The Importance Of Emphasis In Public Speaking

Emphasis, defined as a special and significant stress of voice laid on particular words or syllables (www.dictionary.com), is a vital and distinct component of public speaking. True success in public speaking is marked not by the ability of the speaker to prepare their material but by their ability to generate enthusiasm for it among their listeners. This cannot be done without the proper use of emphasis.

Listening to a well written speech is like staring at the ocean. When the waters are tempestuous and storm tossed, crashing wildly on the shore, the ocean can hold the viewer’s attention for hours. The ocean without a ripple, on the other hand, quickly becomes boring. The viewer moves on to do other things long before they have discovered the secrets of what lies beneath the surface.

Such is the case with public speaking. The well written speech, delivered with emphasis and verve, will captivate the mind and the heart of the listener. The well written speech delivered without enthusiasm, on the other hand, will quickly send its listeners running for the hills long before it has had time to make its point.

Emphasis displays enthusiasm, and it is enthusiasm for the topic that is the trademark of a great speech. Emphasis in public speaking is, in and of itself, the art of contrast. The speaker places significant emphasis, or force, on the thoughts, words and ideas that he or she deems to be most important when it comes to making their point. They may choose to be loud or soft, pitch their voice higher or lower, lengthen their words or insert a pause into the equation in order to emphasize their words and impress their importance on minds’ of their listeners.

It is a basic truth that an audience will only remember ten percent of what a speaker has said when they walk away from the stage at the end of the day. The master in public speaking will use emphasis to ensure that they walk away with the right ten percent. The words, thoughts and ideas that he or she has emphasized will remain in the consciousness of their listeners.

The points which should be emphasized when giving a speech include:

• The main theme of the message

• The arguments that back up the hypothesis or belief that is being made

• The motives behind the words

The delivery of a speech is as important (if not more so) than the material which is being presented. The student of public speaking should learn as early as possible how to emphasize their words to play to their audience and increase the amount of exposure and support their message receives at the end of the day. Remember, emphasis generates enthusiasm, and it is enthusiasm that motivates action-and what is public speaking but a call to action on a grand scale?

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