discussion, business meeting, or committee report, want to respond to a previous speaker.
(4) speaking extemporaneously (即席的)
In popular usage, "extemporaneous" means the same as "impromptu". But technically the two are different. Unlike an impromptu speech, which is totally unexpected, an extemporaneous speech is carefully prepared and practiced in advance. In presenting the speech, the extemporaneous speaker uses only a set of brief notes or a speaking outline to jog the memory. The exact wording is chosen at the moment of delivery.
This is not as hard as it sounds. Once you have your outline and know what topics you are going to cover and in what order, you can begin to practice the speech. Every time you run through it, the wording will be slightly different. As you practice the speech over and over, the best way to present each part will emerge and stick in your mind.
The Speaker’s Voice
Whatever the characteristics of your voice, you can be sure it is unique. Because no two people are exactly the same physically, no two people have identical voices. This is why voiceprints are sometimes used in criminal trials as guides to personal identity. The human voice is produced by a complex series of steps that starts with the exhalation (呼气) of air from the lungs. As air is exhaled, it passes through the larynx (喉) to generate sound. This sound is then made louder and modified as it resonates through the throat, mouth, and nose. Finally, the sound is shaped into specific sounds by the movement of the tongue, lips, teeth, and roof of the mouth. The resulting sounds are combined to form words and sentences.
Nonverbal Communication
Posture, facial expression, gestures, eye contact—all affect the way listeners respond to a speaker. How we use these and other body motions to communication is the subject of a fascinating area of study called kinesics (举止神态的). Studies have shown that in some situations these signals account for much of the meaning communicated by speakers.
Answering Audience Questions
The question-and-answer session is a common part of public speaking, whether the occasion is a press conference, business presentation, public hearing, or classroom assignment. Depending on the situation, questioning may take place throughout the presentation, or it may be reserved until after the speaker has completed his or her remarks. In either case, an answer to a question is often the final word an audience hears and is likely to leave a lasting impression. Effective speakers recognize that the question period can be as important as the speech itself.
In addition to words, the way listeners respond to a speaker can also be affected by ______.