Broadly interpreted, any utterance whether heard by one, few, or many- may be said to be “public”. Public speaking is said to be an enlarged conversation. There is little difference between talking to one person, to ten persons, or to a hundred. The talking that goes on at the dinner table does not differ in essence from the talking that goes on at a meeting. The only real difference is that at a meeting the speaker is allowed to talk for a longer time without interruption.
The public communication form is variously referred to as “public speaking”, “public address”, and “one-to-many interaction.” It has been described as a science, an art, and a “practical art.” It is, of course, practical in that it is useful and performs numerous functions for the speaker, the listener, and for the society as a whole. Communication experts like George Kops and Richard Worth says to the extent that in an age of accelerating change and increasing uncertainty, effective public speaking is frequently the margin of difference between success and failure.
Public speaking is considered to be purposeful communication. The speaker, generally, is said to have purpose behind his/her speech. Often speeches are classified according to purpose:
1) Speeches to inform or teach the audience.
2) Speeches to interest or to amuse or entertain the audience.
3) To stimulate or impress.
4) To convince or persuade.
In short, many of the communication experts have defined the term ‘public communication’ as involving a single speaker who, in relatively formal tone and manner, presents a continuous, uninterrupted, informative, persuasive, or entertaining discourse on a subject of supposedly general interest to a sizable manner of other persons. But the term ‘public communication’ is also seen as communication involving more than two persons. In a sense we have been public speakers ever since those long-forgotten days in early childhood when most of us rose to recite “jack and Jill went up to the hill” or “Where is thumbkin” to an enthusiastic audience of relatives and friends.
Of course the importance of public speaking is observed in various factors of life. That is to say the importance of public speaking is not limited to single field. But it is also true that the words “you’re next on the stage” are almost guaranteed to bring a chill of fear to the uninitiated. Stephen Price, management consultant, states that stage fright afflicts just about everyone who’s called on to speak in public. He also says that the pain and frustration connected with public speech is difficult to imagine by those who have never lived through the experience.
Buehler.E.C and W.A.Linkugel in their book Speech Communication says that stage fright is a psychological condition caused by worry and anxiety. These emotions often overcome the speaker’s intellectual processes and interfere with his purpose, his normal self-expression, and the full utilization of his personal resources. It is possible for most of us to know about stage fright largely by its symptoms: pounding heart, flushed face, cold sweat, trembling limbs, dry mouth, loss of memory, lack of eye contact with audience, increased pulse rate, sinking feeling in the stomach, and so on. The listeners notice some symptoms and only the speaker knows others.
In short, it has been largely accepted that the fear and nervousness is part of human nature. It has been referred to feelings of excitement from anticipation before some event or happening. It is believed that if fear and tension do nothing else but stimulate the speaker to do his homework, they have performed their natural service. Fear and tension may considered to be a positive influence that sharpens the speaker’s strategy so that s/he may perform well.
The public communication form is variously referred to as “public speaking”, “public address”, and “one-to-many interaction.” It has been described as a science, an art, and a “practical art.” It is, of course, practical in that it is useful and performs numerous functions for the speaker, the listener, and for the society as a whole. Communication experts like George Kops and Richard Worth says to the extent that in an age of accelerating change and increasing uncertainty, effective public speaking is frequently the margin of difference between success and failure.
Public speaking is considered to be purposeful communication. The speaker, generally, is said to have purpose behind his/her speech. Often speeches are classified according to purpose:
1) Speeches to inform or teach the audience.
2) Speeches to interest or to amuse or entertain the audience.
3) To stimulate or impress.
4) To convince or persuade.
In short, many of the communication experts have defined the term ‘public communication’ as involving a single speaker who, in relatively formal tone and manner, presents a continuous, uninterrupted, informative, persuasive, or entertaining discourse on a subject of supposedly general interest to a sizable manner of other persons. But the term ‘public communication’ is also seen as communication involving more than two persons. In a sense we have been public speakers ever since those long-forgotten days in early childhood when most of us rose to recite “jack and Jill went up to the hill” or “Where is thumbkin” to an enthusiastic audience of relatives and friends.
Of course the importance of public speaking is observed in various factors of life. That is to say the importance of public speaking is not limited to single field. But it is also true that the words “you’re next on the stage” are almost guaranteed to bring a chill of fear to the uninitiated. Stephen Price, management consultant, states that stage fright afflicts just about everyone who’s called on to speak in public. He also says that the pain and frustration connected with public speech is difficult to imagine by those who have never lived through the experience.
Buehler.E.C and W.A.Linkugel in their book Speech Communication says that stage fright is a psychological condition caused by worry and anxiety. These emotions often overcome the speaker’s intellectual processes and interfere with his purpose, his normal self-expression, and the full utilization of his personal resources. It is possible for most of us to know about stage fright largely by its symptoms: pounding heart, flushed face, cold sweat, trembling limbs, dry mouth, loss of memory, lack of eye contact with audience, increased pulse rate, sinking feeling in the stomach, and so on. The listeners notice some symptoms and only the speaker knows others.
In short, it has been largely accepted that the fear and nervousness is part of human nature. It has been referred to feelings of excitement from anticipation before some event or happening. It is believed that if fear and tension do nothing else but stimulate the speaker to do his homework, they have performed their natural service. Fear and tension may considered to be a positive influence that sharpens the speaker’s strategy so that s/he may perform well.
Possible Sources of Stage Fright
Buehler and Linkugel (ibid) states that stage fright and its control are to a great extent an individual problem. The most common source of stage fright is said to be the concept of self-image. “ Your feeling of self-esteem is being threatened. You care too much what others may think of you.” Hence the ‘conscious self’ pushes the ‘real self’ out of the way. Another possible reason for stage fright is said to be the conflict between the thoughts and feelings. “Sweet thoughts of triumph conflict sharply with bitter thoughts of failure.” Another species of stage fright arises out of a feeling of dread or aversion to do anything before a group or imagine the audience to be much larger than it is and the very term Public Speaking strikes terror in their hearts. Some fears are believed grown out of the unknown that is lack of awareness regarding many things connected with the audience, the situation and the topic itself. Many times the strange and unfamiliar bring on that nervous and uneasy feeling.
Constructive Attitudes to Stage Fright
Many individuals believe stage fright as a weakness but, in fact, it is common to most speakers. Most people experience at least some of these feelings at one time or another. Buehler and Linkugel (ibid) verbalize that stage fright is so prevalent that it has been experienced by many of the world’s most renowned orators. Even such famous speakers as Daniel Webster, Mark Twain, Will Rogers, and Winston Churchill complained of stage fright. But as Stephen Price says that one must find a way to release this nervous energy in constructive expression. He says that our normal reaction to all fear is either fight or flight. But “when we are giving a talk, we know that we are not going to fight the audience, and we are too responsible to run away.”
Buehler and Linkugel pronounce that the person himself is responsible for the problem i.e. stage fright. “Like your fingerprints, it is peculiarly yours, and you are the only person in the world who can cope with it.” One of the best solutions recommended by them is to use an inventory of questions for self-evaluation and find appropriate answers for them. Another best solution is practice. As Publius Syrus, an ancient Roman author rightly said, practice is the best of all instructors. Control of stage fright cannot be accomplished overnight, it comes gradually and by facing up to it. Finally, in Speech Communication, specific tactics are prescribed for the speaker like delivery of speech, purpose and bodily communication. In many of the books of communication it is said that the best way to gain confidence is to take up the challenge to speak at every opportunity. The best way to rid of the stage fright is only by confronting it. As in words of Robert Frost, “ The only way around is through.”
Buehler and Linkugel pronounce that the person himself is responsible for the problem i.e. stage fright. “Like your fingerprints, it is peculiarly yours, and you are the only person in the world who can cope with it.” One of the best solutions recommended by them is to use an inventory of questions for self-evaluation and find appropriate answers for them. Another best solution is practice. As Publius Syrus, an ancient Roman author rightly said, practice is the best of all instructors. Control of stage fright cannot be accomplished overnight, it comes gradually and by facing up to it. Finally, in Speech Communication, specific tactics are prescribed for the speaker like delivery of speech, purpose and bodily communication. In many of the books of communication it is said that the best way to gain confidence is to take up the challenge to speak at every opportunity. The best way to rid of the stage fright is only by confronting it. As in words of Robert Frost, “ The only way around is through.”
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