Public speaking

What is Public Speaking?

Public speaking is a talk given to a large gathering. It is given on various occasions. Its aim is usually to encourage, appreciate, congratulate or entertain; it is usually followed by applause from the audience.

The person in responsible positions must be good speakers as there are many occasions when they are called for addressing the audience. Being able to speak well is an asset in any profession. Speaking skill can be cultivated and developed with approximate knowledge of the formal aspects of public speaking, and with practice.

The most significant requirement for public speaking is its preparation. Even persons who have natural skill in speaking need preparation to convey a good speech.

Characteristics of Public Speaking

Characteristics of Public Speaking are:

Clarity

In the manner of an informal talk

Speech should be vivid and concrete

Makes the speech brief

Speech should be interesting

Audience-oriented

Clarity

Clarity is the first main feature of a good speech. Your speech should be successful in conveying to the audience the ideas, emotions, facts or arguments, you want to express.

In the manner of an informal talk

A good speech is closer to a personal and informal chat between two close friends. When delivering a speech, there should be an impeccable rapport between you and the audience.

Speech should be vivid and concrete

The speech should be vivid including in it concrete facts easy to perceive and visualize.

Makes the speech brief

The concentration of an average audience does not last more than twenty or 25 minutes. Hence, an ideal speech should not exceed that time, unless the audience is motivated by certain interesting facts during the speech.

Speech should be interesting

Quotations, anecdotes and humorous touches often make a speech very interesting. The quotations should be familiar and accepted by experts. Anecdotes should be novel, brief and in good taste. Humour should be typical, spontaneous and gentle.

Audience-oriented

A good speech is always audience-oriented. For delivering an audience-oriented speech, one should study:

Whether the audience is the general public or specialized?

How large is the audience?

What is the age group of listeners?

What are their social, religious, political and economic views as well as prejudices of the listeners?

What would be the response of the expected audience?

Public Speaking Techniques

Speeches are hard for most of us. The public speaking techniques can be adopted to improve the public speaking.

• Selection of the topic for speech
• Preparation of the speech
• Guidelines for the introduction of the speech
• Guidelines for organizing the body of the speech
• Conclusion remarks of the speech

Selection of the topic for speech

Your first step in formal speechmaking is to decide the topic of your presentation.

In some cases, you will be allotted a topic, normally one within your area of specialization. In fact, when you are asked to make a speech on a specified topic, it is probably to be because of your knowledge of the topic.

In your search for a suitable topic, you should be guided by three basic factors.

• The first is your background and knowledge.
• The second basic factor is the interests of your audience.
• The third basic factor is the occasion of the speech. Your selection should be justified by all three factors.

Preparation of the speech

After you have decided what to talk about, you collect the information you need for your speech.

This step may require searching through your mind for experiences or ideas, final research in a library or in company files, collecting information online, or consulting people in your own company or other companies.

Although variations are sometimes appropriate, you should commonly follow the time-honoured order of a speech: introduction, body and conclusion.

Guidelines for the introduction of the speech

The introduction of a speech has much the same goal as the introduction of a written report, to gear up the listeners (or readers) to pick up the message. But it usually has the additional goal of arousing interest.

Unless you can arouse interest at the beginning, your presentation is probable to fail. The techniques of arousing interest are limited only by the imagination.

One possibility is a human-interest story, for storytelling has a strong appeal. Humour, another possibility, is probably the most widely used technique. In addition to arousing interest, your opening should lead to the theme of your speech.

Guidelines for organizing the body of the speech

Organizing the body of your speech is much like organizing the body of a report. You take all and divide it into comparable parts. Then you take those parts and divide them. You continue to divide as far as it is practical to do so.

In speeches, nevertheless, you are more likely to use factors rather than time, place, or quantity as the basis of division as in most speeches; your presentation is likely to build around issues and questions that are subtopics of the subject. Even so, time, place, and quantity subdivisions are possibilities.

You need to stress the transitions between the divisions because, unlike the reader who can see them, the listeners may miss them if they are not emphasized adequately. Without clear transitions, you may be talking about one point and your listener may be relating those ideas to your former point.

Conclusion remarks of the speech

Like most reports, the speech normally ends by drawing a conclusion. Here you bring all that you have presented to a head and accomplish whatever goal the speech has. You should consider together with these three elements in your close:

A restatement of the subject,

A summary of the key points developed in the presentation, and

A statement of the conclusion.

Adding the speech to a climactic close—that is, making the conclusion the high point of the speech—is usually effective. Present the concluding message in strong language—in words that gain attention and will be remembered. In addition to concluding with a summary, you can give a suitable quote, use humour, and call for action.

Importance of Public Speaking

Individual

Organization

Society

Individual

When you apply for a job, the employer evaluates you on the basis of certain characteristics. Your capability to communicate is one such characteristic, and it comes across clearly in an interview. Your ability to communicate not only influences whether you are employed but it determines your progress in the job.

Employers realize that it is the ability to communicate that often separates an exceptional employee from the ordinary ones. Being able to organize your thoughts and give a public speech is another substantial determinant of your personal and professional success.

Being able to give an efficacious public speech enhances your self-esteem; you feel good about yourself.

Public Speaking Skills

Public speaking is a talk given to a large gathering whose content is light. It is given on occasions like an anniversary or an inauguration. Its purpose is usually to encourage, appreciate, congratulate or entertain; it is followed by applause from the audience.

Persons in responsible positions must be good speakers as there are many occasions when they are required to address an audience. Being able to speak is an asset in any profession.

Speaking skill can be cultivated and developed with some knowledge of the formal aspects of public speaking, and with practice. The most important requirement for public speaking is its preparation. Even persons who have

Natural skill in speaking need few preparation to deliver a good speech.

Tips for Good Public Speaking

Speeches are difficult for most of us. The techniques can be adopted to improve the public speaking.

1. Selection of the topic for speech: Your first step in formal speech making is to determine the topic of your presentation. In some cases, you will be assigned a topic, usually one within your area of specialization. In fact, when you are asked to make a speech on a specified topic, it is likely to be because of your knowledge of the topic. In some cases, your choice of topic will be determined by the purpose of your assignment, as when you are asked to welcome a group or introduce a speaker. In your search for a suitable topic, you should be guided by three basic factors. The first is your background and knowledge. The second basic factor is the interests of your audience. The third basic factor is the occasion of the speech. Your selection should be justified by all three factors.

2. Preparation of the speech: After you have decided what to talk about, you gather the information you need for your speech. This step may involve searching through your mind for experiences or ideas, concluding research in a library or in company files, gathering information online, or consulting people in your own company or other companies.

In short, you do whatever is necessary to get the information you need. When you have that information, you are ready to begin organizing your speech. Although variations are sometimes appropriate, you should usually follow the time-honored order of a speech. Introduction, body and conclusion.

 

3. Guidelines for the introduction of the speech: 

The introduction of a speech has much the same goal as the introduction of a written report: to prepare the listeners or readers to receive the message. But it usually has the additional goal of arousing interest. Unless you can arouse interest at the beginning, your presentation is likely to fail. The techniques of arousing interest are limited only by the imagination. One possibility is a human-interest story, for storytelling has strong appeal.

Humour, another possibility, is probably the most widely used technique. Other effective ways for gaining attention at the opening are by quotations and questions. In addition to arouse interest, your opening should lead into the theme of your speech.

4. Guidelines for organizing the body of the speech: Organizing the body of your speech is much like organizing the body of a report. You take the whole and divide it into comparable parts. Then you take those parts and divide them. You continue to divide as far as it is practical to do so. In speeches, however, you are more likely to use factors rather than time,

Place, or quantity as the basis of division because in most speeches, your presentation is likely to built around issues and questions that are subtopics of the subject. Even so, time, place, and quantity subdivisions are possibilities. You need to emphasize the transitions between the divisions because, unlike the reader who can see them, the listeners may miss

Them if they are not stressed adequately. Without clear transitions, you may be talking about one point and your listener may be relating those ideas to your previous point.

5. Conclusion remarks of the speech: Like most reports, the speech usually ends by drawing a conclusion. Here you bring all that you have presented to a head and achieve whatever goal the speech has. You should consider including these three elements in your close:

(1) a restatement of the subject,

(2) a summary of the key points developed in the presentation,

(3) a statement of the conclusion.

Bringing the speech to a climatic close—that is, making, the conclusion, the high point of the speech—is usually effective. Present the concluding message in strong language—in words that gain attention and will be remembered. In addition to concluding with a summary, you can give an appropriate quote, use humour, and call for action.

Importance of Public Speaking

In an organization, there is always a paucity of effective speakers who can positively speak about business. Lack of this ability makes public to see business in a negative light. Poor presentation of business managers to the outsiders can be a cause of business failure. Hence, it is through external communications that business presents its message to the public. There is a need in business for persons that can effectively present organizational viewpoint to the outsiders.

Public speaking is important in many different ways, because it encompasses so many aspects of our lives, we will consider public speaking from the standpoint of the individual, the organization, and society in which, we live.

The Individual

When you apply for a job, the employment interviewer evaluates you on the basis of certain characteristics. Your ability to communicate is one such characteristic, and it comes across clearly in an interview. Your ability to communicate not only influences whether you are hired but it determines your progress on the job.

Employers realize that it is the ability to communicate that often separates an exceptional employee from the average ones. Being able to organize your thoughts and give a public speech is another significant determinant of your personal and professional success. When you speak and others listen and respond to your comments, it affects the way you see yourself and how others see you. Being able to give an effective public speech enhances your self-esteem; you feel good about yourself.

The Organization

It has been said that an organization is only as good as the individuals who comprise it. It could also be said that an organization communicates only as effectively as do its individual members.

Business has been blamed for many of the problems facing society. Such issues as the effects of automation upon employment and discrimination in hiring must be addressed by people

Speaking for business organizations.

The energy crisis, product liability, and the use of nuclear product liability, and the use of nuclear energy represent other important problem areas. Much anti-business sentiment is due to public unawareness of the business position on such matters. There is a need in business for people who can effectively present the organizational viewpoint to the public.

The average business organization does a poor job of acquainting the public with its contributions to society.

From a communication standpoint, it does not matter how pure the motives of the organization are? What the matter is? What the public knows about such things? And how the public responds to this knowledge of a company’s activities? Unless the public is made aware of what business is doing and why, the best of intentions on the part of business will be of no avail. Only through effective external communications can business present the information that is most likely to

Result in a desirable image. One of the most important and effective formats in which to present that information is the public speech.

The Society

We live in a society in which the free expression of ideas is not merely tolerated, but encouraged. Co Issues are analyzed and point-of-views are presented in many different formats.

 Newspaper editorials, town hall meetings, and discussions (or arguments) are a few settings in which opinions are aired on those subjects about which the participants feel strongly. Our society thrives on this free expression of ideas, for it is through such interchange that balanced perspective is maintained.

When a certain point of view ceases to be expressed, however, perhaps for the lack of someone willing and able to speak out, that viewpoint no longer influences society. It is often through public speaking that ideas are presented for public evaluation. This was as true in the preliminaries to the Declaration of Independence as it is today in election campaigns at all levels.

It is as evident at an annual meeting of stockholders’ as at a monthly union local meeting. For lack of an effective speaker, a good idea may fail to get consideration. A lack of articulate opponents may result in the passage of legislation of little merit. Continuation of our free society requires willing and articulate people of every view.

Key points

1. Oral communication means spoken communication or communication through speech. A person learns to speak much before writing.

2. The Barriers or negative forces may affect the effectiveness of communication by acting upon any or all of the basic elements of communication process and sender/receiver/channel.

3. To communicate effectively, we need to overcome all the barriers and own skills to improve the existing communication abilities.

4. The two sides of an effective oral communication are listening and presenting.

5. Out of reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, the most crucial is listening.

6. Presentation means presenting something before people on some formal occasion. It is also known as ‘public speaking’.

7. Nonverbal communication, or body language, is a vital form of communication. When we interact with others, we continuously give and receive countless wordless signals.

8. All of our nonverbal behaviors—the gestures we make, the way we sit, how fast or how loud we talk, how close we stand, how much eye contact we make—send strong messages.

9. Public speaking is a talk given to a large gathering. Impromptu, extemporaneous, memorized and manuscript are modes of delivery in public speaking.

Keywords

Gestures: Gestures are the physical movements of arms, legs, hands, torso and head, made to express or help to express thought or to emphasize speech. They play a very important role in conveying meaning without using words.

Kinesics: ‘Kinesics’ is the systematic study of body language works through facial expression, eye contact, gestures, head position, body shape, posture and appearance. Body language accounts

For more than half of all communication.

Non-verbal Communication: Communication without the use of spoken or written words.

Oral Communication: Communication that involves words emanating from the mouth.

Para Language: ‘Para’ means ‘like’. Hence, ‘paralanguage ’literally means‘ like language’ and ‘paralinguistic’ is the systematic study of how a speaker verbalizes his words/speech. It is

Defined as “a type of non-verbal communication that includes articulation, pronunciation, rate, pitch, volume, pauses and other vocal qualities.

Proxemics: Proxemics’ is the study of space language. Any successful communicator makes effective use of it. Distance wise the space around us can be divided into four kinds-intimate, personal, social and public. Only very social or important people enter our intimate space.

Space Language: The space around its contents and us convey a definite meaning. Of course, it requires quite some effort on our part to arrange them meaningfully, and on the part of others to understand or interpret the meaning. In other words, it tells that how people communicate with space.

Time Language: Time language is another type of nonverbal communication. In it we communicate

With others in terms of time by showing them, in our own cultural way, what time means to us.

-Sarvesh SJB Rana

PhD in Political Science

& Honors in Literature