An Audience-Centered Approach – 7 th edition
Chapter 18
Speaking for
Special
Occasions and
Purposes
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Steven A. Beebe & Susan J. Beebe
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009
“Historians agree that the greatest banquet speech in history was the one by the ancient
Greek Philosopher
Socrates moments after he drank hemlock.
‘Gack,’ he said, falling face first into his chicken.
The other Greeks applauded like crazy.”
- Dave Barry

The Demand for
Special Occasion Speaking
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Many people asked to speak at events.
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Famous athletes (Michael Jordan,
Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods).
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Politicians (Rudi Giuliani, Al Gore,
Bill Clinton).
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People who act (Nicole Kidman, Susan
Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg).
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Public Speaking in the Workplace
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Organizations need skilled speakers.
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Group presentations enable team members to share results.
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Three formats:
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Symposium.
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Forum.
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Panel Discussion.
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Public Speaking in the Workplace
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Requires coordinated team effort.
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Involves members knowing task.
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Requires brainstorming when asked to solve problem.
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Works better when tasks are divided.
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Involves group outline.
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Means picking a presentation approach.
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Requires rehearsal.
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Should be audience-centered.
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Public Speaking in the Workplace
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Everyone should know purpose.
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Include effective presentational aids.
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Coordinator or moderator can help.
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Be ready to questions afterwards.
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Public Speaking in the Workplace
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Designed to inform public.
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Can strengthen alliances with public.
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Can possibly recommend new policy.
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Ceremonial Speaking
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Kairos: circumstances surrounding reasons to gather.
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All ceremonies have kairos.
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People brought together to celebrate, thank, praise or mourn.
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Ceremonial Speaking
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Provide information on speaker.
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Examples: featured speaker, or a guest of honor.
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Focus on:
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Making speaker feel welcome.
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Revealing appropriate personal information about speaker.
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Being brief and accurate.
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Ceremonial Speaking
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Brief salute for momentous occasion.
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Examples: wedding, reunion, birth, or business venture.
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Focus on:
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Keeping short.
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Providing details if appropriate.
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Following context, if impromptu toast.
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Not embarrassing others.
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Ceremonial Speaking
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Accompany presenting of award.
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Be sure to:
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Refer to occasion.
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Discuss history and significance of award.
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Describe recipient’s achievements.
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Name award recipient.
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Hide identity until last moment, if announcing result for first time.
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Ceremonial Speaking
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Officially recommend someone for candidacy.
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Be sure to:
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Refer to occasion.
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Discuss purpose and significance of office or position.
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Explain why you are best qualified for office or position.
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Save actual nomination until end.
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Ceremonial Speaking
Giving thanks for award, nomination or honor.
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Often impromptu.
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Be sure to:
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Thank others.
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Explain meaning of recognition.
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Explain larger meaning of recognition.
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Ceremonial Speaking
Sets tone for meeting or conference.
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Emphasizes importance of topic.
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Motivates listeners to learn and work more.
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Be sure to:
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Be specific.
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Give examples listeners can identify with.
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Ceremonial Speaking
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Delivered at graduation or commencement ceremony.
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Praise graduates, families & friends.
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Be sure to:
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Focus on future.
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Inspire graduates to reach for new goals.
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Ceremonial Speaking
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Celebrate past event, and/or person(s) involved.
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Somewhat informative.
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Eventually become persuasive, inspiring listeners to achieve new goals.
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Ceremonial Speaking
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Pay tribute to deceased.
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Create a bridge between living and dead.
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Be sure to:
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Mention achievements of deceased.
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Express sense of loss.
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Include personal and humorous memories.
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Help move listeners beyond sorrow.
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After-Dinner Speaking:
Using Humor Effectively
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Delivered at mealtime meetings.
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Can entertain or persuade.
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Involve humor.
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Sources of humor:
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Poke fun at yourself.
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Sometimes serious topics.
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Some topics not appropriate for humor.
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Ask: “will humor create emotional distress?”
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After-Dinner Speaking:
Using Humor Effectively
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Simpler ones are more understood.
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Try to have variety of humorous material.
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Remember details.
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After-Dinner Speaking:
Using Humor Effectively
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Plays on words:
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Pun: use of double meanings.
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Spoonerism: switch initial sounds of word.
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Malapropism: mistaken use of word sounding like intended word.
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After-Dinner Speaking:
Using Humor Effectively
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Hyperbole: exaggerates.
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Understatement: downplays an issue.
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Verbal Irony: says opposite of what you mean.
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Wit: relates incident that has unexpected ending.
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After-Dinner Speaking:
Using Humor Effectively
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Postures.
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Gestures.
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Facial expressions.
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Voice.
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