SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Ajit John
Great speeches have been delivered right through the ages. Remember Mark Antony's speech eulogizing Julius Caesar at his funeral is quoted regularly at competitions or on occasions of seriousness. Martin Luther Kings ‘I have a dream’ speech is another one that is quoted ad nauseum. A great speech is remembered through the ages.
Today, as we celebrate World Speech Day, it is important to note that great changes have been a reaction by speeches delivered at the right time. The theme this year is ‘Ideas for a Better’. While it may sound unconventional, quirky even, there’s a story behind it. The inspiration comes from Lagos, Nigeria. The original theme for WSD was ‘Ideas for a Better World’ – but with a twist of genius the event organisers in Lagos reimagined this as ‘Ideas for a Better Lagos’. This localised touch point was not only a hit among speakers of all abilities, it also attracted extensive media coverage across Lagos and Nigeria. The success? Rooting the event in local relevance, ensuring the speeches resonated, and advocated tangible community-led changes. It’s easy for the press to report speeches that provoke comment or debate with their readers/viewers.
Speeches have become some of the most influential opportunities for promoting and advancing change in the world, not only in academia but for the general culture. While speakers certainly have a monumental impact on the way that society is shaped, those who write the speeches may be considered to be just as powerful and making an impact.
Today there are various people in the world who survive on the spoken word. Radio jockeys, Master of Ceremonies depend on their talent or ability with the spoken word to earn their livelihood. For Narmata, a popular radio jockey it is all about ensuring the speech that was delivered was interesting and it managed to keep the attention of the listener. With attention spans, she says dropping all over the world it was important to be concise. She says, “According to a report, it is possible to stay focused for a maximum of 45 minutes and after that the attention span wavers. Speech is very important, if you sum it all up in an attractive fashion it is would be very good.”
Jessica Sharma, another radio jockey says it was important to any job to be able to communicate. She says, “To do well you need to speak well. I love my job. I talk to large number of people or also on a one on one basis. But remember I don’t approach my job only
in speeches. I am the connecting bridge between people.”
For an emcee, the importance of language cannot be emphasized. Savio Roy, a veteran in the business says one learns to get better at the craft over time. He says, “I have acquired a lot of knowledge and I like speaking. Never had stage fear. The subject and the occasion is very important. It is important to accumulate facts. If you speak in a random fashion it will not make any sense. As a master of ceremonies, the client has expectations. We are trying our best.”
Another popular radio jockey, Ayesha Baretto says when she was on radio or at events she had the facts in place like the important names of the clients and the rest would be off the top of her head. She says, “If I am invited for a school event, my speech will be short, sweet and entertaining. The delivery has got to be quick and to the point. If you are powerful then people will give you the time of day otherwise no. Otherwise they will tune you out. In my line it is true literally and figuratively.”
For popular master of ceremonies, Bradley Carvalho, it all came naturally to him and he just channelized it. He admits that initially there was a feeling of nervousness but over time he became more natural. He says, “Some people have the gift of the gab which needs to be channelized. I started at a time when the biggest fear after death was public speaking. Very few people did it. Now I have spent 25 years in this business. I started off in college and then the church. Then church activities and from there weddings and social events and then corporate events”.
Elias Fernandes, another veteran in the business, admits that being in front of the mic was a challenge and it was important to watch and be aware of how you delivered the speech and how the audience was reacting to it. He said it was a challenge because in the crowd there would be people from different walks of life. It was important to analyse the crowd and plan the speech accordingly. It was important, he said, to grab their attention. A veteran of over 20 years he said it had always been a learning experience. It was important to evolve and upgrade with the times. Today, he says attention spans had dipped dramatically. He said it was important to connect with the younger audience. He says, “I like to take them out of their comfort zone and interact with them one on one. They are not interested in listening to you so you have to change. The youth today want everything fast and you have to adjust to it. ”
Speech making will remain with us as long as man inhabits this planet. Each year, over 100 nations participate in World Speech Day, including schools, universities, community groups, cafes, and speakers’ clubs. As an organization, World Speech Day is made up of hundreds of individuals who want to live up to their full potential by inspiring others, particularly through the power of speech. May this habit remain strong.
