13. Delivering Your Speech

Question 1

Rehearsing Your Speech

Answer 1

Student speech: delivery is almost twice as important as content when Ss gave self-intro speeches and 3x as important when Ss gave persuasive speeches.

• different audiences expect different types of delivery. E.g if you are talking to above 100 ppl, they would expect a formal delivery.

Audiences believe what they see: when a person is trying to deceive someone, may speak in a higher vocal pitch, at a slower rate, and with more pronuntiation mistakes.

Question 2

Methods of Delivery

Answer 2

Manuscript Speaking

Memorized Speaking. However, it can sound stiff and overrehearsed.

Improptu Speaking: you speak informally, mantainign eye contact with the audience. Delivering a speech without advance preparation.

Extemporaneous speaking (most speech communication teachers recommend for most situations): you speak from a written or memorized general outline, but you do not have the exact wording in front of you or in memory. It is conversational.

Question 3

Characteristics of Effective Delivery

Answer 3

Body Language: audience from Japan or China prefer less flamboyant and quieter gestures. British listeners seem to prefer that the speaker stay behind a lectern and use relatively few gestures. Americans are more animated in their gestures.
The most effective GESTURES are: Natural and relaxed, definite, consistent with your message, varied, unobtrusive, coordinated with what you say, appropiate to your audience and situation.

MOVEMENT: should be done purposefully.

POSTURE: avoid slouched shoulders, shifting from foot to foot, or drooping your head.

EYE CONTACT: most listeners will think you are capable and trustworthy if you look them in the eye. Helps your audience maintain interest and remember more of your message.

VOCAL DELIVERY: Volume, Articulation, Dialect (incl. intonational pattern, vowel production, consonant production, speaking rate), Speaking with variety (to vary your pitch, rate, and pauses).

Good speakers: Have adequate volume / Articulate speech sounds clearly and distinctly / Pronounce words accurately / Have varied pitch / Vary speaking rate / Pause to emphasize ideas.

Question 4

Audience Diversity and Delivery

Answer 4

• Avoid an ethnocentric mindset.
• Consider using a less dramatic delivery style for predominantly high-context listeners: h-c places considerable emphasis on unspoken messages. E.g Japanese people.
• Try to observe spks presenting to the audience you will be speaking to (if there is a group from a different cultural background). E.g in poland even if you are told to start your presentation at 11:00, you will start it at 11:10-11:15 because of the ”academic quarter”.
• Know the code: if you make the OK gesture to a carribean, he/she can take it as an offense because it is the same as showing your middle finger to a North American or European.

Question 5

Rehearsing Your Speech: Some Final Tips

Answer 5

• Finish drafting your speech otline at least 2 days before your speech performance.
  -Rehearse your speech aloud to help determine where you will need notes to prompt yourself.
• Revise your speech paying attention to the time limit
• prepare your speaking notes.
• Rehearse your speech standing up
• Present your speech to someone
• Tape-record or videotape your speech
• Practice good delivery skills while rehearsing.