20

PUNCTUATE SPEECH

When speaking, insert punctuation so the audience ‘hears’ commas, semi-colons, and full stops. This is achieved through pause, which adds the emphasis that punctuation is about.

Pause is a way of emphasising essential points that have been made. To pause gives listeners a brief reflective space. In that context, ‘pause’ is a way of emphasising elements of speech.

‘Inflection’ is a way of building emphasis and highlighting points that are being made. This adds to the vibrancy of speech and triggers listening reception that helps to make points ‘stand out’ in audience comprehension.

21

BORING, BORING VOICE

The syndrome ‘boring voice’, associated with monotone expression, is a habit into which it can be easy to lapse. Keeping one’s voice interesting, vibrant and in resonance territory is essential. This is especially the case when topics are seriously challenging. A monotonic voice is a surefire shut-off, negatively impacting listeners’ comprehension.

Nasalisation, speaking through one’s nose, can be equally off-putting to listeners. At the same time, cultural and dialectic differences impact nasal speech, so aiming for pronunciation to be as clear as possible is essential.

Facing the audience can be easily overlooked. When speakers move, speaking side on or even back on to the audience can happen. This is a presentation characteristic that must be avoided.