HINTS ON PUBLIC SPEAKING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3383, 18 July 1927, Page 2

HINTS ON PUBLIC SPEAKING.

Members of the Melbourne Rotary Club who were present at the weekly luncheon at Anzae House last week were privileged to hear Mr Alexander Watson address them on the subject of public speaking. Acknowledged to be one of the world’s foremost exponents of the art of elocution, it is safe to say that no one could be found better qualified to speak on such a subject. Talking in intimate tones and naturally, and yet as effective as when on the platform addressing a crowded audience, Mr Watson held the attention of his audience throughout, and incidentally introduced many good stories and happy incidents, related in-his own inimitable manner. Mr Watson said he was not accustomed to public speaking. (A laugh). He was accustomed to speaking matter written by other people, which demanded an entirely different attitude of mind. A public speaker spoke to an audience, hut an elocutionist spoke before an audience. He nevertheless thought he might claim to be a fairly good critic of other public speakers. Ho believed that through the medium of wireless public speaking was going to he a greater factor in public affairs than ever it had been before in the history of the world. It would be necessary for men to train, themselves more than ever to become good speakers over the wireless. He did not think Australia would be behind in this matter. During his tour of Australia he had received very many letters from people who asked him to give special selections from the works of the great authors. That was an indication of the taste for a good literature and the fine effect of education in this country. In setting a standard for public speaking, it would he necessary to adopt a higher standard than that which he had heard from the loud speakers at Spencer street station, for instance. (Laughter). He had listened to the blatant, roaring, stentorian blast of sound issuing from these speakers, but, whilst they roared at him like a bull, lie had not been ab'e to understand more than a syllable at a time, though his intuition informed him the speaker was making diverse references to the platforms from which certain trains wore destined to depart. That was where elocution came in. He apologised for using the word elocution. If there was one word in the English language he hated it was "elocution” and its derivatives. There was something sinister about it —almost criminal, in fact. (Laughter). Unfortunately the word was misunderstood, and had become a synonym for "recite.” Many people hated reciters, and lie did not blame them. A friend had once suggested that ho should write another book on How to Recite and Retain Your Friends. (Loud laughter) A popular delusion about public speaking was that when a man got on a platform he should "speak up.” A speaker should never force his voice by "speaking up,” as this created strain for both himself and his audience. He should always speak in his natural or middle pitch. Another tiling many speakers were guilty of was turning the head from one side to the other. A speaker should always speak in one direction. The moment he turned his head away his voice had a different sound, and his listeners had to reattune their cars, creating a kind of indistinctness, which worried them. The natural voice was often marred by bad speaking habits. It was possible for everyone to so train his voice that it was clear and good to listen to. (Applause),