CONTENT PREPARATION

Content

Any text, audio clip, video, etc. that is used to prepare a presentation is called content. We should prepare the content for the presentation by writing and adding audio-visual aids if required. It is the base of any presentation hence it should be written carefully. The content must have easy diction and simple sentence structures; so that the audience can easily understand it. The final content should match the purpose, audience, and time duration.

Parts of content

Generally, Content has three parts

a) Introduction

This introduction part gives an idea about the theme of the presentation. It also raises the curiosity of the audience about the rest of the presentation. Hence, it should be very impressive and promising, too.

b) Main Body

It is the main part of a presentation. It may have several Headings and Sub-headings depending upon the duration and length of the presentation. This part has great value as it attracts the audience and makes them sit throughout the presentation. Hence, it should be very strong.

c) Conclusion

This end part of a presentation is very crucial. The concluding note creates a lasting impression on the audience. A powerful ending is remembered for many years. Hence, concluding part must have a strong message with powerful style and tone. 

Importance of Content

Content is the soul of a presentation. If there is no content means there is no presentation.

a) It is used to educate the listeners.
b) It is also used to bind the presentation
c) It adheres the presenter to the topic.

Process of Content Preparation

Content preparation takes the following steps-

1.   

1.         Planning of Research- The first step for content preparation is Planning of research. Planning needs three main queries

• Topic: The writer must know the topic of his research. Without the topic, a writer cannot start his research.
• Audience: audience is the key point for a successful presentation. Age, status, language, interest, background, etc. are very important before preparing the content. The audience likes only those presenters who can prepare presentations according to their needs.
• duration: Time is crucial. content must fit into the given time frame. If the presentation is short, the audience would feel cheated or if the presentation is lengthier than the given time, the audience would get bored. 

 Content can be explored online and offline. For a good presentation, deep and thoughtful research is required.

2.     Collection- The second step is the collection of relevant and important material. Initially, more than sufficient material is collected. Images and videos along with the written material are also collected.

3.     Selection- The next step is the selection of relevant material. The collected material is studied and unnecessary details are avoided. The selected material should match the audience, time duration, and Locale.

4.     Organization of Rough Draft- The next step is the preparation of a rough draft. The selected material is put together in an organized way for drafting a rough draft. A rough draft is prepared on the basis of the material selected for the final presentation. The rough draft also includes a rough idea about audio-visual material.Before organizing content, the presenter should keep in mind: 

a) Nature of the message

b) Audience analysis

c) Scope of the presentation

d) Choice of approach

e) Choice of visual aids

f) Choice of an appropriate style

5.     First Fair Draft- The next step is to prepare the first fair draft and content must be well organized in different sections like introduction, conclusion, etc. Here, a presenter can easily check the appropriateness of the content.

6.     Revision and Editing- After the first fair draft a continuous process of revision and editing goes on till the mistake-free content. Any mistake till here can be easily rectified. Audio-visual clips may be added or removed. Hence the presenter must be patient and correct the maximum errors before finalizing the content. Last-minute changes may bring adverse effects at the time of presentation.

7.     Final content- After a good revision and editing, the content is finalized and ready for presentation

PARA-LINGUISTIC FEATURES OF VOICE DYNAMICS

  

PARALINGUISTIC FEATURES OF VOICE DYNAMICS

“Voice adds a human touch to words.”

The word 'para' originated from the Greek language meaning 'beside or beyond', and linguistics is related to language. ence, we can say that paralinguistic features are the vocal effects (beyond the language) we can employ when we speak. Paralinguistic features are commonly referred to as "tone of voice". They add a human touch to words and help the speaker to make his oral presentation impressive. Voice gives extra life to speech delivery. Therefore, it is useful to understand the nuances of voice dynamics.

Para-language, also known as vocalic, is a component of nonverbal communication that may modify meaning by using techniques such as pitch, volume, intonation, speed of speech, stress, pronunciation, articulation, etc. Voice gives extra life to delivery.

Advantages of Para-language

1.No oral communication is complete without para-language as it is closely connected to the language itself.

2. To a large extent, para-language indicates the position and situation of the speaker, whether in an organization or in society.

3. It also reflects the speaker’s personality and background to a great extent.

4. Para-language is indicative of the mental state of the speaker.

 Limitations of para-language

1. Para-language is ‘semi’ or ‘like’ a language. It is not a language by itself. Therefore, it can not be used to express all feelings and emotions.  
2. Conclusions based on Para-language may or may not be right because paralanguage features can mislead the listener.
3. Also, as speakers may come from different backgrounds, cultures, and situations, making conclusions from para-language may be difficult.

The main categories of linguistic features

1.      Vocal characteristics are

a.       the pitch (the highness or lowness),

b.      volume (loudness or softness),

c.       rate (the speed at which you speak), and

d.      Voice quality (how pleasant or unpleasant your voice sound).

2.      Vocal interferences are the sounds and words we use when we hesitate or are not sure of the right word. We all use the occasional “uh”, “er”, “well”, and “you know” to indicate that we are searching for the right word. But such interference may become a problem when they pop up too frequently as they can interrupt your listener’s concentration and comprehension.

Main paralinguistic features-

1.      Quality:

It is fact that the quality of one’s voice cannot be changed; a person can be trained for optimum impact. A voice may be rich and resonant, soft and alluring, thin and nasal, hoarse and husky, or harsh and irritating. The quality of voice can be improved by practice only. A Good quality sound attracts the audience toward the presenter.

2.       Volume:

The loudness or softness of the voice is called volume. If the speaking venue is large and open the volume should be high. If the venue is small and enclosed, the volume should be low. The speaker should set his volume accordingly. it is advised to read aloud or recite tongue twisters to develop variety in vocals.

a.       Too much high volume is felt boorish and insensitive.

b.      a loud voice is usually associated with aggressiveness

c.     The too-low volume shows timidity and gives an impression that you are not well prepared and lack confidence.

3.      Pace/Rate:

Rate is the number of words spoken per minute. It varies from 80 to 200 words per minute. The normal rate is 120 to 150 words.

a.       Too slow speech makes the presentation monotonous and dull.

b.      People who speak quickly are said to be nervous.

c.       Too fast can make the audience uncomfortable and puzzled.

d.      It is best to vary your speaking pace. Use pauses to create emphasis.

4.      Pitch:

Pitch means the number of vibrations of voice per second. The rise and fall of the voice convey various emotions. Inflections give warmth, luster, vitality, and exuberance to speech.

a.       Lowness of pitch shows sadness, shock, dullness, guilt, etc.

b.      High pitch indicates joyous, ecstatic, triumphant, and even angry.

c.       A well-balanced pitch results in a clear effective tone which helps in breaking the monotony.

5.      Intonation:

It refers to the rising and falling of pitch of the voice when somebody says a word or syllable. Correct intonation can bring you praise but incorrect intonation can harm the presentation and bring it a bad name.

6.      Articulation:

Articulation refers to speaking out all the sounds distinctly. Speakers should be careful not to slop, slur, chop, truncate, or omit sounds between words or sentences. If the sounds are not uttered properly the understanding will get interrupted and deters the listeners. If the articulation is Lazy, the sound is slurred, or words are skipping over then there is no guarantee of the credibility of the speaker.

Example: - ‘I dunno’ (X)     

                    ‘I do not know’ (right)

7.      Pronunciation:

Pronunciation means speaking out sounds in a way that is generally accepted. For the English language, the best is British Pronunciation. One should be careful enough to pronounce individual sounds along with stress according to the set norms. Always consult the dictionary when confused.

8.      Modulation:

It means the adjustment of tone, pitch, and volume of the sound. It brings flexibility and vitality to voice and emotions, sentiments, suspicion, etc. can be expressed in the best possible way. Without modulation, the voice becomes languid, flat, without command, and unimpressive. Word stress and sentence stress play an important role in voice modulation.

9.      Pause:

 It is a short silence flanked by words. A pause in speaking helps both the speaker and the listener. A listener can understand & digest the message accordingly while it gives a break to the speaker which helps him speak continuously without exertion. Don’t become too self-conscious (about pause) otherwise, the process will become artificial. Don’t prolong the pauses unnecessarily as they will hinder the flow of your speech.