Barronforcongress

Communication with your audience begins before you ever open your mouth. Your facial expression, personal appearance, and air of confidence all convey a message. How do you walk to the front of the room to give your speech? Do you move with confidence and purpose, or do you stumble and shuffle? As you begin your speech, do you look your listeners directly in II eye, or do you stare at the ceiling as though seeking divine inspiration? This body language is a nonverbal message that accompanies your speech. It at’fects how your audience responds to what you say. For public speaking to be effective, your body language must reinforce your verbal language. If your face is expressionless as you urge your listeners to action, you are sending inconsistent messages. Be sure that your body and words both “say” the same thing. Although we discuss separate types of body language in this section, ii practice they all work together and are interpreted as a totality by listeners.