Public Speaking

According to Stephen Lucas (2011), author of The Art of Public Speaking, a good delivery means that you
are capable and able to present your message in a clear, coherent, and interesting way. In addition to this, he
also says: Good delivery…conveys the speaker’s ideas clearly, interestingly, and without distracting the
audience. Most audiences prefer delivery that combines a certain degree of formality with the best attributes
of good conversation—directness, spontaneity, animation, vocal and facial expressiveness, and a lively
sense of communication (p. 244).

As a student of public speaking, you should know that public speaking is not simply reading your speech or
talking about your topic. It requires making connections with your audience and presenting yourself formally
to the public. There are types of speeches according to purpose and delivery from which you can choose the
best one or the most appropriate in a given situation.
Principles of Speech Delivery

No matter how clearly and thoughtfully written a speech is, the success of a speech equally depends on its
delivery. Effective speech delivery requires learning, practice, and extra effort. There are several factors to
consider in delivering a speech effectively. In this lesson, we will focus on the following principles of speech
delivery: articulation; modulation; stage presence; facial expressions, gestures, or movements; and rapport
with the audience.

Articulation
The shaping of speech sounds (consonants and vowels) by the tongue, lips, palate, jaw, and teeth, called the
articulators, is what is referred to as articulation. It includes both the utterance of words or pronunciation, and
the clarity of speech sounds or enunciation. In delivering a speech, a speaker has to distinctly enunciate the
individual speech sounds and correctly pronounce each word so the audience will be able to understand the
words clearly. Failure to enunciate the sounds clearly and to pronounce the words correctly can lead to
misunderstanding of the intended meaning of words or sentences. To improve articulation, you can practice
by reading the individual speech sounds or the syllables of words while exaggerating or prolonging each
sound or syllable. Open your mouth fully and relax your tongue as you say each sound or syllable of a word.

Modulation
Modulating the voice or varying it in terms of pitch, power, and pace makes a speech more pleasing to the
ear and allows a speaker to convey the right emotions.
  Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of a voice. A speaker should vary the pitch to reinforce the
message. A high pitch is usually used to express lighter emotions like excitement and delight, while a
low pitch is suitable for serious emotions like sadness and sorrow. Using the same pitch can be quite
boring and monotonous for the audience.

 Power is the vocal energy or intensity exerted by a speaker. The speaker should create power or
intensity in his or her voice to emphasize points without being loud.

 Pace, also called rate, is the speed of a speaker’s utterance. Complex or important ideas are usually
said slowly (but not too slow that the audience loses concentration or becomes impatient), while light
or exciting matters are often said rapidly (but not too fast that words become slurred or unintelligible).
A speaker should use a flexible rate that will convey the message clearly and will give the audience
time to hear and understand it.

As you deliver a speech, vary the pitch and intensity of your voice as well as your pace. Proper voice
modulation makes the words stand out and allows you to be clearly heard and understood by the audience.

Stage Presence

A good public speaker does not only entail having the ability to speak eloquently, but also the ability to
command the attention of the audience. This is called stage presence. It involves the speaker’s appearance,
projection, and manner on the stage. A speaker needs to have stage presence for the audience to be willing
to listen to the speech and be interested enough to keep on listening. To achieve stage presence, you have
to take the stage confidently and deliver the speech wholeheartedly. If you wholly believe in what you are
saying, the audience will be more likely to believe in you, too.

Moreover, the way you present yourself in front of your audience is an important part in your speech. This
includes wearing appropriate clothing for your message, audience and occasion. Appropriate clothing can
complement you message.

Facial Expressions, Gestures, and Movements

In public speaking, actions are as important as the spoken words. The coordination of verbal and nonverbal
messages is essential to successfully deliver the message of the speech. Recall that facial expressions,
gestures, and movements fall under kinesics or body language. A good public speaker must use body
language, among others, that supports the verbal message.

 Facial expressions reveal the speaker’s emotions and signal to the audience the interpretation of the
given message. The audience can read if you are being funny, sarcastic, or serious through facial
cues. Make sure that your facial expressions do not contradict your verbal message.

 Gestures are purposeful movements of the head, arms, hands, and other parts of the body. A good
public speaker uses a wide variety of gestures to support and illustrate ideas. For example, using the
fingers to signal order or sequence and clenching the first to emphasize a point are purposeful
gestures. However, gripping the podium, scratching the body, and putting the hands in and out of the
pockets are distracting gestures.

 Movements, or the act of moving from one spot to another during delivery, can signal transition from
one idea to the next. A good public speaker considers the proper timing of his or her movements.
Moving toward the audience, for instance, is appropriate when asking questions, making critical
connections, or offering a revelation. On the other hand, aimless pacing back and forth and bouncing
are very distracting movements.
A good public speaker utilizes the body as a tool for illustrating and emphasizing ideas. Facial expressions,
gestures, and movements should be genuine, appropriate, well-timed, and clearly visible without being
overwhelming.

Rapport with the Audience

Building rapport means engaging the audience and connecting with them. The following are some ways you
can do to establish rapport with the audience:

Make regular eye contact. Look in the eye one member of the audience at a time. Vary your eye contact
throughout the room. Do not look down at the floor or stare at the ceiling or walls.

Speak naturally. Talk as if you are having a conversation with the audience. When delivering the speech,
make it look effortless, not overly rehearsed or robotic.

Relate with the audience. Identify with the audience by being open or sharing what you have in common with
them. Tell a personal story or an anecdote that the audience can relate with.