VARIOUS TYPES OF SPEECH
We make speeches for various purposes mainly speeches are made for the aim of informing or persuade.
1.Speaking to inform (informative speech); these speeches are meant to provide information; they are meant to make you know what they did not know. These include definitional speeches, Descriptive speeches and Expository speeches.
a Definitional speeches
Study the following:
What is morphology?
The term morphology may not be new to most of you, but what does it mean? Well this is a sub discipline in linguistics, it deals with the following.
· Describe how words are structured.
· What components form the words?
· How significant these components are.
· Where the study of small components
In words can help to make it easy for language learners in learning foreign languages.
As you can see, this is somewhat an elaborate definition as it tells almost everything about what morphology is about. Since the definition goes beyond what goes beyond what a dictionary is capable of doing we call this an extended kind of definition. This is what a definition speech is all about. When you make this speech you use details which you think your partner will understand.
2. Descriptive speech
This is a speech which describes a person, thing or place. The speech talks how a person/thing or place, place looks like.
What actually do as you provide a descriptive speech is painting a vivid picture of a person, place, event or object.
Example if you are told to write a speech that you will deliver in the class about the beach you visited.
In your speech you may include
· When you visited the beach.
· How big it is.
· What colour is the water
· What feature surrounds the beach
· What makes the beach special.
3. Process speech
In this kind of speech you are expected to explain the stages passed through when certain activities are performed, Example you may be required to say something on how to make a chair.
Process speeches are of two types. One is meant to enable a person to carry on an activity. The other is meant to explain how something is done without necessity wishing to perform it. The following are the guidelines about how a process speech should look like.
– All steps should be included.
It is important to include all the necessary steps involved in carrying out an activity.
– Use visual aids when necessary
Use diagrams or charts so that your audience can see how, the procedure is carried out more vividly. If possible demonstrate.
– Involve the audience in physical activities.
Involving the audience makes them remember each stage of the process. If you happen to be in the audience side, do not do anything until you are instructed by the instructor.
– Use a manageable presentation speed.
Since most procedures are new to the audience explain each slowly so that your audience can understand. Remember that, what you perceive to be something difficult to a person who sees or hears for the first time so use speed that is manageable to your audience.
– Tell the audience about difficult parts of the procedures.
In so doing use expressions such as “The following step needs more of your attention”, “The next step is a bit tricky”, “Now we are approaching a more demanding stage”… such expressions are used to attract the attention of your listeners.
4. Expository speech
This is the speech that involves the provision of oral reports. Expository speeches are not a result of research. It is important to note that a well written expository speech is organized in topics. So organize your speech in that manner. Support your speech with evidence from your research
5. Persuasive speech
Here the speaker is expected to speak in order to move the audience by influencing their thinking and motivating them to carry out some kind of action.
How can you influence thinking?
To influence thinking is to speak in a manner that will make your audience convinced by accepting your points or ideas. As a part of persuasive speech is meant to influence you will be require to argue in order to respond to other people‘s points. You should also be a very good listener so that you hear what others say in order to respond to other people‘s points. You should also be very good listeners so that you hear what others say in order to be able to give counter argument.
How can you influence action?
The following can be used as a guide for persuading people.
– Tell them why it is important to take action.
– Give evidence of cases which show that people elsewhere succeeded by doing as same as what you want them to do. Show how the people will benefit from the under
taking.
– Show how urgent the issue is.
– Be straight about the action, you want your audience the audience to take, you will tell your audience whether they have to demonstrate, contribute money clean the
compound, vote for someone.
– Make your listeners give their responses before they leave the room/place. This can be done by writing names, raising hands, pledging.etc.
We ennglish-swahili/courage” target=”_blank”>courage you to seek people‘s responses as early as possible so that they don’t forget. This is because when you speak, you raise their commitment. So you should enforce action before that commitment cools down.
It is important to note that listeners should be persuaded and not intimidated speak in a manner that will make your listeners willingly be convinced to take the action that you wish them to show the listeners that you are competent or experienced in what you are saying. Example you want to tell the people how important it is for them to use mosquito nets. You may do that by telling them that you have been using such nets for e very long time and you have never suffered from malaria since you started using mosquito nets.
The Conclusion that we can make about persuasive speaking is that it is an action oriented type of speech, so whenever you are engaged in this kind of speaking, speak in a manner that will move the audience.
PARTICIPATING IN INTERVIEW
An interview is a formal questions and answers session which is aimed at understanding or digging into someone ‘s knowledge about something .An interview is a formal meeting at which someone is asked questions in order to find out his/her knowledge about certain course of study or job or about certain information.Normally the interviewer asks questions and the interviewees responds.It is important to note that there are various interviews for various purposes
For example:-Journalists interview people to verify news.
-Employers interviews an expected employee
-A researcher interviews different people to collect information
To make an interview successful one has to prepare both mentally and physically.The following should be observed.
Before the interview
-Know the organization
i.e get enough information and knowledge about the organization information like (who they are,what they do,their objectives etc.)
The information can be obtained from the website of the of the organization (if any) or from people who know about it or from their newsletter .This can make you
happy or at ease if you be asked about the organization.
-Reherse the interview
i.e learn about different questions that are likely to be asked in an interview and practise answering them.Stand infront the mirror or just in your room asking yourself
questions and answering them.
-Be punctual
i.e arrive at interview office about an hour before.This will help yoy calm down before the time of interview .Arriving late will make you panic hence fail to respond
to the question correctly.
-Be smart
Being tidy will add more credit about you as the interviewers will have positive image over you.
During the interview
-Friendliness
. smile
. actively listens or reflect back words and gestures of the interviewers
. pleasant tone voice
.Firm handshake(greet and make eye contact with others)
-Courtesy
.Let the interviewers finish talking before responding
.Use courteous words(“please” ,”thank you” ,”nice meeting”)
.Make appropriate small talk while waiting
.Hold doors open,step aside to let others pass by
-Responsive
.Use no long”uh’s” before answering
.Go beyond “yes/no”,answers to questions
.Volunteers information without interviewers having to proud for more information
-Empathy
.Head noddling when appropriate
.Slight learning forward
.Eye contact
.Paraphrasing to show understanding
-Assertiveness
.Volunteer pertnent information not asked
.Disclose negative information truthfully
.Sound confident and fourth right in voice and words
SAMPLE QUESTION
1.Tell us about yourself
In this question provide your unique selling proposition(USP) ie Personal branding or value added statement .state your best qualification for the job.Be specific and include examples to
support your statements.
e.g.I get great deal of satisfaction from knowing that i have done something well and on time
2.What are your greatest weaknesses?
In this question turn negative into positive
e.g.Sometimes i spend more time than necessary on a task or take on tasks personally that could be easily be delegated to someone else although i have never missed a a deadline,it is
still an effort for me to know when to move on to the next task and to be confident when assigning others work OR
I like to make sure that my work is perfect so i tend to spend a little too much time checking it.However I’ve come to a good balance by setting up a system to ensure everything is
done correctly the first time.
3.What are your greatest strength?
In this question provide attribute that will qualify you for the job.
E.g When I’m working on a project ,I don’t want just to meet deadlines rather I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule OR
My time management skills are excellent and I’m organized ,efficient and take pride in excellent my work.
4.Are you a self motivator
-Absolutely .I’m a very active person and I enjoy my work.I’m always looking for new and innovative ideas to bring to project
-I believe I am a self motivator -I gave to my all to a project and I’m always looking ahead to the next one at hand.
5.What do you do in your spare time?
Here the interviewer wants to know your other side of life(Out from office)
In this question describe any volunteer work you do and any hobbies such as playing spirits carpentry,gardening etc. avoid mentioning inactive activities such as watching television
6.How do you react to instruction and criticism?
In this the interviewer is trying to find out how you get along with the supervisors and how you feel about authority.You might say
-I appreciate getting instruction and criticism when it is done fairly and constructively
All in all there are many questions that can be aske in an interview.It is your time now to think of them and tryto respond to them correctly.This will make you make you very strong and confidence in any interview that you will be called upon.