Awakening the great speaker within

SPEAKING is a life skill that one can only take for granted at own’s peril. There is a great speaker lying idle in all of us, which should be given a chance to come out. The world waits with bated breath for that special guest.

The whole purpose of learning any language is not to prepare candidates for examinations, but to enable them to respond effectively to any speech or listening situation that they may come across in their everyday interactions with fellow citizens.

Due to habitual foibles, we usually write what we speak, and that also is an extension of our own attitudes and emotions.

It is, therefore, pertinent that we develop speaking as a skill to strengthen our resolve in fostering strong relations through oral and written communication.

Who is called the speaker?

The speaker is the one who initiates the speaking process, so he or she should have all, or most of the following:

· The communication purpose

· Has knowledge of the subject

· Command of speech skills

· Attitudes towards self, listener or subject

· Has command of words and body language

· Confidence in the speech

· Has good eye contact.

The speaker’s purpose in communication

The best way of learning any language, English included, is speaking it. The English language should be learned to be used and not to be kept on a piece of paper. Because the speaker plays a pivotal role in a speech situation, he influences the process in the following ways:

· She/he has to achieve some purpose or attain a goal

· Has to be sociable or friendly

· She/he seeks to alter the listener’s cherished values or move him to an action

· She/he has to reinforce an existing attitude

· Has to resolve a conflict

· Poses a question requiring a specific answer

· Has to explain a problem

· Tests an idea

· Establishes or maintains a status. The speaker’s knowledge of the subject

Your knowledge of the subject and command of speech skills affect the nature of what you intend to express.

Those around you can easily tell whether you know what you are saying or not. You are also likely to lose your confidence if your knowledge on a particular subject is shallow.

Thorough knowledge of the subject will help you to communicate clearly and convey the beliefs, ideas and values you hold dear. It will also help you in presenting your ideas logically and coherently.

Besides your knowledge of the subject, your ability to use your voice and body language will go a long way in your expression of ideas both orally and visually.

The speaker’s attitude

What you think about something or someone is considered as your attitude, and it has a bearing on what you say and how you say it.

Your attitude towards yourself, listeners and subject affects the outcome of the speech process in a two-fold way. The information that you convey is a product of your attitude, which may either be negative or positive.

Your attitude towards the self can really affect your speech in many ways. If you consider yourself to be below average, unsuccessful and disliked, you will not only perform dismally, because of your low self-esteem, but you will become subdued, moody and closed-up, which will affect you in and outside the classroom or workplace.

A negative attitude often results in ideas advanced in a random or confused manner. The voice becomes unsteady, the body stiff and gaze shifted away from the audience.

All this robs you of your confidence, which is your major weapon in effective speaking, without which you are doomed.

A positive attitude on the other hand appeals more to the audience, as fear and reluctance are replaced by self-assurance. In all speech processes, the speaker speaks from a certain status or takes a role position, as you may be aware of from your own experiences.

It is this role play that leads to a particular attitude towards listeners. Different scenarios call for different perceptions.

The following may be some of the situations that you find yourself partaking in:

· Seller and buyer

· Parent and child

· Teacher and pupil

· Boss and subordinate

· Stranger and friend

· husband and wife

· Brother and sister

· Doctor and patient

NB: As we speak to different individuals in equally different contexts, we need to relate accordingly to the subject matters.

If we have a negative attitude depending on our role positions, we are likely to affect the speech process as antagonism may be prevalent.

A positive attitude towards listeners always solicits a positive response.

Your attitude towards the subject may also affect your delivery as well as the audience’s response. The subject is the reason for communicating in the first place, therefore, its impartation should not be sallied by your attitude.

Your attitude colours and conditions the ideas you present and the language in which you express them.

A subject may be seen as boring, interesting, pertinent, crucial, trivial, true or false depending on the speaker’s attitude and presentation.

Speaking behaviours

The way you regard people you talk to influences your behaviour. Your attitude can easily be discerned from the way you talk.

Whatever you may be trying to conceal is usually read on your facial expressions. Your facial expressions will betray you as you try to express yourself. Feelings of contempt, impatience, love, hurt and annoyance cannot be concealed easily, as your speaking behaviour will let you down.

Gestures and body language are major components of the communication process, as such they should be used cautiously and effectively. We say more non-verbally than we say verbally.

The speaker’s credibility Success in winning arguments, inspiring others, confidence or promoting action depends upon the estimate of your worth and competency. You should make it clear from the onset what exactly you are worth.

Listeners are usually impatient; therefore, a good speaker must really be worth their time. Reputable speakers are of good character, trustworthy, alert, friendly, dress well, and are sociable, with a thorough knowledge of their subjects.

When given a topic beforehand, always research before you embarrass yourself in front of your audience.

Because listeners are at liberty to avoid the listening task in preference to mere hearing, the competent speaker should draw their attention through effective use of introductions. Good introductions do not always state the obvious. You may start with a question, a quotation or statistics, before you introduce yourself and tell the audience why you are standing before them.

Consider the effect of such statistics as the following on your audience:

·

One in every three accidents is caused by drunken driving

·

Every 15 seconds a child is born HIV-positive in Africa

·

One in every three women will be raped in her lifetime in South Africa

·

A woman is raped every three seconds · in South Africa

65 percent of the youth in Zimbabwe suffer mental breakdowns associated with stress, drugs and alcohol abuse ·

50 people are murdered down South everyday

“A quotation in a speech, article or book is like a rifle in the hands of an infantryman; it speaks with authority,” informs Brendan Francis.

That’s the power of quotations. Attention should then be sustained through a well sequenced chain of ideas in the body. You should also remind your listeners why they should listen by telling them what they want to hear first before delving into the unknown.

Learn to gauge the mood of your audience by maintaining eye contact and taking a cue from the tell-tale signs of boredom, annoyance and impatience.

A joke or two along the way may be the prescription that the doctor ordered. You can also involve your listeners by asking them questions as this does not only ensure listening compliance, but will also build your confidence.

You should remain in control of the process. You are the one to remodel the perceptions of the audience and not the other way round. Refuse to be intimidated by individuals who may want to throw spanners in your wheel of success.

In conclusion, revisiting your major points is what drives your audience to a preferable action. People usually remember what is said last. You may also close with a question, statistics or a quotation.

Dare to be different? Start speaking now!