28 THE IMPORTANCE OF FACE

Facial muscles are important because they can ‘make your face live’, providing animation and life through talk. An expressionless face can be taken by those listening as meaning the speaker is not interested in what they are saying. Speech is helped by a ‘living face’ and pleasant expression.

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29

Most of the time, conference and audience pictures are simply of people sitting and listening. Is there a chance that conference ‘action’ pictures might show people engaged more interactively in participative opportunities offered by presenters?

Maybe a weakness of presenters and their presentations is that they go on and on. Interactivity between the presenter and the audience can add to the dynamics of the speech.

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29A

SPEECH DEVELOPMENT TOO OFTEN DISCOUNTED

I often listen to the radio or watch on television as key, prominent, essential people speak on and about their areas of expertise. So many, yes SO many of them are very poor presenters regarding their qualities of speech, diction and (on television) gesture.

The ‘matter’ factor of their offering is acceptable. They know their subjects. But it is their manner and method of delivery that let them down. Leaving lasting impressions of mediocre delivery, I am sure, is not what the speakers want. But unfortunately, that’s the way it often goes.

And all for the want of a bit of fixing!