Manuscript Speech: Definition, Pros And Cons, Examples

Manuscript speech, generally is the verbatim recital or performance of an. Manuscript Speech Definition. Manuscript Definition. How to write manuscrip

Manuscript Speech Definition

Manuscript Speech — Delivering a speech in public often occurs with different method, one that is usually geared toward creating a striking connection between what the reader or speaker is saying and what the audience is able to hear or understand. Out of the methods of speech delivery, manuscript speech is that which is usually adopted in formal settings. Other methods of speech delivery are impromptu speech, extemporaneous speech, and memorized speech.

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What is Manuscript Definition?

To have a better understanding of manuscript speech definition, it's important to also consider the manuscript definition. 

A manuscript is generally any document in printed form. The word manuscript is derived from two Latin words, namely “manu" and "scriptus,” that mean “to write by hand." Traditionally, manuscripts were handwritten before the invention of the typewriter and are abbreviated as MS-singular and MS-plural.

Nowadays, the words are strikingly and often used when referring to an author's draft work before publication. Although there are some shared similarities between the two concepts "manuscript" and "manuscript speech," they are used in different ways or formats.

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What is a Manuscript Speech

Having a basic understanding of manuscripts, it now begs the viable question— Manuscript Definition.

 Manuscript speech, generally is the verbatim recital or performance of an already written message in print or from a teleprompter. In the process of delivering a manuscript speech, the speaker already had each word planned out.

 

Such a method is often used when the message is critical, not just based on mere opinions but when the exact repetition of the words is important. The speaker maintains his undivided attention and has it fixed on the page unless he is using visual aids.

 

A speaker who is not good at memorizing a speech or cannot have his thoughts coordinated while delivering a speech offhand is most likely to adopt this method of speech delivery. It reduces the workload of guessing and memorizing. It also helps to avoid a situation where a speaker forgets the already-mastered speech, which could be undeniably devastating for anyone.

 

Another advantage of using manuscript speech is that it allows the speakers to make exact quotes from their source material. Noteworthy, manuscript speech is adopted mostly in appropriate formal settings like a funeral, Congress, etc.

 

The only mistakes that are likely to occur are mispronouncing words or having problems with sentence structures. It is no denial that this method of delivery could easily take away the burden and anxiety that are mostly evident while delivering a speech in public. This is because the speaker is expected to say exactly the same thing on the printed page in order to convey the proper emotion or decorum the situation deserves.

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Advantages of Manuscript Speech

There are some advantages of manuscript speech that makes it more convenient and most appreciable by most speakers. The following are the advantages of manuscript speech:

1. With manuscript speech, precise wording can be planned
2. Also, the timing of the speech can be down to second
3. When the speaker must convey a precise message
4. When the speaker wants to communicate exact descriptions and directions so as not to be misquoted or misconstrued (politicians or business leaders)
5. During emergency situations when exact descriptions and directions are necessary
6. When the speaker is accepting an award 

The Cons Of Manuscript Speech

Manuscript speech delivery is not without its own cons. The following are the disadvantages of manuscript speech:

1. Error in the printed speech

 Manuscript speech, being quite the easiest of the methods of speech delivery, can also be the costliest if the information in the printed form is mistakenly read or conveyed.

2. Lack or reduced quality of natural connection between the speaker and the audience

Manuscript Speech is arguably an interesting method of delivering a speech, taking into consideration the connection that is often expected to exist between the speaker and the audience. There is a typical looseness in this connection unless the speaker has rehearsed the speech as a complete performance and animated it with expressions and gestures.

3. Unable to maintain long-lasting eye contact

 

Critically, a good speaker is expected to maintain eye contact with the audience. This keeps the attention of the audience glued to the speaker and the information he is conveying. Thus, for a person delivering a manuscript speech, there's likely to be an absence of this unless the speaker is a practiced speaker.

4. Too many scripted words

Another disadvantage of manuscript speech is that there are too many words on the printed page for them to read. This in fact also reduces the maintenance of eye contact with the audience, as the reader finds themselves looking at the page more often in order to avoid missing where they stopped.

5. Less ideal

Arguably, manuscript speech delivery is not ideal compared to extemporaneous speech delivery. The latter is the most advanced or advised of the methods of speech delivery. It is also the most used among professional speakers, educationalists, etc. For extemporaneous speech, there's always time for research and practice before the speech delivery. The speakers do not memorize or read from manuscripts.

6. Reduced Emotional Tone

There's also a situation of a less conversational tone while delivering a manuscript speech. The natural, relaxed, enthusiastic, and direct qualities of delivery are all limited by this method.

7. Lack of prior practice before the manuscript presentation 

Also, most people will not practice enough because they tend to assume that reading a paper verbatim does not require practicing beforehand.

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Example Of Manuscript Speech

A manuscript speech example is when the president delivers a state of the union speech.

 

These are mostly error-free and well-crafted words, edited and proofread by staff writers in order to avoid mistakes. Another thing that is noticed during such speech delivery is that the president tries as much as possible to maintain eye contact with the screen, thereby giving the impression that he has studied the speech and is understandably familiar with the information therein.

 

The settings in which such speech is delivered also matter and contribute to its essence. As stated earlier, it is often used in a formal setting, just like the example provided above.

 

Another example of manuscript speech is when people are to deliver reports at professional meetings or when they are to testify before Congress. Manuscript speech, in a diluted sense, is a call for the exact words in the correct order.

How To Deliver A Manuscript Speech

What Is Manuscript Speech Delivery? Manuscript speech delivery is an act of speaking to an audience from a printed or written work verbatim.

Delivering a manuscript speech practically depends on the author of the speech. If the manuscript is yours, there's always a tendency that you'll be able to add your own thoughts without necessarily delivering them verbatim. On the other hand, if the manuscript was written by someone else, you'll have to deliver them verbatim as printed.

While delivering another person's manuscript, reading through the manuscript first could get you to understand the author's meaning. With that, you will be able to give the speech in a more conversational tone through words emphasis, pace management and the ability to convey the meaning of the original scripted words in an interesting way.

However, if the manuscript is originally written by you. Here are the things to consider:

• Your audience. Who are they? Their age rank and other necessary factors should be considered.
• Write as if you're directly speaking to them. With this, you'll be able to make a connection with your audience.
• Try to make it conversational as much as possible.

Using Teleprompter to deliver a speech

One of the primary method of giving a good speech to the audience as earlier stated is "maintaining eye contact". This might be quite challenging especially with manuscript speech. However, with the use of Teleprompter, a display device that displays the visual text of a speech or script, it appears to be much easier.

Manuscript Presentation: How To Make It A Success

There are some tips that can be followed to ensure that your manuscript presentation becomes a success, and natural as much as possible.

1. Use large print that are easily readable without having to strain your eyes. 
2. Use light pastel paper for your speech rather than white paper to reduce the glare from the lights 
3. Double or triple space your speech 
4. Make the font bold.
5. Mark pauses with a slash 
6. Highlight what you want to emphasize in your speech 
7. Create a full sentence outline to help keep you on track when reading from your paper 
8. Lastly, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!! 

How To Write A Manuscript Speech Examples

The answer to this is already highlighted under the How to Deliver a Manuscript Speech section. The audience is critically to be considered while writing a manuscript speech. This underlies their interest, the topic and how it relates to them. Their views and your opinions in relation to the information you intend to pass across to them.

The settings are another point of consideration while writing a manuscript for speech. This implies the usage of words, the level of communication and the intensity required in conveying the information, the mood, and the tone to be adopted while writing a manuscript for speech.

 

Nonetheless, a person delivering a manuscript speech can give an impression similar to that of an extemporaneous speech. With the following in place, that is: A learned speaker with good use of a conversational tone and script is achievable.

 

It is obviously not advisable to focus only on manuscript speech. A person developing himself in speech delivery should apply other methods of delivering a speech.

Having considered extensively the topics under manuscript speech which are:

• Manuscript Speech Definition
• Manuscript Definition
• How To Write A Manuscript Speech Examples
• Manuscript Speech Examples
• How To Deliver A Manuscript Speech

It is without doubt that you'll be able to distinguish between manuscript speech and other methods of delivering a speech.