Tool Talk-Use of descriptions in speech
Introduction
Hi, my name is Jorge and today I am going to show how important it is to use descriptions in public speaking. There are three definitions to the word description. One is – the act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs. Another definition is – a class to which a certain representation is applicable. And finally the last definition is – a sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in language. This last definition is the one that pertains to us. Brandon, would you please join me up here for a minute? OK, thank you. Brandon, I have someone I would like to hook you up with. Can you pick her up at 7:00 tonight? Now before you answer I would like to let the audience know that this scenario is likely to be different depending on how desperate Brandon is, but let’s assume for the sake of argument that Brandon is not desperate at all. Alright, back to my question. Brandon, would you take her out tonight? (Assume Brandon says no) Of course not. He doesn’t know anything about her; what she looks like, her personality, nothing. Now let’s try this using the power of description. Brandon, I have this bombshell of a friend, man. She looks like a playboy bunny, has an impressive level of intelligence, she cooks like a gourmet chef, and she LOVES to sail. She’s single and she wanted to know if I had any single friends that would show her a nice time. What do you say, Brandon, will you call her? Of course you will. Thank you, Brandon. Give Brandon a round of applause. You see, Brandon was much more willing to call my friend after I gave him a good description of her. Without that, he was left to his own imagination which may underestimate or overestimate the reality. That being said, I will discuss the types of description used in speech and how tone affects whether or not your description works.
Body
1. Types of descriptions and when to use them.
There are two types of descriptions and learning when to use them is vital
a. Subjective description.
This is when one provides their personal view when describing something or someone. It is meant to elicit a strong reaction or create an impression. In the example I showed, with Brandon’s help, the description of my friend was subjective. I chose specific words that I knew would invoke a certain reaction from Brandon. This type of description is perfectly suited for persuasion purposes.
b. Objective description.
This strategy relates facts, is straightforward, and should be free from bias. It should not reveal your attitude towards the subject. This type of description lends itself to technical subjects and reporting. I am going to read for you a short excerpt from a 1968 Christmas Eve message from Apollo 8, in orbit around the moon.
“The horizon here is very, very stark. The sky is pitch black and the moon is quite light, and the contrast between the sky and the moon is a vivid dark line. The sky up here is also an…expanse of blackness with no stars visible when flying over the moon in the daylight.”
This describes quite eloquently what they were seeing without any personal influence. This is a perfect example of objective description.
2. The Importance of Tonality
a. Now, in order to be effective when using descriptions, it is important to note that tonality is the thread that weaves it all together. If you just throw out a bunch of descriptions without any sense of direction, then your message will fall on deaf ears. The tone of our voice is the music of the spoken word. The emotions you choose to summon from your audience directly dictate the tone that should be used. This simply translates to “Feel what you say.” I will now read to you a descriptive paragraph that encompasses all the elements of description. Note the importance of tone and what emotions are awakened as you listen.
“My most valuable possession is an old, slightly warped blond guitar–the first instrument I taught myself how to play. It’s nothing fancy, just a Madeira folk guitar, all scuffed and scratched and finger-printed. At the top is a bramble of copper-wound strings, each one hooked through the eye of a silver tuning key. The strings are stretched down a long, slim neck, its frets tarnished, the wood worn by years of fingers pressing chords and picking notes. The body of the Madeira is shaped like an enormous yellow pear, one that was slightly damaged in shipping. The blond wood has been chipped and gouged to gray, specifically where the pick guard fell off years ago. No, it’s not a beautiful instrument, but it still lets me make music, and for that I will always treasure it.”
Conclusion
Now, in my speech I have taught you the two different types of description and their application methods, but remember that without proper tone, the audience will see you as nothing more than Charlie Brown’s teacher – mwah, mwah, mwah. So keep in mind that descriptions in speeches act as the paint on canvas. The topic of your speech is the sketch while the descriptions are the color, and finally, the tone you choose brings it to life. The life it leads may be short-lived or perpetual and that depends solely on what you feed it.
Thank you very much for your time. I’ll now attempt to answer any questions.
