Speech Delivery
Elements
An overview
Before We Begin…
What do you think makes a good
speech?
Or….
What do you think makes a bad
speech?
Content is Key but . . .
• Non-verbal Communication
[Paralanguage] plays a HUGE role in
the success or failure of a speech
• PARALANGUAGE = that which accompanies what is
said, not the message itself. In other words, it is the
way something is said and not what is said.
“You can never NOT
communicate.”
• Non-verbal communication can be transferred
intentionally OR accidentally.
• Interestingly enough, as long as verbal and nonverbal messages match or complement one
another, we tend to pay attention to the verbal
message for understanding. BUT, when the nonverbal message contradicts the verbal, we depend
heavily on the non-verbal message.
Body and Facial
Movement
What impression do you get of these people?
Body and Facial
Movement
• Body movement may convey a number of
different messages. Consider these:
o Rocking back and forth
o Slouching
o Crossed arms
o Wringing hands
• You can expect your facial expressions to affect the
judgments and attitudes of a receiver as much as,
or more than, your verbal message.
So, should you be a
statue?
• NO!
• Gestures may be used to clarify
or emphasize ideas.
• By gestures, it is meant purposeful
use of the hands, arms, shoulders,
and head.
Effective gestures are both natural and spontaneous.
Eye Contact
• Eye contact is one
of the most
important factors of
nonverbal
communication.
• Nothing will
enhance your
delivery more than
effective eye
contact with your
audience.
#1 Reason Eye Contact is
Crucial
• It lets the
listeners know
that you are
interested in
them.
Audiences are more
engaged when
they feel a
connection with the
speaker.
#2 Reason Eye Contact is
Crucial
• Allows you to receive non-verbal feedback from
your audience
o You can determine if you can gauge the effect
of your remarks.
o You will be able to detect signs of poor
understanding and signs that the listeners are
losing interest.
#3 Reason Eye Contact is
Crucial
• Effective eye contact enhances your credibility.
Speakers with the greatest eye contact are judged
by listeners as being more competent.
• [Note: When you look at your notes, remember to
drop your eyes not your head!]
Voice
• But isn’t that
verbal? No,
verbal refers to
the content of
what you are
saying.
• Voice is referring
to HOW you say
it.
What do Experts Say?
• Albert Mehrabian, an American expert on nonverbal communication, reports 93% of your
perceived attitude toward the sender and the
message is conveyed by your tone of voice and its
intensity. Your voice can draw attention to
information or indicate anger, impatience, or
nervousness.
• A good voice has three important characteristics:
quality, intelligibility/understandability,
and variety.
Intelligibility or
Understandability
• A presenter may have great content,
but if they are unable to clearly
convey that message verbally, it will
be lost.
Articulation
• Refers to the precision and clarity with
which sounds of speech are uttered.
• You should over-articulate rather than
under-articulate your speech sounds.
What sounds like over-articulation to
you will come out as crisp,
understandable words and phrases to
your listeners.
Pronunciation
• Refers to the traditional or customary utterance of
words.
• Common faults of pronunciation are to misplace
the accent, to omit sounds, to add sounds, and to
sound silent letters.
• If you are unsure how to pronounce a word, visit
www.webster.com where you can hear the correct
pronunciation for free.
• Colonel = kernel, not col-oh-nel
Um…uh…um
• Vocalized pause is
the name we give to
syllables “a,” “uh,”
“um,” and “ah” often
at the beginning of a
sentence.
• While a few vocalized
pauses are natural
and do not distract,
too many impede
the communication
process.
Stock Expressions
• Overuse of stock expressions
such as “OK,” “like,” and
“you know” should be
avoided.
Variety
• Variety is the spice of speaking.
•
•
•
•
Volume,
Pitch
Emphasis
and rate all serve to add in an
audience’s attentiveness to a speaker.
Lack of Inflection
• Speaking in a
monotone
voice can lead
to a bored
audience.
Too Quiet
• If a speaker is
too quiet, the
audience will
not be able to
hear and will
not receive the
message
Too Fast/Too Slow
• Too Fast – audience
won’t catch everything
a speaker says
• Too Slow – speaker
appears to be
unprepared or
unrehearsed