THE ART OF SPEAKING -- V

THE ART OF SPEAKING -- V

If the speaker has to turn the head off the “optimum gap” from the microphone, a slight raise of voice would compensate and keep the audience comfortable. Ignoring these basics automatically destroys “continuity” in listening. A couple of such breaks are enough to damage the attitude of listening. Any speaker desires,being heard. But, [s]he seldom accords the due priority to acoustic-based delivery of speech. Many persons have the belief that a microphone would take care of these requirements. Shouting or whispering to a microphone does not help a bit. Tuning our volume to suit the gadget is a simple and an effective tool to tap the audience. Making oft-repeated ritualistic statements does not help any one including the speaker. As far as possible a speaker should try to bring in fresh and appropriate combination of words or phrases. This would rapidly penetrate and permeate the minds of listeners. Use of such skills keeps the audience alert and ready to receive more. Trying to relate an earlier observation to another facet of the topic is the real technique that hooks the audience to the speaker. Most people enjoy the relevant continuity and feel that a wholesome picture is emerging. Therefore, it is all the more important that a speaker does not embark upon dealing with a topic in all its totality. This is a very vital point to keep in mind in the sense that, relating the varied facets and the intricacies that go with them is the honest duty of every speaker. The job carries the risk of suddenly slipping in to boredom unless it is neat and compact. Unwieldy territories can not be meaningfully handled unless several sessions are allotted. If a speaker makes a useful contribution, certainly [s]he would be availed of on every conceivable occasion. Besides, the organizers would also deem it fit to have a special seminar or symposium catering to that domain. So, a lot depends on the speaker’s ability to make the best of an occasion.                                                                                                            At this juncture, I feel it is my duty to tell that, every speaker has to cultivate very clear styles of pronunciation, subtleties of vowels and some consonants. Quite a few in the audience are thorough with these nuances and a speaker would look “raw” unless [s]he takes to the right intonation and easy paced delivery. Even well known information can be made more attractive by appropriate infusion of decent “punch” to keep the tempo intact.

Summing up:

This is an essential component any good speech. The speaker has to elegantly touch upon the territories in a simpler style, avoiding a repeat performance. [S]He should recapitulate in a manner that benefits those who came late as well as the compere to sum up the topic. If there are any standard sources that could be referred to for greater clarity and the speaker should make it public. Now-a-days people use “Power Point” presentations to ‘cover’ large segments of a topic. There is nothing wrong about it if the speaker is well equipped. The “equipment” of the speaker reveals itself the moment power supply goes off. How often a speaker keeps interacting without repeating from the “slide” is a measure of depth and familiarity of the person to the topic.

What a does a speaker need to do [if success is desired]                                                           Speakers should recognize that better brains are on other side of the podium- even  as they address the gathering

Please ensure that the topic suggested is ‘clear’ to you and do the precise home work needed thereof .Make it a habit to be punctual to the venue. The status of ‘main speaker’ accorded to you is no freedom to be a late comer to the event.

Address the audience from the podium and keep visually surveying the gathering in an orderly sequence; it  keeps the audience attentive,  DO NOT GAZE at anyone; it embarrasses that person.

Ensure that you are always audible; never murmur.  Lowering and again  raising the voice is a strategy to draw attention to a POINT or two It cannot be oft-repeated.  Should you need to quote, quote in clear tone and in a slow pace to facilitate the interested persons to note down the actual quote. Better still, say ‘I quote’ and then quote to help the cause. Whenever convenient acknowledge the source.

Please avoid vulgar eulogy of the organizers of the event in a bid to attract more opportunities from them.

Always stick to the domain of the topic if you are keen to win respect among the listeners.

Articulate all ideas in a neat language punctuated by quality expressions and clear pronunciation. 

Kindly avoid any political overtones in your talk ; lest your image of neutrality should suffer.

Vote of thanks:

Every session culminates with a vote of thanks. On many occasions it has become drab affair that people do not even wait for its completion. Thanksgiving is a duty and not a ritual as it has come to have been recognized. People handling this portfolio should do a pleasant job of recalling the most salient element of the speech instead of a mere reference to ‘sparing the valuable time’.

This session gives a compact opportunity for a neat assembling of facts. If all these are done, I am confident that the entire session would prove beneficial to all.      

                 The topic has been begun as “The Art of Speaking”. Though we have considered how to go about in a systematic way [Scientific?], the process is an art, as the maneuvers undertaken need not confine themselves to any known fetters of Science. I trust the spirit is recognized.     

                

Prof. K. Raman.