Strategies for Effective Oral Delivery

Volume
Listeners want to clearly hear a speaker without straining to do so and without being blasted out of their
chairs. A presenter who speaks too loudly may be perceived as bombastic, aggressive, or insensitive to
listeners. On the other hand, one who speaks too softly may convey the impression of being passive or
insecure.
It is commonly thought that. a point is emphasized by voicing it more loudly. The reverse is true. An
audience is more attentive to a point that is stated at a lower (but still clearly audible) volume. Emphasis
is added by lifting the pitch, slowing the rate, and/or changing the tone of voice. (Vocal emphasis is
further strengthened with appropriate visual cues.)
Rate
An average rate of speech is 140 words per minute. As with other vocal characteristics, the rate of speech
should be varied during a presentation. For emphasis, a speaker may periodically slow down to less than
100 words per minute to voice a point in a deliberate manner. To elevate the level of energy or quickly
convey a point of lesser importance, a speaker may occasionally accelerate the rate to more than 170
words per minute.
A consistently slow rate of speech conveys fatigue or disinterest. Flailing speech can suggest that the
speaker has difficulty formulating thoughts. Presenters who consistently speak at a rapid rate may be
perceived to be nervous, impatient, or hurried.
Tone
The quality of tone is a combination of pitch, strength, and character. Character refers to the sense or
meaning a particular tone conveys. For example, a tone of voice may be described as gentle, angry,
sarcastic, childish, or serious. The tone of voice with which a speaker expresses a point says more to an
audience than the words themselves. As with other vocal characteristics, tone also says something to an
audience about the speaker. A faltering tone of voice is perceived as timid or indecisive, a harsh tone of
voice as aggressive. A nasal lone lacks the depth that adds authority to a voice. A monotone or flat tone
that lacks variations suggests a lack of interest or energy.
Speech Patterns
The term speech pattern refers to any vocal trait that is habitual. Although usually learned behavior,
speech pattern are sometimes a reflection of a psychological or emotional condition. A person who
repeatedly voices the phrase like “you know" may have acquired the habit from a peer group, or the pattern
may signal that the person is nervous when speaking before a group.
Like the characteristics of vocal quality (pitch, volume, rate, and tone), speech patterns can either
contribute to or detract from a presenter's effectiveness.
Some speech patterns are very pleasing and add to the clarity and meaning of a message, others are very
distracting or muddle a message. The speech pattern with which presenters are most concerned arc inflection
articulation, fillers, pauses, and accents.