Public speaking is an art; and like every other
art, it has to he learnt, both in practice and theory. For a man to say that he
will never deliver a speech until he has learnt to speak is like saying that he
will never go into the water until he has learnt to swim. One cannot learn to
speak in public without speaking in public. In both eases, one has to learn by
practice; and no amount of theory without practice will be of any avail.
A speech should always be carefully prepared
beforehand. Reparation includes collection, selection and arrangement. First,
collect materials for the speech -- ideas. Arguments facts illustration bearing
on the subject. Jot these down as they come to mind. Then select the most appropriate,
rejecting the rest. Lastly arrange the selected thoughts in an orderly and
logical plan. Without all this the speech with be badly arranged, rambling.
Dis proportioned and full of repetitions. At first it is a good thing to ‘.ire
the speech out in full; for ‘writing maketh an exact man”.
The written speech, however, should never be learnt
by heart. Memorizing is a fatal mistake.
It turns the speech into a mere recitation and reciting is not nearly as
effective as speaking direct to the audience. Then, the reciter is bound hand
and foot by his memorized words: whereas a speaker must be free to alter, omit,
or add a he sees his audience requires it. Lastly, there is the danger of
collapse. If the verbal memory fails, and the next sentence is forgotten the
speaker is lost and he may break down in the middle of his speech. Let the
points of the speech and the order in which they come be kept clear in the
mind; the actual words will come as they are wanted.
In public speaking the management of the voice is very
important. Some speakers speak too low and cannot be heard well in a large
hail. Some shout, and their voices are drowned by the echoes. Some talk so fast
that they cannot be followed; and some speak so slowly as to tire their
hearers’ patience. The speaker should speak clearly, for all to hear; he should
vary the intonation of his voice to avoid monotony and to enforce his meaning;
and he should know when to make effective pauses.
Above all, a speaker should watch his audience, and
speak to it directly, so as to “get across” to his hearers what he wants to say
as persuasively and convincingly as possible.