Post on 29-Dec-2015
The Power of Nonverbals in Competitive Speech
“You Can’t Not Communicate”
Try it. . .
-Jen McCarty Eastview Speech
Your Communication ImpactMake a guess:
What percentage is: Language? The words we use Vocal? How the speaker delivers the message Visual? What the audience sees
(Answers should equal 100%)
Communication Impact
1
2
3
10% Language
35% Vocal
55% Visual
Language10%
Obviously WORD CHOICE is important!
~Be Sophisticated
~Think Professional
~Use Style
~Be Grammatically Correct
~Avoid Slang and Tired Language
~Consider Literary Merit in Published Material
Vocal35%
“It’s Not What You Say; It’s How You Say It”
VolumeRatePitch
QualityPauses/Silence
VOLUME, PITCH, RATE Use volume; rate; and pitch deliberately—
be soft to add emphasis Pick up speed to show intensity Raise pitch to show emotion VARY!
Be aware of how you naturally use volume, rate and pitch
QUALITY Be aware of the quality of your voice and
how you can use it to add character Raspy Clear Articulate Breathy
PAUSES/SILENCE
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO BE SILENT and TO USE PAUSES
Remember that nonverbals are 90% of communication impact.
VISUAL55%
Appearance
Gestures
Facial Expressions/Eyes
Movement
Posture and Stance
Proxemics
Appearance
See Handbook
ENOUGH SAID!!
Gestures/MannerismsDifficult to teach:
Think about where you can use them deliberately
Watch others Watch yourself Be aware of where you gesture and if it is
needed or is distracting
Facial Expressions and Eyes Most noticed yet most complex part of the
body. Researchers found:
At least 8 positions of eyebrows and forehead 8 more for eyes and eyelids 10 for lower face
Surprise, Fear, Anger, Disgust, Happiness, and Sadness (plus blends of all these)
Movement Blocking Miming Transitional Walks
Movement must
1st: always be motivated
2nd: thought out and purposeful.
Posture and Stance Characters—(1,2,3 method) Poise and confidence (before, during, and
after your presentation) Watch yourself Watch others Posture as you sit in desks; discussion
Practice Deliberate Choices with Nonverbals
Decide what you want to communicate and use nonverbals to help you to:
Repeat
Substitute
Complement
Accent
Regulate
Contradict
Repeat Saying “Go North about two blocks” and
then pointing north.
Be careful that gestures don’t become too literal: “I can hear the bird” and then putting hand to the ear.
(Repeat nonverbals should be used sparingly)
Substitute Replacing the language with a gesture.
“What’s Up?” Shrug of the shoulders as a response.
Complement Nonverbal behavior can conveys
relationship between characters: Low voice, hesitation, shuffling feet, head bowed
(embarrassment; inferior)
Many complementing nonverbals consist of illustrators: Scratching head Snapping fingers
Accent
Especially important in Public Address
Gesturing on an idea Pausing before an important idea or point
of the script Stressing certain words with your voice
“It was your idea” “It was your idea”
Regulate Especially apparent in Duo—using
intonation to show interruption; wanting to gain the floor; turning the floor over to the other character.
Rising and falling patterns to help move the speech; show conclusion; vary delivery. . .
Nonverbals in Listening
Nonverbals are important in speaking; but also in listening.
Why?
Nonverbals in ListeningRespect your audience. People will never
laugh, or cry, or hear what you have to say if you speak as if they're not there. A speech is never about the speaker, it's about the audience and the entertainment or persuasion of that audience. If you respect your audience, they will respect and respond to you. You are at their mercy, never your own.”
~Natalie Sintek; forensics online competitor of the year 2004State Champion 3 consecutive years 02;03;04; National Humorous Champion 2004
Nonverbals in Listening What are your nonverbals as you listen to
your competitors?
Where are your eyes? What is your posture? Where are your hands? Do you nod? Smile? Or otherwise
encourage the speaker?
The Power of Nonverbals in Competitive Speech
Remember. . .
“You Can’t Not Communicate”