PRINCIPLES OF SPEECH

DELIVERY
 ARTICULATION

 This refers to the speaker’s skill in pronouncing the words of the speech
since clear diction effectively transmits the message. This also mean the act of
vocal expression; utterance or enunciation. The first act of speech is breathing, in
which you get air into a storage chamber; second is phonation, the process by
which you force air into vibration by the action of the vocal folds; third,
resonation, in which your mouth, nose and throat cavities amplify the sound so
you can hear it; and finally there is articulation, in which you modify the sound by
movement of the teeth, tongue, and lips into recognizable patterns.
 MODULATION
 This refers to the speaker’s ability to adjust or manipulate the resonance and
timbre of one’s voice. This also means the fine-tuning of the pitch or tone of
voice that helps the audience clearly hear and understand the lecture,
presentation, and speech delivered by a speaker. Proper modulation gives life to
a talk, stirs emotions, and motivates to action. Lack of modulation may give the
impression that you have no real interest in your subject.
 Always convey your message with the variation in the pitch and tempo. Never deliver your speech in a
monotoneas it will not only bore but also send your audience to sleep.
 Speak at a rate so that your audience can understand you because fast delivery betrays a lack of
confidence.
 Speak normally at about 125 to 150 words per minute. Check your speed and try to bring it within
this range.
 Pronounce words properly, putting stresses at the right syllables.
 Speak loud enough so that everyone in the audience can hear you clearly.
 Pause for a moment in between sentences to control your speed and approach better.
 Refrain from vocalized pauses and nasalization such as 'er', 'ah', 'unh', 'umm', etc.
 Take care that you do not repeatedly use such phrases as 'you see', 'I mean', 'What I meant,'
'Understand?, 'Haveyou understood,' 'Clear?', 'Is it clear?', 'Was it clear?', etc.
 STAGE PRESENCE
 This refers to the speaker’s ability to “own” the stage, filling it with one’s personality and projecting it to the audience
or group of listeners. This also means the sum total of all the qualities that keep the audienceengaged while delivering a
speech.

 Appearance and comfort is our first sphere. You must be dressed to the occasion.
 Body posture and attitude is the second sphere. Right from the moment you step on that stage your body
languagematters. The way you stand, your speaking posture, use of hand gestures etc. everything counts and hence
must bewell noted and taken care of.

 The third sphere is the tone of the speech. You can play with different styles, as is suitable to the topic of your
speech.Voice modulation, use of examples, a peck of humor, etc. all this is important in engaging the audience.

 The third sphere is the tone of the speech. You can play with different styles, as is suitable to the topic of your
speech.Voice modulation, use of examples, a peck of humor, etc. all this is important in engaging the audience.
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, GESTURES

and MOVEMENT
 FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
 Facial Expresions are meaningful visible symbols of speech. This reflects the speaker’s thinking and emotional attitudes.
 Two Principles
a. manifest facial expression naturally by freeing yourself of inhibition
b. avoid planning or rehearsing facial expressions in advance for they should be directed by the meaning of thewords being
conveyed
 Common Sins in the Use of Facial Expressions
a. Poker face is a product of nervous tension which inhibits facial expression.
b. Mugger is an exaggerated facial grimace which distracts the attention of the audience for it calls to itself not to
the message of the speech
c. Facial contortionist is a way whereby the speaker release pent-up tension through random activity of the facial
muscles
MOVEMENTS / BODILY ACTIONS
 Movements/Bodily Actions are supplements to good speech with its being transformed into actual replacement for the
audible code. Its uses include: (a) adjusting to the speaking situation; (b) securing and maintaining interest and attention; (c)
clarifying meaning and (d) attaining emphasis in speech.

 Common Sins in the Use of Movements

a. Statue / stone - The speaker appears incapable of movement.

b. Pacer - The speaker paces and walks from one side of the platform to the other and back.

c. Swayer - The speaker rhythmically moves his body from side to side or forward and backward followed by
theshifting of weight
 GESTURES
 Gestures are purposive movements of some parts of the body, but not the entire body. These include movements
ofheads, shoulders, arms and occasionally feet. These are all physical movements that represent concretely the ideasand
emotions of the speaker. These are also the products of the inner impulses and forces of thoughts of a speaker.
 Classifications of Gestures
a. Descriptive gestures indicate the meaning literally or by suggestion.
b. Symbolic gestures are representative or figurative rather than literal.
c. Locative gestures refer to pointing a place, position or direction.
d. Emphatic gestures are used when words or ideas need to be stressed or reinforced.
e. Transitional gestures are used to move your audience from one idea to the next or to enumerate things
f. Dramatic / imitative gestures
convey impersonation of another person’s action
Uses of Gestures

a. to point the location of objects usually in the sight of the audience but they may be in the
imagination
b. to give emphasis to statements or to ask questions
c. to entreat/plead for something
d. to picture an object
e. to stimulate the imagination