Pronunciation tips for presenters
The following page intends to give some useful tips and advice on improving pronunciation whilst giving a presentation.
Get physical
Do some 'warm-ups' to loosen up your mouth and your tongue before you speak. You can move and stretch your mouth, and repeat tricky words and sounds. Doing this will help you to overcome the physical 'stiffness' of the articulators and to speak fluently and clearly.
Get interested in your talk
Focus on your content. Make it sound interesting for your audience. If you speak with meaning and commitment along with healthy interest in the subject you tend to lose your nerves. Ensure you speak clearly so that your pronunciation can be understood.
Give your audience time to take in what you are saying
You can do this by pausing at the end of word groups and information chunks. Pausing is important for listeners because they need time to absorb information. Pausing also gives you, the presenter, time and 'space' to stress key words and use intonation signals.
However, too much pausing, or stopping at the end of each word or couple of words can make you sound hesitant and lacking in confidence. It also makes every word carry too much meaning. English speakers get meaning across by stressing key words in information chunks.
Give your audience a sense of direction
Don't lose your audience in a forest of words. A presentation is like a journey. Take your audience with you.
Signal new topics and sections of your presentation by:
- pausing
- starting on a higher pitch level
- stressing the key words, such as signposting words and the topic word/s of your new section.
Let your audience know when information is finished or not by using:
- rising intonation () to indicate unfinished information
- falling intonation () to signal finished information.
Let your audience know what's important
Present key information clearly by stressing key words. In English, new information usually occurs towards the end of a speech chunk or sentence. Keep your voice and breath going so you can stress those crucial words at the end.
Get the basics right
Make sure that you can pronounce key vocabulary, data, names and acronyms clearly and accurately. To do this:
- check the stress in poly-syllabic (multi-syllabic) words - use a dictionary or ask a competent English speaker if you are not sure. Practice difficult vocabulary.
- identify and practise problem sounds, particularly in high frequency words and key words in your presentation.
Rehearse and reflect
Nothing beats practice. It is amazing what mistakes you will find in a presentation as soon as you start rehearsing.
Practise your presentation standing up and imagine yourself in the situation.
Rehearse:
- Your opening. When you start your presentation, you're likely to feel nervous so it is helpful to know exactly what you are going to say to open your presentation, where you will pause, what words you will stress, and the intonation you will use.
- Topic sentences and signposting words introducing new topics or making a topic change. This will make your transitions smooth and easy to follow.
- Your conclusion and the body of your presentation, including how you will refer to any visual aids as you move through your presentation.
Video or record yourself if possible and use a checklist to evaluate how effective you are. Better still, get someone to listen to you and give you some feedback.