How Many Times to Read a Speech
How to Brand Reading a Speech Non Like Reading a Speech
past Andrew Dlugan
Reading a voice communication is not the recommended way to deliver a speech.
But, in that location are many occasions where you may discover yourself in exactly this situation, whether due to the circumstances of the outcome or unavoidable constraints on fourth dimension. Or, maybe you lot've got to read a speech that you haven't written!
When you must read a speech communication, are in that location ways to enhance your commitment? 2 Six Minutes readers approach this question from unlike perspectives:
Patricia McArver writes:
How should a speechwriter mark upward copy so that the speaker volition deliver the bulletin with emphasis and pauses in the right places? As a writer, you call up it'due south obvious, only that's non always the instance.
Jacob Miller asks:
Do you have whatsoever tips for annotating a spoken language? When I endeavour to read my speeches, I frequently get lost in the print, and sometimes I put the emphasis in the wrong places. Is there anything I can exercise other than the obvious — practicing more?
When is it okay to read a oral communication?
Although I strongly encourage you lot to read your speeches every bit rarely as possible, there are occasions when information technology is acceptable, or even expected. These include:
- You are speaking at a highly formal occasion (e.g. a commencement oral communication)
- You are delivering a particularly emotional speech communication (e.g. a wedding spoken communication, a eulogy)
- You are forced to read discussion-for-word by lawyers or entrada managers (e.g. a corporate argument; a political spoken language)
- A speechwriter has written your oral communication.
- Life prevented you from preparing adequately. (Don't permit this happen often… your spoken language really would become better if you prepare.)
- Within a larger speech, y'all are reading a passage from another piece of work (e.thou. a poem; a book excerpt).
- Yous are a brand new speaker, and you haven't developed the confidence yet to go without a script.
The drawbacks of reading from a script
Once y'all are committed to reading your speech (or a portion of it), it'due south helpful to consider the drawbacks so that you tin can attempt to compensate for them.
Negative effects of reading include:
- Your optics are on your folio, and not connecting with your audience.
- Your eyes are on your page, and not reading feedback from your audience.
- Your head is tipped downwards, which inhibits your vocal projection.
- You are locked into the words, not as complimentary to introduce a conversational manner.
- You risk skipping words or lines, and sounding foolish.
- Your vocal variety tends to exist limited, as y'all concentrate on simply "getting the words out" instead of worrying how they sound.
Creating the best printed speech
Whether you are writing your own speech, or writing i for someone else to deliver, there are several strategies for creating an optimal folio, including:
- Don't hand-print or write your spoken communication. I don't know a person in the world who writes or prints every bit neatly every bit Times New Roman font. Fifty-fifty slight imperfections in your penmanship brand you work harder than necessary when reading. Type it in and impress information technology out.
- Print with a large font size — larger than you would typically use. For example, I typically impress documents with 9 or x betoken font. When I take to read during a spoken communication, I make sure information technology is 12, 14, or eighteen-betoken font. Larger typography makes it easier to read, and easier to observe your identify equally you look up so back downward again.
- Print using multiple narrow columns. It'south harder to read wide columns of text (your centre is strained to "wrap" to the next line), so format it into two or iii columns.
- Employ subheadings. Y'all won't read these, of form, simply using subheadings can help to construction the voice communication on the page, and is a practiced bespeak to have an extended pause.
- Use line breaks to mark pauses, even within sentences. This technique is wonderfully explained in Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln (read the 6 Minutes review). The thought is to split up the judgement into seize with teeth-sized chunks. Between each chunk, insert a slight pause, which is marked past the line break. Skilled speakers tin can employ this technique to create a balanced cadence that overcomes some of the drawbacks of reading.
- Use ellipses to marking pauses, … or perhaps words that should exist draaawn out for outcome.
- Employ italics or bolding to marker words, phrases, or entire sentences that crave extra emphasis. Choice one style and utilise information technology consistently, so as not to confuse yourself or your speaker. I suggest non using underlining for this purpose every bit information technology will ofttimes truncate the bottoms of letters making them harder to read.
- Utilize italics or bolding or colour to marker linked words, which may be separated by several other words or sentences. Consider this a form of super-emphasis.
- Put instructional annotations (not meant to be read) in the margins. For years, I used to write "BREATHE" and "SLOW Downwardly" in ruby-red pen on my speeches.
What can you do with your body?
The printed folio acts a bit like handcuffs, restraining your gestures and locking your body position in non-optimal ways. However, there are a few things y'all tin do to improve the situation.
- Every bit much as possible, position your printed folio loftier and away from your body. (i.e. if you are using a lectern, make certain it isn't ready too low, and attempt to read from the upper part.) This volition proceed your gaze closer to your audience, and as well allow meliorate voice project.
- Don't forget nigh gestures. It's hard to incorporate them, but practise your best to avoid a completely lifeless body.
- Use expressive facial gestures while you lot read. Though information technology may seem counter-intuitive to use facial gestures fifty-fifty when you are facing downwards, forcing yourself to generate advisable facial gestures will bring your vocal variety alive.
Final words…
Minimize reading your speeches. For most settings, your commitment volition be much more effective if yous free yourself of the folio. If yous can only memorize a few sentences, then memorize your opening and closing words.
Don't take the "I didn't have time to learn information technology" excuse from yourself repeatedly. You owe information technology to yourself and to your future audiences to break free of the page.
All of these techniques above can be utilized to prepare yourself for rehearsals. Working from a well-annotated printed speech, you will find information technology easier to practice and gradually learn the speech. (Of course, you should also exist editing and revising as you rehearse.)
Your Plough: What's Your Opinion?
Do you lot have whatever tips for mark up your speech so information technology is easier to read or learn?
Source: http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/reading-your-speech/
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