There is a belief fairly commonly held that only a limited few need study the art of public speaking. Never was there a greater error or a more fatal mistake—especially in a republic like ours, where every man should be vitally interested in public affairs. No single citizen can afford not to be able to stand before his fellows and clearly, pleasingly and convincingly present his ideas upon any subject of local, state, or national importance. It is no more an ornamental accomplishment than is grammar, penmanship or simple arithmetic. It should be as universal as “the three r’s.” The hints and selections that follow are carefully chosen to incite every good citizen to the acquirement of this useful and practical aid for his own benefit as well as that of his fellows. All the lessons and analyses that have gone before in these pages will materially aid in the elucidation of these brief lessons.
The basis for development in Effective Speaking rests upon one’s bodily, emotional and mental agencies of expression, and a knowledge of their respective importance and efficient use. That which counts most for development is conscientious practice; without which, progress is impossible.
There are three definite means of communicating thought and feeling to others: (a) Pantomime: face, hands, body; (b) Vocal: tone sound; (c) Verbal: words, which are conventional symbols manifesting mental and emotional states.
The problem, then, is to obtain a harmonious coördination of these three languages. In other words, the content of the word when spoken should be reflected in the tone and in the body. Thus speech becomes effective merely because it receives its just and fair consideration.
With this general understanding let us take up and master the successive steps which ultimately lead to a realization of the desired end.
The first important essential of effective speaking is the Spirit of Directness. By this is meant natural, unaffected speech. Nothing can be more important than that the person speaking use in public address the ordinary elements of Conversation.
Hence, the first step is practice in natural speaking. Commit to memory Hamlet’s Instructions to the Players given on a preceding page. Do this not line by line, but the entire selection as a whole. First: Read it through silently three times to familiarize yourself with the subject-matter. Second: Read it aloud at least five times. Third: Speak it conversationally at least five times from memory. In this practice always be intensely conscious that you are addressing an individual and not an audience.
Now take any of the prose or poetic selections from the earlier pages of this book, memorize them, after studying them as the instructions require, and speak them directly and naturally, in the ordinary conversational style.
Sufficient practice in this is the necessary preparation for the next step, viz., the acquiring of a natural elevated conversational style, which is merely another name for the higher type of public speaking.