COM231 - The Power of Speech: Beyond the Sound of Your Voice

ROSHAAN AMEER DISCUSSION PUBLIC SPEAKING "A golden voice is certainly an asset for a public speaker, but some of the most famous speakers in history have had undistinguished voices. Abraham Lincoln had a harsh and penetrating voice; Winston Churchill suffered from a slight lisp and an awkward stammer." Chapter 13 Page 235 This is important to me as a public speaker because it shows me, that the sound of your voice does not matter when giving a speech. It is more about the content of the speech. If famous people like Winston Churchill had a lisp and are one of the most infamous public speakers then anyone can do it. This helps me because I can be embarrassed about my voice but giving a good speech does not depend on the sound of your voice. This can be applied to any speech as you might not feel comfortable with the way your voice sounds, but the content of the speech is what matters. When giving a speech in school I tend to overthink the sound of my voice but in reality, it does not matter. The only thing that matters is the content of the speech and how you project your voice. The idea that a speaker's success is not solely determined by the quality of their voice is an essential aspect of public speaking that is brought to light by the following quote: "A golden voice is certainly an asset for a public speaker, but some of the most famous speakers in history have had undistinguished voices." This statement brings to light an essential aspect of public speaking, which is that a speaker's success is not solely determined by the quality of their voice. There are a great number of other aspects that contribute to successful public speaking, in spite of the fact that it can be beneficial to have a voice that is both pleasing and authoritative. The ability of the speaker to communicate with the audience, the precision and organisation of their message, as well as the use of appropriate language, tone, and delivering style are some of these factors. These ideas can be illustrated by looking at the lives of Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill. In spite of the fact that they had distinct accents, they were successful in capturing the attention of their audiences and inspiring them with the persuasive messages and delivering methods that they used. They were able to communicate on an intuitive level with those they were performing for because they had a profound comprehension of their listeners. In addition, both Lincoln and Churchill put in a lot of effort to better their public speaking abilities. Churchill sought the help of a speech therapist in order to overcome his stuttering and lisping, whereas Abraham Lincoln was renowned for his meticulous planning and preparation. They were well aware that having a pleasant voice was not enough to be successful in public speaking, and as a result, they put in a lot of effort to improve their abilities. To summarise, having a strong voice may be an advantage for a public speaker, but it is not the only element that contributes to success in this field. Regardless of the quality of their speech, public speakers can be just as successful if they are able to connect with their audience, communicate in a way that is both straightforward and structured, and use language, tone, and delivery style that are appropriate for the situation. The lives of Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill serve as a reminder to us that anyone, regardless of their inherent abilities, can become a great public speaker through diligent practise and unwavering commitment.