Public speaking

Presentation formats, rhetoric and stagecraft, from keynotes and toasts to logical fallacies.

59 terms

Anecdote

A brief account of an interesting or humorous event. Anecdotes make a speech more memorable and relatable.

Attention getter

A statement or question at the very beginning of a speech that earns the audience's interest. Common attention getters are anecdotes, surprising facts and thought-provoking questions.

Chronological speech

A speech in which the main points are delivered according to when they happened and could be traced on a calendar or clock.

Cliche

Predictable and generally overused expressions; these usually represent a lack of originality. For example “What goes around comes around.”.

A device that allows you to change slides from anywhere in the room. By not using a cable mouse you open the whole space to be used for your talk and you don’t have to keep finding the cursor. A decent clicker has a good wireless range and allows you to send a signal from any angle and distance within the room.

Confirmation bias

The tendency to interpret information in a way that confirms what you already believe. Part of a persuasive speaker's job is to get audiences to question that thinking.

Cue card

A small card or piece of paper used as a prompt or reminder during a performance, speech, or presentation. It typically contains key phrases, points or notes for the person to remember. The cards can be held in hand or placed on a stand or table in front of the speaker. They are commonly used in television, film, and theater production as well as public speaking engagements.

Dais

(Pronounced day-iss.) Raised platform on which the head table is placed.

Death by PowerPoint

Phrase used to describe a presentation that is overly long, overly complex, or overly reliant on slides, resulting in the audience being bored or disengaged. It's often used to describe presentations where the speaker reads the text on the slides word-for-word, using too much text, bullet points, and charts, and not enough visuals or engaging content. It is also used to describe presentations where the speaker is not engaging enough and not able to hold the attention of the audience.

Eloquent

Refers to the ability to speak or write well and persuasively, using language in an effective and powerful way. It can also refer to someone who speaks or writes in a fluent, clear, and effective manner.

Ethos

Persuading a listener using credibility and ethics. One of Aristotle's three modes of persuasion, alongside pathos and logos.

Eulogy

A speech given in honor of someone who has died.

Euphemisms

These are phrases often substituted for ones considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. For example, saying "passed away" instead of "dead" or "let go" instead of "fired"

Figurative language

Language that uses metaphors and similes to compare things that may not be literally alike. For example, saying "I'm drowning in a sea of grief" instead of saying "I'm upset"

Gavel

A small mallet traditionally used by a judge, auctioneer, or Toastmaster to call for attention, signal a decision, or mark the end of a session. It is also commonly used in legislative bodies and organizations to indicate a decision has been made or to call for order.

Gesticulation

The technical term for making gestures with your arms, hands and body to express an idea. Most people naturally speak with their hands, but over-gesturing can distract an audience.

Gesture

A nonverbal movement or action made with the body, such as a wave, a nod, or a point, to communicate an idea or emotion. It can also be a symbolic or ritualistic movement, such as a salute or a bow, used to convey respect or deference.

Humour

The quality of being amusing or comical, it can be found in various forms of expression such as jokes, satire, irony, and wordplay. It can provoke laughter or amusement in your audience.

Hypothetical narrative

A story of something that could happen but has not happened yet. Used to help the audience visualize a potential scenario.

Impromptu speech

Presenting a short message without advance preparation. Also called speaking off the cuff.

In conclusion

A phrase used to signal the end of a speech, presentation or an argument and to summarize the main points. It is used as a transitional phrase to help the audience understand that the speaker is winding up the discussion and is preparing to end it.

Irony

Saying that departs from what the audience expects you to say or do. For example, if it were a cold, rainy gray day, you might say, “What a beautiful day!”.

Irrefutable

A statement or claim that cannot be argued.

Keynote presentation

Technically, a keynote address is “a policy, speech, or idea is the main theme of it or the part of it that is emphasized the most.” However, most people consider a keynote the main presentation to the entire conference (opposed to smaller breakout sessions). A keynote presentation is generally on a podium or stage with screens flanking it and it is given to large audiences. Keynote speakers are held in high regard because they usually present often as a highly regarded person and many keynote speakers are professional speakers that do 100-250 paid presentations a year around a central theme (usually related to their book).

Lavaliere microphone

Portable microphone that hooks around neck or is clipped to clothing. Also known as a necklace, lapel, or pendant microphone.

Logical fallacy

Mistakes in reasoning; erroneous conclusions or statements made from poor inductive or deductive analyses.

Logos

Appealing to the audience's logic. The speaker makes clear, logical connections between ideas and supports them with facts and statistics.

Memorise

Word used in British English. It means to commit something to memory by repetition or practice, so that it can be recalled later. It's the process of committing something to long-term memory through repetition and rehearsal.

Memorize

Word used in American English. It means to commit something to memory by repetition or practice, so that it can be recalled later. It's the process of committing something to long-term memory through repetition and rehearsal.

Onomatopoeia

A figure of speech in which a word imitates the sound it describes, such as "buzz," "hiss" or "sizzle."

Opening hook

The first line or moment of a talk designed to earn the audience's attention. See also attention getter.

Paraphrasing

Putting the words and ideas of others into one’s own authentic or personal language.

Pathos

Persuading an audience by deliberately evoking emotions so they feel the way the speaker wants them to feel. One of Aristotle's three modes of persuasion.

Podium

Platform on which a speaker stands.

Q&A session

The portion of a presentation where the audience asks questions. Preparing likely questions in advance is part of presentation prep.

Rate of speech

Rate of speech or pacing is a measure of how fast a person talks. It is calculated by counting the number of words spoken per minute (WPM). 140 - 170 WPM is considered conversational pace. More important than average pace is how you vary your pace over the course of your speech. Experts suggest having a sinusoidal graph (ie. sections in which you speak fast and others where you speak slowly).

Red herring

A clue or piece of information that is intended to be misleading or distracting from the issue at hand.

Rhetorical question

A question asked for effect instead of to get an answer. Speakers use rhetorical questions to make the audience think, emphasize a point or lead into what comes next.

Rooting down

To stand upright with your weight evenly distributed over both of your hips. Throwing your weight either side of the body will quickly tell your audience you’re nervous and not comfortable with speaking before an audience. When you’re worried or scared your body language drops and when confident you’ll be well rooted.

Signposts

A type of connective that emphasizes physical movement through the speech content and lets the audience know exactly where they are; commonly uses terms such as First, Second, Finally or intro, middle, end. Helps audiences remember the speaker's message more clearly.

Slang

A type of language that consists of informal words and phrases; these may pertain to a subculture or group that others may not understand.

Slippery slope

A fallacy that assumes that taking a first step will lead to subsequent events that cannot be prevented.

Speaker notes

Notes attached to presentation slides that only the presenter sees, used as prompts during delivery.

Speech coach

A professional who helps individuals improve their public speaking skills. Such individuals likely use Yoodli as their assistant to help their clients be aware about their speech patterns.

Stage fright

Anxiety before or during a performance or presentation. Related to glossophobia.

Table topic

Impromptu speaking exercises used in Toastmasters and other public speaking clubs or events. They are short, pre-prepared questions that are read out to participants, who then have to give a one to two-minute speech on the topic without any preparation. The purpose of table topics is to help participants improve their impromptu speaking skills, and to give them practice in thinking on their feet.

Tall tale

Form of public speaking storytelling where the storyteller tells an exaggeration of the truth, often with impossible or improbable events. It is a type of storytelling that has its origin in the oral tradition of the American frontier, and it is characterized by hyperbolic exaggeration and fantastic elements, such as larger-than-life heroes and unbelievable events.

TED talk

A talk delivered at an organized TED or TEDx event, usually on a subject the speaker knows deeply. TED talks are known for tight structure, strong storytelling and running 18 minutes or less, and they are booked weeks or months in advance at events around the world.