Archive for the 'Public Speaking' Category

Here are the solutions for the problems encountered in public speech.

These solutions increase the quality of speech and help in delivering a great speech.

Volume:

Solution: Volume depends upon the extension and regularity of expiration, energy and resonance combined in a given tone.

The voice grows with use, and daily practice is therefore necessary to acquire roundness and volume. The abdominal muscles should be developed by daily respiratory and physical exercises.

• Charge, Chester, charge!
• Oyez! oyez!
  All persons having business to do with the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern district of New York draw near give your attention and you shall be heard.
• The following should be combined with the same vowel sounds, first in loud whisper, then in loud voice, exhausting the breath on each sound: P, t, d, v, k, bl, br, ch, dr, dw, fl, fr, gl, gr, hi, kr, pi, pr, si, sm, sn, sp, sq, sk, sh, st, sw, tr, th, tw, wh.
• Katherine, Queen of England, come into the Court.
• In calling tone repeat:
• Ship ahoy!
• Thou, too, sail on, 0 Ship of State.

The most common problems for public speakers are vocal defects. The most common vocal defects are breathiness, throatiness, and nasality.

If you practice the following exercises will remedy these defects.

Breathiness:

Problem: This is caused by allowing breath to escape un- or non-vocalized.

Solution: The remedy lies in applying to the vocal cords just the quantity of breath required to produce a given tone.

• Inhale deeply. Exhale on singing ah. Apply the air very gently to the vocal cords, hold back the unused breath and aim to increase the purity of tone.
• Count from one to ten in a loud whisper, inhaling after each number. Repeat with half breath and half voice. Repeat with pure tone. Project into the distance.
• Practice the following in pure, clear-cut voice: hup, he, ha, haw, hah,
• Ho, hoo.

Throatiness:

Problem: This defect arises from smallness of throat or rigidity.

Solution: Relax all throat muscles and practice exercises for depressing the root of the tongue, raising the soft palate and lowering the larynx.

• Practice the various tongue exercises, keeping the lips perfectly still.

Mis-speakings are the words that often not done right. Here is a list of words:

• Make clean our hearts.
• A big black bug bit a big black bear.
• Ceaseth, approacheth, and rejoiceth.
• Little ache, little lake.
• The old man, angered at the raillery of this question, and at the cherubic smile of superiority with which it was asked, launched forth in an abjuratory tirade, insisting that he did not regard himself sacrificable to the juggernaut of orthoepy.
• Bring me some ice, not some mice.
• The clumsy kitchen clock click clicked.
• What whim led White Whitney to whittle, whistle, whisper and whimper near the wharf, where a floundering whale might wheel and whirl?
• A blue trip slip for an eight-cent fare, A buff trip slip for a six-cent fare, A pink trip slip for a three-cent fare.
• Nothing daunted, the young man continued: “You said, ‘According to precedent it was obligatory upon him to plait his hair as his Nomad parents had done, but instead he, precedent to stepping under the mistletoe, indulged in fulsome praise of himself, hoping thereby to induce a favorite girl to join him. But she, being averse to undergo an ordeal so embarrassing, refused; whereupon his features became immobile with chagrin/ this is a verbatim quotation. You sometimes consult a dictionary? “

There should be sudden recoil of the lips in ip, of the tip of the tongue in it, and of the back of the tongue in ih.

Repeat rapidly. Also with ib, id and ig.

For elasticity:

Jaw:

• Relax jaw. Move from side to side and forward and back.
• Repeat while singing ah.

Lips:

• Open the mouth and bring the lips together quickly and firmly, aiming at equal pressure.

With lips tightly closed, compress the breath against lips and cheeks, resisting with these muscles and finally forcing the lips open.

Tongue:

Open the mouth, keeping the tongue flat, with tip lightly touching the lower teeth. Without arching, the tongue thrust it straight forward and draw it back as far as possible several times.

Again, open the mouth wide, and in dotting fashion continue with the tongue along the upper and lower lips.
Reverse.

• Fold back tip of tongue with the aid of the teeth.
• Groove tongue.
• Make lapping movement of the tongue.
• To depress the base of the tongue, carry the point of the tongue forward between the teeth; then draw the whole tongue vigorously backward, as if trying to swallow it.

The practice of sounds is very important for effective speech.

You have to pay close attention for some types of sounds.

Here are some tips.

• You can enhance your skills by daily practice and focusing specifically upon related articulation exercises and drills. These are best done out loud.
• You have to pay close attention to how you form, articulate and say or enunciate words, phrases and sounds. Phrase well and audibly.
• Certain combinations of letters might be more problematic than others, or you might not think you have a problem at all. It is still worthwhile to practice these with frequency.

Exercise:

• Read the following sound very slowly.
• Being well spoken, fluent and audible is critical for/in public speaking.
• Harness the flexibility of your vocal instruments and organs. Especially your lips and tongue.

List of elementary sounds:

Public speaking can be very stressful. It takes a lot of preparation, discipline and practice to make an effective speech.

Here are some tips which help you to give a quality speech.

• Make simplicity count and if it is your first attempt, really keep it to the basics
• Before going to give the speech, it is good to practice giving your speech – to friends, family, the dog, whoever will listen. The more you rehears earlier, the more comfortable you will be.
• Have gusto – but not arrogance! Humility goes a long way to endear.
• Always be true to yourself, authentic and at your personal best at all times.
• Foster and inspire focus and concentration (for yourself and for your audience)
• Use all nuances, tones and modalities of your voice range and ensure that everyone in the room can actually hear you.
• If you do choose to bow, do so from the waist, not with your head or from the neck.
• Step up and take some risks – embrace the opportunity, potential and make it a chance of a lifetime!
• Be inspired and creative, individualistic and have fun with it (topic, style and opportunity)

There are 5 things you have to keep in mind while giving speech. They are

Who is listening to your speech - your audience?

• You need to at least know who is and will be in the room.
• Ask beforehand about whom the target/actual audience are made up of. Knowing a little about their preferences will also serve you well
• Ask and answer the following questions before you even start
• What will be the subject?
• Who will be there?
• What will be the spirit of the audience?
• How long should you speak?
• What is expected of you as the speaker?
• Will there be any other speakers?
• You will be able to step out and onto any stage with confidence. [Improve Self Confidence]
• Orient yourself and be willing and capable of adapting when required.

How to start? - The beginning of your speech - your introduction

• There is truth to the phrase first impressions last. Take a good solid stance, relaxed posture and be modest.
• Adapt, adjust and emphasize, amplify, or change course as required to address the needs and expectations of your listeners and audience.