MODULE 9.

1 – Language Form, Duration of Interaction and Relationship of the Speaker towards the Audience

What is it?

Communication as a process involves many factors that contribute to the achievement of the goal of understanding
between and among the members. Among these factors are the speech context, speech act, speech style and
communicative strategy. Every member of a speaking situation especially the speaker, must always remember that these
are the basis in choosing the form of the language that willbe utilized, the length of the interaction and the kind of
relationship that he or she is going to establish towards his/her audience. Since communication occurs in varied situations,
it is therefore understood that these factors will change and every change of these will result to a new choice of language,
relationship with the audience, and the duration of interaction. A speaker must be flexible enough in adapting each
situation so that he or she can adjust towards the success of the communication.

A speaker must identify words or statements that are suitable to the situation. It could be formal or informal. For example,
you are being called by your school principal for a short talk in the office. In this situation you must be formal with the
words that you are going to utter unlike the words you are using when chatting with your friends during vacant time.
Another situation is when you meet your friend at a restaurant, and you are very happy conversing about the upcoming
movie of your favorite actor. Suddenly, your friend got a fatal accident and you are asked to deliver a eulogy during his
burial. It is understood that your speech, your words and your way of delivery are far more different from the moment you
met him in the restaurant. The laughter in the middle of the conversation cannot happen at this time and the words of
happiness cannot be uttered at this moment. Aside from the words or language used, the emotion and the attitude that a
speaker is going to portray to establish relationship with the audience must also depend on the situation. A speaker could
be very friendly, courteous, excited, bossy, passionate, angry, amused or sad. For example, a politician is very friendly
when delivering a campaign speech but is very strict when giving orders to his people. Moreover, the sample situations
mentioned beforehand require different duration of interaction. Some may take longer or short time while others simply
need an average length of time depending on the context of communication.

MODULE 9.2 – Roles and Responsibilities of a Speaker, Message, and Delivery

What is it?

The role of the speaker in every communication process is very crucial. He or she must know the kind of situation that a
communication occurs. It is always best to remember that new situation results to new roles and responsibilities of the
speaker, new message, and most of all is the new way of delivery. Among the roles and responsibilities of the speaker are
generally to research the topic, know what is going to be talked about, understand the status of the audience and their
expectations, give the intended message to the audience, and deliver it according to the purpose and situation. As a
speaker, it is also a responsibility to determine how to make the speech meaningful, valuable and actionable for the
audience. Thus, the congruence between the message and the situation is a must. The flexibility of the speaker to adapt
different speaking situations would be the key to success. For example, a politician’s campaign speech has different
message from a President who is delivering a State of the Nation Address. In a campaign speech, the message is more of
convincing the minds and hearts of the people to cast their votes in favor of the speaker while in the State of the Nation
Address, the President’s message is focused not to convince but to inform the people on the status of the country.
Consequently, these different messages would result to different way of delivery.

MODULE 10.1 – Rigors of Crafting One’s Speech: Principles of Speech Writing

What is it?

The Speech Writing Process

Just like events planning, or any other activities, writing an effective speech follows certain steps or processes. The
process for writing is not chronological or linear; rather, it is recursive. That means you have the opportunity to repeat a
writing procedure indefinitely or produce multiple drafts first before you can settle on the right one. Figure 1 shows the
schematic diagram.

The following are the components of the speech writing process.

Audience analysis entails looking into the profile of your target audience. This is done so you can tailor-fit your speech
content and delivery to your audience. The profile includes the following information.
• demography (age range, male-female ratio, educational background and affiliations or degree program taken,
nationality, economic status, academic or corporate designations)
• situation (time, venue, occasion, and size)
• psychology (values, beliefs, attitudes, preferences, cultural and racial
ideologies, and needs)

Key Points
• Knowing your audience —their general age, gender,
education level, religion, language, culture, and group
membership—is the single most important aspect of
developing your speech.
• Analyzing your audience will help you discover
information that you can use to build common ground
between you and the members of your audience.
• A key characteristic in public speaking situations is
the unequal distribution of speaking time between the
speaker and the audience. This means that the speaker
talks more, and the audience listens, often without
asking questions or responding with any feedback.

Some people may find giving a presentation to a group

of people nerve- wracking, while others enjoy the
opportunity to communicate their messages to others. For both professional and novice public speakers, however, there
are five organizational patterns that can be used when developing a speech or presentation you'll deliver to a group of
people, to give the speech structure and flow.

Logical or Topical Pattern

If you are giving a speech or presentation that contains several ideas that are interrelated in such a way that one flows
naturally to the next, the logical pattern of organization can be used. As the name implies, you'll be organizing the
information in a logical manner according to topic. This organizational pattern can also be used in a speech that discusses
several sub-topics under the banner of a primary topic – just attack them all in a logical sequence.

Chronological or Time-Sequence Pattern

When information in a speech follows a chronological sequence, then the information should likewise be organized
chronologically. For example, a speech on the development of a new technology should begin with its origin, then
continue along the same timeline as events occurred. This organizational pattern is typically used in any speech
addressing a subject from an historical perspective.

Spatial or Geographical Pattern

If you wish to evoke an image of something that has various parts, and those parts are distinguished by geography, then
organize your speech using a spatial pattern. Spatial patterns are suited for speeches about a country or city, or even a
building or organization, provided that the organization occupies a specific geographical location, such as a hospital or
university.
Causal or Cause-and-Effect Pattern
Another way of organizing a speech on a particular topic is to look at the subject in terms of cause and effect. For
example, a speech about providing foreign aid to victims of a natural disaster in another country would discuss the
disaster itself (the cause) and the impact the disaster had on the nation's people (the effect). In this example, a further
effect would be found in discussing the details of how foreign aid can help the victims.

Problem-Solution Pattern
The problem-solution organizational pattern is similar to the cause-and- effect pattern but is typically used when the
speaker is trying to persuade the audience to take a particular viewpoint. In essence, the speaker introduces a problem, and
then outlines how this problem can be solved. For example, a speech on leaving a smaller carbon footprint could begin by
detailing the problems associated with climate change. These points could then be followed by information on how these
problems have been or are being addressed, with a summation indicating a plan of action the audience can take.

Whichever organizational structure you use, it should be clear to the audience how all the topics you are covering are
related. Slides and images are a great way of showing how the various speech elements fit together, and you should be
sure to practice your speech so you're confident that all of the elements follow a logical pattern.

An outline is a hierarchical list that shows the relationship of your ideas. Experts in public speaking state that once your
outline is ready, two-thirds of your speech writing is finished. A good outline helps you see that all the ideas are in line
with your main idea or message. The elements of an outline include introduction, body, and conclusion. Write your
outline based on how you want your ideas to develop. Below are some of the suggested formats.

The body of the speech provides explanations, examples, or any details that can help you deliver your purpose and
explain the main idea of your speech.
One major consideration in developing the body of your speech is the focus or central idea. The body of your speech
should only have one central idea.
The following are some strategies to highlight your main idea.
• Present real-life or practical examples
• Show statistics
• Present comparisons
• Share ideas from the experts or practitioners

The introduction is the foundation of your speech. Here, your primary goal is to get the attention of your audience and
present the subject or main idea of your speech. Your first few words should do so. The following are some strategies.
• Use a real-life experience and connect that experience to you subject.
• Use practical examples and explain their connection to your subject.
• Start with a familiar or strong quote and then explain what it means.
• Use facts or statistics and highlight their importance to your subject.
• Tell a personal story to illustrate your point.

The conclusion restates the main idea of your speech. Furthermore, it provides a summary, emphasizes the message, and
calls for action. While the primary goal of the introduction is to get the attention of your audience, the conclusion aims to
leave the audience with a memorable statement.

The following are some strategies.

• Begin your conclusion with a restatement of your message.
• Use positive examples, encouraging words, or memorable lines from songs or
stories familiar to your audience.
• Ask a question or series of questions that can make your audience reflect or
ponder.

Editing/Revising your written speech involves correcting errors in mechanics, such as grammar, punctuation,
capitalization, unity, coherence, and others. Andrew Dlugan (2013), an award-winning public speaker, lists six power
principles for speech editing.

Edit for focus.

“So, what’s the point? What’s the message of the speech?”
Ensure that everything you have written, from introduction to conclusion, is related to your central message.
Edit for clarity.
“I don’t understand the message because the examples or supporting details were confusing.”
Make all ideas in your speech clear by arranging them in logical order (e.g., main idea first then supporting details, or
supporting details first then main idea).

Edit for concision.

“The speech was all over the place; the speaker kept talking endlessly as if no one
was listening to him/her.”
Keep your speech short, simple, and clear by eliminating unrelated stories and sentences and by using simple words.
Edit for continuity.
“The speech was too difficult to follow; I was lost in the middle.”
Keep the flow of your presentation smooth by adding transition words and phrases.

Edit for variety.

“I didn’t enjoy the speech because it was boring.”
Add spice to your speech by shifting tone and style from formal to conversational and vice-versa, moving around the
stage, or adding humor.

Edit for impact and beauty.

“There’s nothing really special about the speech.”
Make your speech memorable by using these strategies: surprise the audience, use vivid descriptive images, write well-
crafted and memorable lines, and use figures of speech.

Rehearsing gives you an opportunity to identify what works and what does not work for you and for your target audience.
Some strategies include reading your speech aloud, recording for your own analysis or for your peers or coaches to give
feedback on your delivery. The best thing to remember at this stage is: “Constant practice makes perfect.”

Some Guidelines in Speech Writing

1. Keep your words short and simple. Your speech is meant to be heard by your audience, not read.
2. Avoid jargon, acronyms, or technical words because they can confuse your audience.
3. Make your speech more personal. Use the personal pronoun “I,” but take care not to overuse it. When you need to
emphasize collectiveness with your audience, use the personal pronoun “we.”
4. Use active verbs and contractions because they add to the personal and conversational tone of your speech.
5. Be sensitive of your audience. Be very careful with your language, jokes, and nonverbal cues.
6. Use metaphors and other figures of speech to effectively convey your point.
7. Manage your time well; make sure that the speech falls under the time limit.
MODULE 10.2 – Rigors of Crafting One’s Speech: Speech Delivery

What is it?

Insights on 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.

Tongue twisters are a good way to practice your articulation. Recite each tongue twister fast and repeatedly while
maintaining precision and clarity in the spoken words.

• I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate, so don’t be late.
• Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't very
fuzzy, was he?
• I can think of six thin things, but I can think of six thick things too.

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.
Do the following exercises to help you practice modulating your voice:

Exercise 1. Say the following statements aloud by using the right pitch of voice based on the situations:
1.1 An excited husband says to his wife: “I’m now the new department manager!”
1. 2 A police officer breaks the bad news to a family: “I have some very bad news to tell you. Your son was shot last night
and he’s dead. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

Exercise 2. Say “How dare you,” varying the intensity of your voice. Say it in either manner:
2.1 Ballistically or explosively angry
2.2 In a hurt tone but still in control of your emotions Exercise 3. Recite the Panatang Makabayan at varying speeds.

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.

Developing rapport with an audience means establishing a relationship that does not interfere with the speaker’s message.
Developing rapport with an audience is governed by many factors including the appearance and reputation of the speaker,
the actions he or she makes before the audience, and ultimately the content of the message itself.