Delivery
From DigitalRhetoricCollaborative
Delivery is the canon of rhetoric that involves verbal and nonverbal ways of conveying a message in the context of a specific situation. Proper use of delivery will improve credibility by showing that the speaker has taken the views of their audience into consideration. Having well polished delivery will also make your intended audience more inclined to acknowledge your message, and act on that message. While delivery enhances ethos and pathos, logos is utilized in the canons of style and invention, and is not impacted by delivery. When crafting your message it is important to take into account both the verbal and nonverbal cues and how your audience will interpret them.
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Artifact Analysis
The above video is an excerpt from former president Ronald Reagan’s 1987 Berlin Wall speech, on the 750th anniversary of Berlin’s founding. In it he urges Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the wall that had separated the city for decades, while also appealing to the West to aid in uniting Berlin.
Verbal Cues
When delivering verbally, the audience hears not only the words that are being said, carefully selected with the canon of style (Link), but also how the words are said. Use of emotion in the tone of delivery is essential in appealing to pathos. A speaker who delivers an emotionally powerful message in a monotonous tone will not be as successful as one who effectively shows emotion in their tone and rate of speaking. Additionally, ethos (link) is present in delivery through the effective use of pauses and through powerful speech. A timid speaker is less credible, as it appears the speaker is not familiar with their topic. A strong, confident speaker conveys confidence that the speaker is familiar with the topic they are speaking on.
Non-verbal Cues
A key concept in delivery includes the non-verbal techniques used to increase the effectiveness of the oral delivery. In the video above former president Ronald Reagan gives his speech in front of the berlin wall. Not only does he have the credibility to speak on this issue, being the president of the United States at this time, Reagan also sends a message just by traveling to the location; instead of just speaking from the white house, he shows that this is a serious issue and that he has the confidence to be a leader for change. He appears to be dressed in a suit and tie due to the formality of the occasion. His body language seems to be just right for the situation as he stands tall and stiff, but still is able to seem open hearted. He makes eye contact with the audience, pausing at the right times for emphasis and applause, and enunciates his words. Reagan is also able to use different inflections at appropriate times as well as match his speed with his emotions; he speaks in both moderate and slow speeds to convey a message of power, pity, and narration.
Considering the Audience
An audience expects a rhetor’s delivery to vary based on their ethos. As Reagan is the president of the United States, he is expected to dress formally and not have an overly conversational tone. But he also tailors his delivery based on his audience and their situation. While he is not conversational, his tone is more sympathetic than demeaning, reflecting the plight of the audience. Also, politicians are supposed to speak slowly so that their audience understands them, he exaggerates this as he knows that most people both at the event and watching worldwide have at best a limited knowledge of English. For those that don’t know English at all, he lets his body language and universal words do the talking, such as when he praises Berlin. This is particularly evident when he says, “Mister Gorbachev, tear down this wall” because he uses Gorbachev’s name, which is understood by his entire audience, then makes strong gestures to further convey his spoken message.
References
"Reagan - Tear Down This Wall." YouTube. YouTube, 3 July 2007. Web. 14 Apr. 2015. link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjWDrTXMgF8
McKay, Brett, and Kate McKay. "Classical Rhetoric 101: The Five Canons of Rhetoric – Delivery." Weblog post. The Art of Manliness. N.p., 4 May 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
