Speaking - Planning

“Men of few words are the best men."

(3.2.41)

― William Shakespeare, Henry V

Introduction 

          Speaking is one of the four basic language skills and an essential part of communication. It enables a person to express ideas, thoughts, opinions, feelings, and information to others. Effective speaking is not just about talking; it requires proper planning, confidence, clarity, and organization so that the audience can understand the message easily. Before delivering any speech or presentation, careful planning helps the speaker communicate in a logical, meaningful, and effective manner.

Definition 

According to Florez (1999), speaking is defined as:

"an interactive process of constructing meaning that involves producing, receiving, and processing information".

Speaking is the act of communicating ideas, information, opinions, or feelings orally to one or more listeners. Effective speaking requires not only good language but also confidence, clarity, proper pronunciation, voice modulation, and careful planning.

According to Kathleen M. Bailey (2005), speaking is defined as:

"producing systematic verbal utterances to convey meaning".

 (Bailey)

Importance of Planning Before Giving a Speech 

Meenakshi Raman and Sangeeta Sharma, in their book titled  Technical Communication: Principles and Practice, emphasised that Planning is the first and most important stage in preparing a speech or presentation.

Without planning:

• The speech may become disorganised.
• Important points may be forgotten.
• The speaker may lose confidence.
• The audience may fail to understand the message.

According to Raman and Sharma, careful planning saves time and effort later and enables effective preparation, resulting in a successful and memorable speech.

Process of Planning

1. Identify the Occasion

The speaker should first understand where, when, and why the speech is being delivered.

The occasion determines:

• the content,
• the tone,
• the duration,
• and the audience's expectations.

Example: A serious business presentation requires a formal tone, whereas a wedding speech may include humour.

2. Analyse the Audience

The audience is the receiver of the message. Therefore, the speaker should gather information about the audience before preparing the speech.

Questions to consider include:

• What are their interests?
• Are they familiar with the topic?
• Are they friendly or critical?
• What is their age group?
• What is the size of the audience?

Understanding the audience helps the speaker adapt the language, examples, and style of speaking according to their needs.

3. Decide the Purpose

The next step is to determine the purpose of the speech.

The material identifies three main purposes:

• To Inform – provide information or knowledge.
• To Analyse – explain or examine a topic.
• To Persuade – convince the audience to accept an idea or take action.

The purpose decides the content, style, and level of audience interaction.

4. Prepare the Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the central idea of the speech.

According to the Raman and Sharma:

• It should be a complete declarative sentence.
• It should clearly state the main point.
• It should avoid questions or incomplete phrases.

A good thesis statement tells the audience exactly what they will learn from the presentation.

5. Collect the Material

After deciding the topic and purpose, the speaker should gather relevant information.

Sources may include:

• Books
• Library resources
• Internet
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Surveys
• Interviews
• Organizational records
• Statistics and publications

The collected ideas should then be arranged systematically for easy presentation.

6. Prepare an Outline

An outline acts as the framework of the speech.

It helps the speaker:

• arrange ideas logically,
• avoid unnecessary repetition,
• remember important points,
• maintain a smooth flow.

A typical outline consists of:

• Introduction
• Main Body
• Conclusion

7. Structure the Speech

The material explains that an effective presentation has three major parts:

Introduction

The introduction should:

• greet the audience,
• attract attention,
• introduce the topic,
• present the thesis,
• establish credibility,
• preview the main points,
• explain the question-and-answer procedure if required.

Main Body

The main body presents the ideas in logical order with suitable explanations, examples, and supporting information.

Conclusion

The conclusion summarizes the main points, reinforces the central message, and leaves a positive final impression on the audience.

 Conclusion

Speaking is an important communication skill that enables people to share ideas, information, and opinions effectively. A well-planned speech is clear, confident, organised, and more effective in achieving its communication goals.

Works Cited:

Bailey, Kathleen M. Practical English Language Teaching: Speaking. Edited by David Nunan, McGraw-Hill, 2005.

Florez, MaryAnn Cunningham. Improving Adult English Language Learners' Speaking Skills. ERIC Digest. ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics, June 1999, eric.ed.gov/?id=ED435204.

Raman, Meenakshi, and Sangeeta Sharma. Technical Communication: Principles and Practice. 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, 2015.