METHODS OF SPEECH DELIVERY

1. Extemporaneous Speech
Extemporaneous speeches are speeches that are carefully prepared and
practiced by the speaker before the actual speaking time. A speaker will utilize notes or
an outline as a guide while they are delivering the speech. The notes or outline will
usually include any quotes and sources the speaker wants to cite in the presentation, as
well as the order the information in the speech should be delivered in. The speech is
delivered as if the speaker is having a conversation with the audience. Since the
speaker is not reading the entire speech, the extemporaneous speaker uses the notes
as a guide only, a sort of memory trigger, and the speaker will also be able to respond
to the audience since her head isn’t trapped by reading every word on a paper. This is
the type of public speaking you should strive to use in Fundamentals of Oral
Communication for your informative and persuasive speeches as this is most practical
type of public speaking, the type you are most likely use in a real life situation when you
might be asked to give a formal presentation.

Elements of an Effective Extemporaneous Speech

1. Speak About Something Worth Saying
2. Speak with Sincerity
3. Speak with Your Own Style

Examples
a) An example of extemporaneous is "extemporaneous acting," when an actor
practices their lines only once before a performance. Prepared in advance but
delivered without notes or text.
b) Professors plan their lessons ahead of time by having visuals ready and a clear
outline of the subject matter they will teach their students. Good lecturers do not
have their speaking points memorized word-for-word or written down in full
length. They understand the topic of the presentation well, and by being prepared
and practicing ahead of time, they can improvise on the day of their speech.
Advantage
~ The speakers are able to speak in a more conversational tone by letting the
cards guide them, but not dictate every word they say. This method allows for the
speakers to make more eye contact with the audience.

~ Extemporaneous speeches are more spontaneous and sound natural, which

keeps the audience engaged and interested in the topic. A well-prepared
extemporaneous speaker will also know his topic very clearly and in detail, which
will make him sound like an expert in his field, therefore gaining the trust of his
audience.

~ The flexibility of extemporaneous speeches also allows for crowd interaction. The
speaker can choose to involve audience members during the presentation. He
can also answer questions in the middle of his speech to ensure the crowd
understands the presentation’s topic as it is being presented. This allows the
speaker to make sure everyone comprehends the topic clearly and doesn't
disengage halfway through because of lack of clarity.

Disadvantage
~ It requires a great deal of preparation for both the verbal and the nonverbal
components of the speech. Adequate preparation cannot be achieved the day
before you're scheduled to speak.
~ People who fear public speaking or beginners should not consider
extemporaneous speech as the right type of speech. Crowd members may
interpret nervousness and stress as poor preparation, even if the speaker is an
expert on the topic. Also, an extemporaneous speech can also be too long or too
short if it is not planned properly. A defined speech outline and practice will help
speakers avoid embarrassment. Last, because the words of an extemporaneous
speech are not all written down, a person with smaller vocabulary may stumble
on certain sentences or use the wrong terminology at times.
2. Impromptu speech
Impromptu speeches are speeches that are delivered without notes or a plan,
and without any formal preparation, they are very spontaneously delivered. This is one
of the most nerve wracking situations for most students to find themselves in because
there isn’t a plan or agenda to follow, they just have to get up and speak without any
“thinking” time. They are afraid of not knowing what to say when they get up in front of
the audience so they might make a fool of themselves. If this type of speaking situation
makes you nervous, you are not alone! The reality is that this is the type of public
speaking you are the MOST prepared for. Your daily life is filled with impromptu
experiences and conversations. Every phone conversation, exchange between you and
a loved one, and discussion amongst friends is impromptu by its very nature, even if we
“practice” our conversations, they are still impromptu in their delivery. So, while most
students are nervous about impromptu speeches, they are the type they are the most
prepared for from their daily experience.

Examples
a) The interviews of politicians
b) Presidential debate
c) Panel discussions of TV channels

Advantages
~ Natural presentations as it is instant
~ We get a chance to express our thoughts freely.
~ Spontaneous

Disadvantages
~ Lacks organized development of Ideas
~ Non availability of supporting Materials
~ Chances of rambling are very high
~ Frequent use of vocalized pauses
 ~ It can be a failure due to inadequate proficiency in the language
3. Manuscript Speech
Manuscript speeches are speeches that are delivered with a script of the exact
words to be used. If they have to give a speech, most students prefer to have every
single word in front of them so they can basically “read” the speech to the audience.
While this is very reassuring for a speaker and they feel like they won’t “forget” anything
if they have every word in front of them, manuscript speaking is one of the worst traps to
fall into for a speaker. The speaker who utilizes a complete manuscript will often spend
more time looking at the script than at the audience. By doing this, the speaker is
unable to react to the audience or respond to the audience members. This is when a
speaker reads a pre-written speech word by word to an audience. It is when an already
prepared script is read verbatim. The speaker makes the entire speech by referring to
the printed document, or as seen on the teleprompter. It is basically an easy method of
oral communication. Manuscript speaking is generally employed during official
meetings, conferences, and in instances where the subject matter of the speech needs
to be recorded. It is used especially when there is time constraint, and the content of the
talk is of prime importance. Conveying precise and succinct messages is the inherent
purpose of this speech.

Examples
a) A televised news report (given using a teleprompter) seen on television.
b) A speech given at a wedding by a best man, or during a funeral.
c) A religious proclamation issued by any religious leader.
d) A speech in honor of a well-known and revered person.
e) Oral report of a given chapter in American history, presented as a high school
assignment.

Advantages
~ It proves very effective when you have to put forth an important point in less time.
~ Concise and accurate information is conveyed, especially when talking about
contentious issues.
Disadvantages
~ If you are not clear in your speech and cannot read out well, it may not attract
any attention of the audience.
~ As compared to a direct speech, in a manuscript that is read, the natural flow of
the speaker is lost. So is the relaxed, enthusiastic, interactive, and expressive
tone of the speech lost.

4. Memorized speeches
A speech that is recited from memory rather than read from cue cards or using
the assistance of notes. The speaker writes the speech out and then memorizes the
speech so he/she has no notes, no manuscript, and no “help” up there in front of the
audience. As you might imagine, this also has a few drawbacks not the least of which is
forgetting the speech altogether. This, also, is a type of delivery best left to professional
and competitive public speakers.
Is the rote recitation of a written message that the speaker has committed to memory.
Actors, of course, recite from memory whenever they perform from a script. When it
comes to speeches, memorization can be useful when the message needs to be exact
and the speaker doesn’t want to be confined by notes.

Pros
~ The speaker is in control of the wording which has been decided and learned
beforehand
~ The speaker can plan for or fit into
~ The speaker can use non – verbal language to quite imply with this mode of
delivery

The advantage to memorization is that it enables the speaker to maintain eye contact
with the audience throughout the speech. Being free of notes means that you can move
freely around the stage and use your hands to make gestures. If your speech uses
visual aids, this freedom is even more of an advantage.
However, there are some real and potential costs. First, unless you also plan and
memorize every vocal cue (the subtle but meaningful variations in speech delivery,
which can include the use of pitch, tone, volume, and pace), gesture, and facial
expression, your presentation will be flat and uninteresting, and even the most
fascinating topic will suffer. You might end up speaking in a monotone or a sing-song
repetitive delivery pattern. You might also present your speech in a rapid “machine-gun”
style that fails to emphasize the most important points.

Second, if you lose your place and start trying to ad lib, the contrast in your style of
delivery will alert your audience that something is wrong. If you go completely blank
during the presentation, it will be extremely difficult to find your place and keep going.
Obviously, memorizing a typical seven-minute classroom speech takes a great deal of
time and effort, and if you aren’t used to memorizing, it is very difficult to pull off.
Realistically, you probably will not have the time necessary to give a completely
memorized speech. However, if you practice adequately, you will approach the feeling
of memorized while still being extemporaneous.

As we said earlier, for the purposes of this class you will use extemporaneous speaking.
Many professional speakers who are paid to make speeches use this approach
because, while they may largely know what they want to say, they usually make
changes and adjustments based on the audience or event. This approach also
incorporates most of the benefits of memorized speaking (knowing what you want to
say; being very thoroughly rehearsed) and manuscript speaking (having some words in
front of you to refer to) without the inherent pitfalls those approaches bring with them.

Cons
~ Time is required for memorization, and there is a high risk of forgetting some
parts of the speech
~ Speech can sound memorized and lack of spontaneity, reducing the
effectiveness of the speakers
 ~ Since the speech is totally prepared in advanced and memorized, the speaker
cannot respond to audience or feedback.

The disadvantages are that time is required for memorization, and there is a risk of
forgetting part of the speech during the delivery. Secondly, the speech can sound
memorized and lack of spontaneity, reducing the speaker's effectiveness.
When it comes to speeches, memorization can be useful when the message needs to
be exact and the speaker doesn't want to be confined by notes. The advantage to
memorization is that it enables the speaker to maintain eye contact with the audience
throughout the speech.

When reading a manuscript speech, it’s extremely difficult to maintain eye contact and
remain conversational. By contrast, when you memorize your speech, you are more
easily able to make eye contact and to stay in touch with your audience. Once you’ve
committed your entire speech to memory and know exactly what’s coming next, you can
also focus more attention on the audience. On the other hand, reciting a speech from
memory is a bit like making an internal audio recording. As you’re repeating your
memorized recording, you run the risk of momentarily losing your place. It can feel as if
your internal audio recording just turned itself off. In the best of circumstances, this
creates an awkward pause and self-conscious recovery. In the worst of circumstances,
the stress of losing your place can become overwhelming, causing you to forget the rest
of what you’re expected to deliver. Without notes to fall back on, what should be a
momentary lapse can easily become a larger problem.

Voice aspects of Speech delivery – involves the act of voice modulation, this refers to
how we control our voices when speaking, we can change the message that we are
trying to convey to the audience by changing the pitch, rate of speaking, pauses,
volume and enunciation.

5 Aspects of Voice in Speech delivery;

1. Pitch - pitch, in speech, the relative highness or lowness of a tone as perceived by
the ear, which depends on the number of vibrations per second produced by the vocal
cords.

The use of pitch in a public speaking setting is that the speaker will use the
different patterns of pitch to convey different meanings to the listener. These can be
informational, grammatical, illocution, attitudinal, and textual.

Examples:
a.) “He’s going to town” is an answer, but when you put a rising pitch “He's going ↗
to town?” it turns into a question.
b.) "Why ↘don't you eat vegetables?" (a question) versus "Why don't you ↗eat
vegetables?" (a suggestion).

2. Rate of speaking or tempo - this refers to the speed of which the speaker speaks,
tempo can be varied depending on the mood the speaker wants to convey.

A good rate of speech ranges between 140 -160 words per minute (wpm), a rate higher
than 160 words per minute can be difficult for the listener to absorb the material. Fast
tempo can be an indication of passion, urgency, excitement, and emotion while slow
tempo can be indication of importance, sadness, confusion, the seriousness of a point
or the introduction of new ideas (use to help the audience grasp what you are saying)

Examples:
a.) Young students may find it hard to understand the lesson the teachers
discussing if the tempo in which the teacher discusses is fast.
b.) Fast tempo can help a radio host convey the information to his audience within a
limited time.

3. Pauses - these are intended silences during a speech, it is a form of oral punctuation
that can help your audience reflect on what you just said.
The main reasons to use pauses are for variety, understanding, emphasis, some mental
aspects of the speaker and the audience. These are examples of ways to utilize the
pause;

a.) The pause before you start

b.) The pause to signal that something important is coming
c.) The pause to let the message sink in
d.) The pause when moving to a new topic
e.) The pause for emphasis
f.) The pause to get your audience to reflect
g.) The pause when answering questions

4. Volume - Volume is the perceived loudness of the speaker’s voice. It is perceived as

auditory sensation by the listener which can be ordered on a scale from quiet to loud.

Aside from the emphasis that the volume gives to the speech it is also important
that the your voice can be heard, you need to match your volume to the size of the room
you are speaking in and you should also pay attention to your audience if they can hear
what you are saying or not. Volume is used to emphasize and highlight certain words or
terms during a speech.

Examples:
a.) Adolf Hitler’s speech at Krupp Factory in Germany in 1935, which Hitler speaks
at a loud volume to emphasize his beliefs and shows his passion.

5. Enunciation - is the pronunciation and articulation of words in your speech. Each

word is composed of syllables which are the little parts of each word that combine
together to make a particular sound.
 Enunciation in speech means the clarity of your words, when speaking to an
audience it is vital to speak the words clearly in order for the audience to clearly
understand what you are saying

Example:
a.) An American accent pronounces “Writing” almost the same as “Riding”, which
when used in a speech would confuse non-American audiences.

Bodily Aspects of Speech Delivery - Involves nonverbal communication through the face
and eyes, gestures, and body movements.

4 Aspects of Speaker’s Body

1. Gestures- are movements of the speaker’s head, arms, and hands. When you watch
a great public speaker, you will notice that their entire body is into the presentation.

Examples: Nodding, Finger pointing, Arms waving in the air, Saluting, Thumbs up and
Thumbs down.

2. Facial expressions- are movements of the eyes, mouth, chin, etc. these movements
convey the emotional state of an individual to observers.

Examples: Smiling, Frowning, Eye rolling, Scowling, and Opening one’s eyes and
mouth widely.

3. Eye contact- is sustained, meaningful contact with the eyes of audience members.
This is the top reason most people hate public speaking – the thought of people looking
at you and all the eyes on you is probably the most difficult part of public speaking.

Example: You maintained eye contact with someone throughout the conversation, the
speaker made eye contact with audience members.
4. Movement- is where the speaker’s entire body moves. It is an important aspect of
your speech and requires planning, the same as the words you choose and the visual
aids you design.

Examples: Includes gesture, Posture, Head and Hand movements, Whole body
movements.

Sources:
https://edge.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/types_section_01_module03.pdf
https://penandthepad.com/write-good-speech-grades-68-7972198.html
https://socialmettle.com
https://www.slideshare.net/remlijzurcalliv/memorized-speech
https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/short-memorized-speech-examples/
https://edge.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/types_section_01_module02.pdf
https://brainly.in/question/12792121
https://virtualspeech.com/blog/history-public-speaking
https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Communication/Public_Speaking/Exploring_
Public_Speaking_(Barton_and_Tucker)/11%3A_Delivery/11.02%3A_Methods_of_Spee
ch_Delivery
https://www.speakforlife.com.au/tips-on-voice-modulation-when-public-speaking/
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED566202.pdf
Pitch: Public Speaking/Speech Communication (instructure.com)
https://mannerofspeaking.org/2019/11/12/pauses-in-a-speech-why-when-and-how/
https://lumen.instructure.com/courses/218897/pages/linkedtext54272?
module_item_id=5007142