Delivering the Presentation: Mastering Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
DELIVERING THE PRESENTATION
Quote on Oratory: "A good orator is pointed and impassioned." ― Marcus T. Cicero.
Chapter Objectives:
Understand the importance of delivery to effective public speaking.
List and identify the methods of delivery.
Distinguish between verbal and nonverbal aspects of delivery.
Core Principle: Effective delivery animates words, while ineffective delivery can render them meaningless.
Speech-Making Process Review: Previous chapters covered topic selection, research, idea organization, and language choice, positioning students as critical producers of information.
Delivery as the Final Step: This chapter focuses on delivering the message, a stage often of high concern.
Impact of Prior Preparation: Adhering to text guidelines (e.g., distinguishing written vs. oral styles) and allocating sufficient time for delivery consideration significantly improves communication ability.
Goal of Delivery Style: To sound conversational.
Characteristics of Effective Delivery:
Demonstrates a desire to communicate with (not at) the audience.
Showcases enthusiasm for the topic.
Conveys confidence in the content.
Does not distract from the message in any way.
Effective Speakers: Appear natural, conversational, confident, and enthusiastic when sharing information or influencing audiences.
Chapter Focus: Importance of delivery, various methods of delivery, and techniques to enhance both verbal and nonverbal delivery.
Importance of Delivery
Credibility Communication: Delivery is paramount in communicating a speaker's credibility.
Central Tenet of Nonverbal Communication: "We cannot not communicate nonverbally."
First Impressions: From the moment a speaker approaches, nonverbal behaviors signal preparedness for the presentation. Audiences infer preparation from delivery, not just internal effort.
Consistency is Key: Actions should align with preparation time and exude confidence for a well-produced presentation, thereby enhancing speaker credibility.
Audience Focus on Delivery: Audiences, lacking access to outlines or full content, primarily concentrate on delivery.
Research Finding: A recent study revealed that peer evaluators were far more likely to comment on the strengths or weaknesses of a speaker’s delivery than on the content of the speech. This suggests it's easier to assess what is seen than what is merely heard.
Implication for Practice: Significant time should be dedicated to practicing delivery to create a positive audience impression.
Methods of Delivery
Overview: There are four primary methods of presentation delivery.
Classroom Relevance: One method is particularly suitable for classroom presentations.
The Four Methods: Impromptu, Manuscript, Memorized, and Extemporaneous.
Impromptu Speech
Definition: Speaking "off the cuff" with little to no prior preparation.
Everyday Occurrences: Common in daily life (e.g., explaining actions, giving directions, defending ideas, class discussions, casual conversations).
Strategies for Quick Preparation:
During Discussion: Listen to others to formulate your own key points, and decide on an opening and closing for your comments.
On the Spot: Jot down main ideas, plan support for each concept, take deep breaths for confidence, and maintain direct eye contact with the audience.
Audience Adaptation: Be prepared to provide impromptu explanations (e.g., defining a term if a classmate appears confused by a facial expression).
Manuscript Speech
Definition: Reading a speech word-for-word.
Appropriate Use Cases: Necessary when precision is critical and time constraints are strict (e.g., television or radio addresses).
Examples: Television newscasters use teleprompters (manuscripts) to deliver clear, concise messages within strict timeframes, skillfully making it sound conversational.
Effective Manuscript Delivery: Requires practicing aloud to ensure a natural sound. Speakers make advance decisions on pauses, word emphasis, and moments for audience engagement (eye contact).
Classroom Advice: Generally not recommended for entire class presentations as most beginning speakers struggle to sound conversational when reading. However, reading brief passages (e.g., a poem or literary excerpt) may be appropriate.
Memorized Speech
Appropriate Use Cases: Suitable for brief messages, special occasions (e.g., introducing other speakers, making a toast), or for ensuring a strong opening (attention-getter) and memorable close. Specific quotes may also be memorized for accuracy.
Rehearsal Objective: To sound natural, not recited.
Preparation: Plan emphasis on certain words and specific points to look directly at the audience.
Challenge: Concentration should be on the audience, not on recalling exact wording.
Potential Drawbacks:
Nervousness can lead to forgetting exact wording.
Audiences may perceive the speaker as talking at them rather than to them.
Not advisable for apprehensive speakers, as it often exacerbates nerves rather than alleviating them.
Extemporaneous Speech
Definition: Delivering a presentation from a prepared outline or speaking notes, rather than reading or memorizing every word.
Preferred for Classroom Presentations: Allows speakers to communicate a well-conceived and planned message effectively with an audience.
Preparation Process (Referenced from Chapter 9):
Develop a detailed preparation outline.
Practice the speech aloud multiple times.
Condense details into a speaking outline for notes during delivery.
Key Characteristic: Speakers are aware of what they plan to say but do not have it written out verbatim, facilitating better audience communication.
Benefits:
Audience Feedback and Adaptation: Enables speakers to gauge audience reactions and adjust their message dynamically (e.g., defining a confused term, adjusting volume for those in the back).
Conversational Style: Promotes a more natural, conversational tone. Audiences generally dislike being read to, as it can lead to distraction.
Natural Imperfections: Minor pauses or stumbles are natural in conversation and are typically more acceptable to audiences than unnatural, flawless reading.
Integration with other Methods: Extemporaneous speeches can incorporate elements from other delivery methods, such as memorizing an attention-getter or conclusion, reading a passage, or using impromptu communication to adapt.
Transition to Delivery Strategies
After determining what to say, the next step is considering how to say it.
The following sections will explore verbal and nonverbal delivery strategies to enhance conversational tone, credibility, and confidence.
Verbal Delivery
Objective: To enhance speaker credibility and make the message sound conversational.
Key Principle: Variety in vocal qualities.
Credibility Elements: Clear articulation and pronunciation.
Conversational Elements: Varied volume, rate, and pitch.
Articulation
Definition: The clear formation of words.
Articulators: Physical parts of the anatomy involved in word formation (e.g., mouth, tongue, teeth, hard and soft palate).
Illustrative Example: Tongue twister "A tutor who tooted the flute tried to tutor two students to toot. Said the two to the tutor, ‘Is it harder to toot or to tutor two students to toot?’" demonstrates the physical action of articulators.
"Lazy Articulators": Skipping sounds in words (e.g., "gonna" instead of "going to," "din’t" instead of "didn’t," "fishin’” instead of "fishing").
Impact on Credibility: Lazy articulation can diminish a speaker's credibility.
Practical Advice: Loosen articulators before speaking; examples include mouthwash-like swishing motions, wide jaw movements, drinking water, and practicing tongue twisters.
Pronunciation
Definition: The conventional manner in which a word is said and stressed (e.g., which syllable is strongest, which vowel sound is used).
Example: The Fred Astaire song reference "Potato and I like potahto, You like tomato and I like tomahto…" illustrates differing pronunciations.
Standardization: Each language has accepted standards for word pronunciation.
Importance for Speakers: Be vigilant for words, especially names (e.g., Max Weber pronounced as "Max Veber"), whose pronunciation may be uncertain.
Impact on Credibility: Incorrect pronunciation can negatively affect speaker credibility if noticed by the audience.
Volume
Definition: The loudness or softness of speech.
Conversational Goal: Vary volume to mimic natural conversation, where loudness changes to emphasize points or show effect.
Monotony: Speaking with a consistent volume makes delivery monotonous.
Appropriateness: Volume must be suitable for the room size and audience size.
Consequences of Inappropriate Volume: Too loud can be annoying and distracting; too soft means the message cannot be communicated.
Practice Recommendation: Practice in the actual speaking room with a classmate in the back to ensure comfortable audibility without shouting at those in front.
Rate
Definition: The speed at which a speaker talks.
Intentional Variation: Should include well-planned pauses for emphasis or effect.
Common Issue: Nervousness often causes speakers to accelerate their rate, which can be distracting.
Audience Cues: Observe the audience for signs of rapid speaking.
Relaxation Technique: Taking three deep breaths before speaking can help slow the rate.
Target Rate: Aim for approximately words per second for a comfortable, conversational pace that fits within time limits.
Audience Processing: A moderate rate allows the audience sufficient time to absorb complex information and follow the speech's organization.
Drawbacks of Slow Speaking: Can bore audiences and reduce information retention.
Research on Rate Perception: Moderate speakers are generally perceived as more intelligent, competent, confident, credible, socially attractive, and effective than slow speakers.
Pause
Function: A way to vary rate; a well-timed moment of silence can be highly impactful.
Purposeful Uses: Emphasizing a point, collecting thoughts, transitioning to a new idea.
Benefits: Demonstrates poise and confidence, enhancing speaker credibility.
Common Pitfall: Filling pauses with "umm," "ah," "you know," or "like" (filler words).
Correction Strategy: Practice in front of someone who can identify filler words; conscious replacement with silence is easier once aware of the habit.
Pitch
Definition: The highness or lowness of the voice.
Extreme Ranges: Excessively high or unnaturally low pitches can be grating to the audience. Nervousness can raise pitch.
Monotone: Speaking with an unchanging pitch, lacking inflection (Example: Ben Stein's monotone, the teacher in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off).
Inflection: Varying pitch to communicate ideas effectively.
Communicating Questions: Generally, raising pitch at the end of a statement signals a question (e.g., "Got the keys?"), differentiating it from a statement ("Got the keys!"). An episode of Friends is cited as an example of confusion caused by a lack of pitch variation in this context.
Vocal Variety
Definition: The overall variation in volume, rate, pauses, and pitch.
Advantages: Makes speakers more conversational and expressive, demonstrating communication competence.
Natural vs. Presentation Context: While naturally occurring in everyday conversation, vocal variety often stiffens during presentations due to audience presence and evaluation.
Importance of Practice: Deliberate practice is necessary to consciously vary vocal qualities and heighten audience interest in the message.
Nonverbal Delivery
Core Principle: Nonverbal actions convey meaning. If nonverbal cues contradict verbal messages, the audience is more likely to believe the nonverbal communication.
Impact on Audience: Demonstrating energy and enthusiasm nonverbally can engage and interest the audience.
Components of Nonverbal Delivery: Eye contact, facial expressions, body language (posture and gestures), and movement (use of space).
Eye Contact
Cultural Significance: In many cultures (e.g., United States), eye contact signals credibility and a speaker's care for how the message is received. However, in some contexts (e.g., certain Asian cultures), avoiding eye contact can signify respect.
Public Speaking in the U.S.: Essential for establishing a connection between speaker and audience, encouraging listening, and for the speaker to gauge audience feedback.
Purposeful Eye Contact: Not merely looking up from notes periodically, but actively observing audience reactions to adapt the message, enabling communication with rather than at the audience.
Face (Facial Expressions)
Audience Observation: Audiences constantly monitor facial expressions to ensure consistency with the verbal message.
Matching Emotion to Content: Facial expressions should align with the message's tone (e.g., excitement, seriousness, humor).
Impact: A well-timed smile or frown can amplify a message beyond words alone.
Credibility: Varying facial expressions and ensuring they match the verbal message enhances credibility.
Practice Tip: Practice in front of a mirror or a friend to verify that facial expressions accurately convey feelings about the topic.
Body
Communication of Confidence: Body language (posture and gestures) conveys how the speaker feels about the message and reflects their credibility and confidence.
Posture
Relaxation: Utilizing tension and release exercises (from the communication apprehension chapter) helps achieve a relaxed and confident appearance when approaching the speaking area.
Stance: Stand with weight evenly distributed on both legs, feet approximately shoulder-width apart, to prevent distracting swaying.
Starting Position: Begin with arms comfortably resting at the sides to signal relaxation and readiness. Raise the speaking outline when ready to commence.
Gestures
Definition: Using body movements (primarily hands/arms, but also shrugging, leg/foot movements) to reinforce an idea.
Natural Occurrence: Gesturing is a natural part of communication.
Planning and Practice: Plan gestures within the speaking outline (refer to Chapter 9). Practice is crucial to make gestures appear natural and not mechanical.
Effectiveness: Even small movements can be highly communicative. Gestures can indicate movement, direction, size, and relationships between ideas.
Distracting Gestures: Unintended or unplanned movements like nervous fidgeting, fiddling with notes, or repeated aimless hand-raising should be avoided.
Note Card Advice: Use note cards over printed pages because they are easier to handle for gesturing and do not rattle if hands are shaky. Use few, numbered, one-sided cards. Practice handling them to prevent frustration during the speech.
Movement (Use of Space)
Speaker-Audience Connection: Moving away from a podium indicates approachability and confidence.
Anxiety Reduction: Movement can help reduce anxiety by expending energy and releasing adrenaline.
Purposeful Movement: Movement should be meaningful and planned, not aimless.
Applications: Use movement for emphasis, to indicate transitions, or to manage attention before, during, and after the use of presentation aids.
Summary
Beyond Construction: Speech preparation extends far beyond constructing the presentation; delivery demands significant time and practice.
Practice Regimen: Practice alone until comfortable, then with a friend to get feedback on both verbal and nonverbal delivery elements.
Delivery Goal: To be consistent with the content and avoid any elements that detract from the message.
Self-Correction: Speakers may need others to point out distracting mannerisms they are unaware of.
Outcome Synergy: A well-written speech combined with effective delivery fosters perceptions of the speaker as a competent communicator.
Confidence Reinforcement: Perceived competence leads to increased speaker confidence, which in turn instills confidence in the audience.
Unit Conclusion: This chapter concludes the unit on message clarity, preparing students for delivering their informative speeches and for evaluating classmates' presentations (further guidance in Appendix D).
KEY TERMS
articulation
extemporaneous speech
eye contact
facial expressions
gestures
impromptu speech
inflection
manuscript speech
memorized speech
monotone
movement
nonverbal delivery
pause
pitch
posture
pronunciation
rate
verbal delivery
vocal variety