Speaking Tips

How Should I Speak?

So you're making a public speech, are you? And, you've written the words. Now you're wondering how to speak them.

That's an important decision. After all, some experts say listeners are more likely to be influenced by the way a speaker talks than by what she says. Joseph Schluter, a farmer and member of Airdrie Discovery Toastmasters says, “Four factors affect the way you speak: volume, pitch, rate, and quality.”

“Volume,” says Joseph, “is how loudly or softly you speak. Usually, you speak loudly or softly when you want to emphasize a point, and you speak at a normal level when you're building up to a point or in transitions.

“Pitch refers to how high or how low your voice is, and you try to vary it as you go through your speech. When you stay at the same pitch through the whole speech you're speaking in monotone, and that's monotonous.

“Rate refers to how fast you speak, and again, you want to vary it. But don't vary it just for the sake of variation. Instead, change the rate to emphasize points or to reflect changes in mood.

“Voice quality doesn't refer to the voice you were born with, but rather how you prepared yourself before speaking. Relax yourself as much as you can, using deep breathing and stretching. By doing that you'll release some of the tension, and the more tension you release, the more pleasing your voice will be to listeners.”

Joseph adds, “You can train and improve your voice by listening to both yourself and others. You'll get better through practice and constructive criticism.”

Other Speaking Tips articles from Airdrie Discovery Toastmasters:

It’s Okay to be Nervous

Show and Tell, Adult Style

Word Wise

How to Persuade Your Audience

Making Introductions

Members of the non-profit Airdrie Discovery Toastmasters Club help each other learn to speak confidently, introduce other speakers, and more. For more information, visit our home page at: http://www.airdrie-toastmasters.com

The names “Toastmasters International,” “Toastmasters,” and the Toastmasters International emblem are trademarks protected in the United States, Canada, and other countries where Toastmasters Clubs exist. Unauthorized use is prohibited.