Week 5 - Reflect on course resource online
Heritage & Clayman's (2010) Talk in Action: Interactions, Identities and Institutions discusses the way in which speakers, specifically political speakers, can incorporate techniques into their speeches to incite applause from the audience.Through the analysis of audience responses, Heritage & Clayman (2010) were able to identify the key aspects speeches to incorporate need in order to elicit the greatest responses from audience members.
The first technique is contrast. Heritage & Clayman (2010) describe contrast as "the most common and diverse weapon in a speaker's armory" (p.268). Contrasts in speeches come in the forms of contradictions, comparisons, opposites and phrase reversals and it is found that the likelihood of applause increases four times over with contrasts in comparison to regular sentencing (Heritage & Clayman 2010).
Heritage & Clayman (2010) also found that lists, particularly lists of three, were effective in creating an audience response, especially when the speaker pauses before the final item (p. 270). Types of lists include the use of three identical words, three different words, three phrases and three sentences.
The third technique that can be used by a speaker to incite applause is the 'Problem-Solution' technique. The speaker outlines a problem for the audience so that by the time the solution is then delivered to them, the audience has had ample time to anticipate the applause point (Heritage & Clayman 2010). Heritage & Clayman (p.171) also suggest that this technique is a good way to incorporate humour into the delivery of a political message.
The three techniques mentioned also work when used in combination throughout speeches. While Heritage & Clayman (2010) highlight the importance of correct formatting when it comes to writing and presenting speeches, they are also careful to place emphasis on not only the techniques but the correct use of pausing during delivery. A well planned pause when using a combination of contrasts, lists and the problem/solution technique, is invaluable in mobilizing audience response.
Heritage & Clayman (2010 p.276) also reiterate that while these techniques aid speakers in getting the response they desire from the audience, a speech has to work on several levels. Without good content and a speaker with good intonation, the formatting techniques may not be enough.
What I have learnt after reflecting on this article is the importance of using the appropriate techniques to create an effective speech. The success of speeches, as well as the popularity of the speaker, are so often judged based on the amount of applause receive and these techniques discussed by Heritage & Clayman (2010) are certainly useful to know in order to reliably attract applause. When an audience can project when applause is necessary, the more applause that can be expected by the speaker. It is about guiding the audience to the exact moment a response can be initiated (Heritage & Clayman 2010 p. 274).
References
Heritage, J & Clayman, S 2010 Talk in Action: Interactions, Identities, and Institutions, WileyBlackwell, West Sussex, pp. 263-287.
The first technique is contrast. Heritage & Clayman (2010) describe contrast as "the most common and diverse weapon in a speaker's armory" (p.268). Contrasts in speeches come in the forms of contradictions, comparisons, opposites and phrase reversals and it is found that the likelihood of applause increases four times over with contrasts in comparison to regular sentencing (Heritage & Clayman 2010).
Heritage & Clayman (2010) also found that lists, particularly lists of three, were effective in creating an audience response, especially when the speaker pauses before the final item (p. 270). Types of lists include the use of three identical words, three different words, three phrases and three sentences.
The third technique that can be used by a speaker to incite applause is the 'Problem-Solution' technique. The speaker outlines a problem for the audience so that by the time the solution is then delivered to them, the audience has had ample time to anticipate the applause point (Heritage & Clayman 2010). Heritage & Clayman (p.171) also suggest that this technique is a good way to incorporate humour into the delivery of a political message.
The three techniques mentioned also work when used in combination throughout speeches. While Heritage & Clayman (2010) highlight the importance of correct formatting when it comes to writing and presenting speeches, they are also careful to place emphasis on not only the techniques but the correct use of pausing during delivery. A well planned pause when using a combination of contrasts, lists and the problem/solution technique, is invaluable in mobilizing audience response.
Heritage & Clayman (2010 p.276) also reiterate that while these techniques aid speakers in getting the response they desire from the audience, a speech has to work on several levels. Without good content and a speaker with good intonation, the formatting techniques may not be enough.
What I have learnt after reflecting on this article is the importance of using the appropriate techniques to create an effective speech. The success of speeches, as well as the popularity of the speaker, are so often judged based on the amount of applause receive and these techniques discussed by Heritage & Clayman (2010) are certainly useful to know in order to reliably attract applause. When an audience can project when applause is necessary, the more applause that can be expected by the speaker. It is about guiding the audience to the exact moment a response can be initiated (Heritage & Clayman 2010 p. 274).
References
Heritage, J & Clayman, S 2010 Talk in Action: Interactions, Identities, and Institutions, WileyBlackwell, West Sussex, pp. 263-287.
Week 5: Consider institutional talk
When analysing the variations between and entertainment based interview and a news based interview, the differences are very evident.
In Clip 1, the introduction to the interview is long, conversational and much more relaxed then the introduction for the interviewee in Clip 2. The Morning Show had a conversational introduction between the hosts as well as a montage clip to introduce the interviewee Khloe Kardashian. In Clip 2, Scott Morrison is merely introduced as the Treasurer and then the questioning begins.There is much less fan fare in the news interview.
In Clip 2, the interviewer is not afraid of conflict. Leigh Sales's interview manner is very direct and she often cuts off or interrupts the interviewee and does not allow any of her questions to be avoided. Sales almost creates some level of conflict by calling out the Treasurer any time he attempts to talk around answering her questions. Sales does not shy away from conflict throughout the interview.
Humour is definitely evident in Clip 1 throughout the conversations between Kylie Gillies and the interviewee Khloe Kardashian. It is a relaxed and conversational environment in which they joke about her family life, photo shoots and closet space. Conflict is managed in this interview through the use of humour when the interviewer strays from the approved question list with a funny magazine cover story. The interviewee happily responds due to the use of humour. In direct contrast to Clip 1, Clip 2 has a very serious tone throughout.
Clip 1 finishes by cutting back to the studio and showing a conversation between the show's hosts. Clip 2 ends quiet abruptly in comparison, with Sales just thanking the Treasurer for his appearance. This is yet another area in which the two different types of interviews differ greatly.
The difference between a news interview and an entertainment orientated interview is made very clear through these two examples. News interviews are much more information based, there is less 'fluff' when compared with entertainment based interviews.
References
ABC News (2015), Treasurer Scott Morrison talks to 7:30, video, 23rd September, viewed 14th April 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu6V7BAIxas
The Morning Show (2015), When Kylie met Khloe, video, 30 July, viewed 14th April 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx4lkWHP7cA
Week 4: In a World (2013) Review
In a World (2013) follows Carol (Lake Bell) a female vocal coach as she attempts to break into the male-dominated voice over industry. Carol challenges her father, who is famous in the voice over industry, and goes for a highly paid voice role in a high budget movie trailer. This film explores the stereotypes and gender roles in the industry and follows Carol on her journey as she works to achieve her dreams of becoming a voice over star.
In the movie, techniques such as having good posture, relaxing the face and body, humming and exercising the lips, tongue and face were used and all of these were also addressed in the study module this week.
This week's lesson outlines the importance of practice and of feedback ie. listening back on your voice recordings. This is was a technique that was also employed in the film.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching In a World (2013) for this week's workbook task. It was also very interesting to see how closely the techniques used in the film related to those that were discussed in this week's lesson.
Week 4: Voice re-recording and reflection
Before recording my second attempt at the news reading which was previously recorded in Week 1, I employed several of the recommended warm up techniques to increase the resonance in my voice. Resonance, articulation and projection were all areas in which I felt I could have improved last time and after the completion of the lesson and suggested videos for Week 4, I realised it all had to do with my breathing.
For my warm up, I worked through the exercises outlined in the lesson in order to practice my volume and projection as well as relax my face. I believe that you can hear the difference in both my projection and resonance as a result although I felt like my voice sounded more powerful in person then it appears on the recording so it is obviously something I still need to improve on.
I also marked out spaces to breath/pause on a print out of the transcript before beginning and highlighted words on which to place emphasis. This helped to prevent me from speeding up and sounding boring. I also kept in mind what Piazza (2009) said in the video 'How to improve your voice'; "that if you think you are too slow or too loud, you are probably about right".
As I record my voice directly into my computer, I am sitting down when I do it. I took note of my posture before beginning this time and naturally I tend to slouch and sit with my neck slightly forward instead of keeping it over my spine. Videojug (2012) showed me that this works to cut of the voice and reduce the depth of the speaking sound. So I focused a lot on my posture this time. I believed this help to improve my speaking voice as well.
Overall I think that this attempt is significantly better than the first one and this is obviously due to the techniques I learnt in this week's lesson. I still have a tendency to trip over some words but I think that I am improving.
References
Videojug, 2012. 'How to have a deep voice', viewed 14th April 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgo022I1FZQ
Piazza, F 2009. 'How to improve your voice', viewed 14th April 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAjKfL-upvo&feature=related
Week 5: Notice Talk
Here is what I have noticed this week after spending a couple of days paying close attention to the way in which I interacted with others.
- When I greet people I most commonly say "Hey, how are you?" or if I am responding to their greeting "Good thanks, how are you?" If I am not interested in encouraging conversation I usually simple respond with "Hi" and a smile.
- When saying goodbye to people, it differs depending on the circumstances. If I am at work (I work in hospitality) I always say "Thank you, have a good day." In my every day life I usually farewell someone with "See you later."
- In dealing with uncomfortable situations, I am likely to smile politely and remain quiet. Or usually I will respond in the way in which I think the person is most likely to be expecting or which would be seen as the correct social response. I.e. if it was a bad joke that they told, I will respond with a polite laugh. This response technique does not apply to situations in which I disagree with the speaker. I am more than comfortable politely expressing a different point of view.
- I use humour a lot in my every day interactions and after analysing my interactions I discovered that I definitely use it as a transition technique when closing a conversation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)