Download Introduction to Public Speaking

If all my talents and
powers were to be
taken from me by some
inscrutable Providence,
and I had my
choice of keeping but
one, I would unhesitatingly
ask to be
allowed to keep the
Power of Speaking, for
through it, I would
quickly recover all
the rest.
~Daniel Webster
Chapter 1

Why Study Public Speaking?
▪ What are some benefits to studying this
skill?
 The ability to speak publicly offers…
 Empowerment –
▪ Having the resources, information and
attitude to achieve a desired goal
▪ Results from ability to speak with confidence
and competence

Why Study Public Speaking?
 Improve Employability
▪ Ability to communicate effectively is key to success in any line
of work
▪ Good communication skills are one of the most sought by employers
▪ It is a top rated skill based on employer surveys

Rich heritage of public speaking
 Rhetoric –
▪ The use of words & symbols to achieve a goal
▪ Golden age of this was 4th century BC in Greece
▪ Aristotle formulate ideas still used today
 US Also has a rich history
 Declamation –
▪ The delivery of an already famous address
▪ Practiced by 19th century speakers

Rich heritage of public speaking
 Elocution
▪ The expression of emotion through
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
Posture
Movement
Gestures
Facial expression
Voice

The Communication Process
 Communication as action
▪ Receiver – Individuals or audience message is being sent to
▪ Noise – Anything that interferes with message being sent
▪ External – Lawn mower, leaf blower, etc
▪ Internal – Physiological or Psychological
 What might be an example of internal noise

Communication as Interaction
 Feedback
▪ Messages sent back to the sender from the receiver
▪ What are some examples of feedback?
▪ Are there any benefits for the speaker?
 Context
▪ The environment or situation in which the speech occurs
▪ Time
▪ Location
▪ Attitudes of audience

The Communication Process
 Communication as action
▪ Source – Where the information is coming from
▪ Message – The information being transmitted
▪ Channel – The method being used to send the message
▪ Visual & Auditory in speech
▪ What other types of channels exist to send messages

Communication as transaction
 (Current communication model)
 Identifies communication as a simultaneous process
▪ Roles are constantly changing
 We send & Receive messages concurrently
▪ Speaker sending verbal messages
▪ – listening to nonverbals
▪ Listener sending non-verbal messages
▪ – listening to verbals

Public speaking as a communication process
 Public speaking is more planned
 Public speaking is more formal
 Roles of public speaker and audience is defined
▪ Speaker (sender) vs Listener (receiver)