Basic Oral Communication Response

Summary

I chose Chapter 7: Verbal Communication: Voice from the book Basic Oral Communication from the University at Buffalo library to respond to on my blog. Basic Oral Communication was written by Glenn Capp and Richard Capp, who both have doctorates in the field of communications. In the chapter Verbal Communication: Voice the authors argue that the quality of the voice in the delivery of the message is essential to being an effective oral communicator. In this way, it is important to focus on the sound, pace, and volume of your voice in order to ensure that you are communicating as clearly and convincingly as possible.

What stood out?

In the introduction to the chapter Verbal Communication: Voice from Basic Oral Communication Glenn Capp and Richard Capp ask, “of what value is having something to say if you cannot be understood?”(1976). In other words, even if your argument, statement, or presentation is comprised of strong content, it is insignificant if you cannot deliver it well. In order for your audience to understand you, you must speak in a clear, confident, and simple way. In this way, the voice the speaker uses is just as important as the content of the speech. If the voice is lacking or unconvincing in some way, it is unlikely that the audience will hold the speaker in high esteem, and if the goal is to persuade the audience it is unlikely that the speaker will succeed.

My Response

I think that this is an extremely important thing to keep in mind as a communicator. Many people, especially those who are inexperienced in oral communication, focus so much on the content of what they are saying, that they ignore the way they are saying it.

It is extremely important to use the correct tone and volume of voice when communicating. Most people respond best to a confident voice that is not too loud and not too soft. These voices come off as knowledge and trustworthy, but not too aggressive or arrogant. It is also, of course, very important to prevent your voice from shaking or stumbling over words when you are communicating because it comes off as uncertain and scared.

When speaking you should also try to focus on the pace of your voice. Especially when giving presentations, anxious people tend to rush their words which makes it difficult to follow what they are trying to say.

I definitely think that I would benefit from applying the information I learned from Basic Oral Communication to my own communication skills as I continue to develop them. I have definitely encountered some of these issues in my oral communications such as speaking too fast out of nerves and stumbling over words. I think that through more practice and focus on eliminating these glaring issues in my own speaking my communication skills will become more effective in academic and professional environments.

Citation

Capp, G. Capp, R. (1976). Basic oral communication. Prentice Hall.