英语演讲选修课speaking on special occasion

Chapter 12 Speaking On Special Occasions

Special occasions are the highlights of routine life. Award ceremonies, birthday parties, graduations, farewell dinners, weddings and funerals are all special occasions, and they are very special to the people who take part in them. Nearly always they are occasions for speech making. Speeches for special occasions are different from the speeches we have considered so far. They may convey information, but that is not their primary purpose. Neither is their primary purpose to persuade. Rather，they aim to fit the special needs of a special occasion. Six major types of speaking for special occasions are discussed in this chapter; they are speeches of introduction, presentation, acceptance, tribute, welcoming and farewell.

Speech of introduction

--- a speech that introduces the main speaker to the audience.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states.”If you are asked to introduce the president, you will need no more than these nice words. The president is so well known that any further introduction would be foolish.

However, most of the time, a speech of introduction will demand more. If you are introducing another speaker, you will need to accomplish three purposes in your introduction: Build enthusiasm for the upcoming speaker

Build enthusiasm for the speaker’s topic

Establish a welcoming climate that will boost the speaker’s credibility

A good speech of introduction can be a delight to hear and pave the way for the main speaker. Usually you will say something about the speaker and about the topic. Following are some guidelines for speeches of introduction.

Be brief

The purpose of a speech of introduction is to focus attention on the main speaker, not on the person making the introduction. That is, the audience came to hear the speaker, not the introducer. Usually a speech of introduction should be no more than two to three minutes long and it may be shorter if the audiences already know the speaker well.

Make sure your remarks are completely accurate

Make sure you know the speaker’s name and the speech topic. Remember that nothing is more important than a person’s name. If the speaker’s name is difficult, especially if it involves a foreign pronunciation---practicing saying it well in advance. Otherwise you will embarrass the speaker and mislead the audience.

Don’t take the speaker’s job

While you want to prepare the audience for the speech, do not discuss the speech topic in detail. The audience wants to hear the speakers’ view on the topic, not yours. Your job is to create an appetite for the upcoming speech.

Adapt your remarks to the main speaker

Do not make the main speaker uncomfortable. How can you make a main speaker uncomfortable?

On way is to overpraise the person---especially for his or her speaking skills. Never say, “Our speaker will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end!” This is like prefacing a joke with the line, “Here is the funniest joke you’ve ever heard.” You create a set of expectations that almost impossible to fulfill.

Another way to create discomfort is by revealing embarrassing details of the speaker’s personal life or by making remarks that are in poor taste from the speaker’s point of view. An introducer may think this line is funny: “Why, I’ve known Anita since she was 10 years old and so fat that everybody in the class called her Blimbo!”To the speaker, however, the statement will probably not a bit funny and may be painful.

Try to create a sense of anticipation and drama

In the following sample speech of introduction, you will notice that the speaker’s name was saved for last. This is a convention in speeches of introduction. By doing this you build a sense of drams and the speaker’s name comes as the climax of your introduction. Here is an example: “Children, we have a very important guest with us today. He is the number one policeman in our city, the head of all the other police officers. Besides knowing a lot about crime right here at home, the police commissioner has also spent time working with Interpol –a special group of police officers who deal with crimes around the world. Today he is going to talk about how all of us can help to prevent crime. Let’s give a big round of applause and listen carefully to police commissioner Robert Washington.

Most important, you should adapt your remarks to the audience

Take the same introduction of the police commissioner as an example, If the speaker is addressing a group of members of the city council instead of elementary-school children, the introduction might go something like this:

Members of the city council and distinguished guests: It is my privilege to introduce to you today the police commissioner, who will address us on the subject of the community policing program. Most of you know that the commissioner has a distinguished record as head of our police force for more than 10 years. However, you may not know that he also holds a master’s degree in criminology and studied abroad for a year with Interpol, the international police force. The commissioner first introduced the community policing program eight years ago. The idea behind the program is to get police officers out of their cars and into our neighborhoods, where they can talk directly to merchants and residents about the real dynamics of our city. These officers do more than make arrests. They try to find ways to help solve the problems that contribute to crime in the first place. Often that means hooking people up with services offered by other city agencies---schools, hospitals, housing, drug treatment centers.

And the program seems to be working. Crime is down and our citizens report that they feel more secure. Today the commissioner is going to tell us more about this program. Please welcome Police Commissioner Robert Washington.

Useful expressions

It is a great pleasure to introduce the distinguished scholar …

I would like to introduce tonight’s speaker…

Before we ask Mr. Feldstein to begin his speech, let me say a few words by way of introduction. Tonight’s speaker, Dr. Henry Jackson, needs no introduction.

Dr. Evans is internationally renowned for his best- selling book, “How to live healthfully.”

Let’s have a big welcome for tonight’s guest speaker, Mr. frank Jackson.

Tonight he will speak about his thought-provoking best-seller, “the end of the world.”

Ladies and gentlemen, let me present dr. john smith

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great pleasure to have you all here this evening. Before we start with the lecture, may I say a few words about tonight’s speaker?

Tonig ht’s speaker, as you all know, is Mr. Hong Fu Man, currently president of Hong Trading Company. Mr. Hong was born in shanghai, and grew up there.

Forty years later, Mr. Hong is the owner of one of the leading companies in Hong Kong. Tonight he will speak to us on the topic, “global management in the 1990’s”

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Hong Fu Man.”

Speech of presentation

--- a speech that presents someone a gift, an award, or some other form of public recognition Speeches of presentation are given when someone is receiving publicly a gift, a prize or an award. Usually the speech is fairly short. There are a few suggestions for avoiding the pitfalls of this type of speech.

State the purpose of the award

If the award is new and special, and the audience does not know much about it, you may begin by explaining the nature of the award or why it is presented. In contrast, an award having a long history, like the Oscar award, needs little explanation.

Focus on the accomplishments of the recipient

The audience doesn’t want a detailed biography of the recipient. You just need to highlight his achievements. The speech of presentation will be very brief, rarely more than five minutes long. Avoid over-praising

Do not explain everything in such superlatives that the presentation lacks sincerity and honesty. Build a sense of suspense

Unless the name of the recipient is known in advance, it should be saved until the end of the speech. This will build a sense of suspense, and the audiences will start to guess at the honoree with each new bit of information you provide. Usually the speech of presentation ends with something like, “and so it is my great pleasure to announce the winner of the lifetime achievement award, our own John Doe.”

“Good morning, everyone. I have asked you here this morning in order to recognize some of our employees for their outstanding performance in the past year.

Based on careful consideration and performance evaluation, the selection committee has reached the following decision: the three recipients of the outstanding performance award are Mr. David Shu…Ms Jenny Lee …and Mr. John Wu.

Needless to say, this year’s recipients deserve special recognition for their dedication and accomplishments. Also I would like to say that every one of you who wasn’t chosen today has a good chance of wining this honor, if you try hard enough. I wish you all the best of luck.”

Another example:

Presenting the Congressional Gold Medal

Bill Clinton

To my friend, President Mandela, Americans as one today, across all the lines that divide us,

pay tribute to your struggle, to your achievement, and to the inspiration you have given us to do better. Today we offer a man who has received the Nobel Prize the highest honor within the gift of this country…

Those of us who share his vision and lift him up in honor today owe it to him to build a permanent partnership between Americans and Africans---for the education of our children, for the solution of our problems, for the resolution of our differences, for the elevation of what is best about us all…

In forgiving those who imprisoned him, he reminded us of the most fundamental lesson of all---that in the end apartheid was a defeat of the heart, the mind, the spirit. It was not just a structure outside and jail houses within which people were kept; it was a division of the mind and soul against itself. We owe it to Nelson Mandela not simply to give him this award, but to live by the lesson he taught us and to tear down every last vestige of apartheid in our own hearts---everything that divides us, one from another.

For those of us who have been privileged to know this remarkable man, no medal, no award, no fortune, nothing we could give him could possibly compare to the gift he has given us and to the world. The only gift that is true recompense is to continue his mission and to live by the power of his profound and wonderful example.

Now, as prescribed by the law, it is my privilege to present the Congressional Gold Medal to President Nelson Mandela.

Useful expression

I am pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s award for outstanding performance.

We are very happy to present the award for best teamwork to the sales department.

We are gathered here to honor Mr. Walker’s dedication to our company for the past thirty years. The three recipients of the dedication award are as follows:

The winners of the award for excellence are …

The award committee has reached a unanimous decision to give this award to Mr. Jackson.

Each recipient will be presented with a cash award of $20000 together with a certificate.

Let us proceed to the presentation of award by president Zhan.

The three recipients deserve this award for their dedication and ability.

Mr. White is well known for his creative work.

I would like to acknowledge Mr. Goldberg’s contribution by giving him this award.

We are very proud of Ms. Jameson for her excellent performance.

Speeches of acceptance

--- a speech that gives thanks for a gift, an award, or some other form of public recognition An acceptance speech is closely related to a speech of presentation. At some point in your life, you may be publicly commended. You may be presented a farewell gift from your friends. You may receive an award for winning a sporting event, an essay contest or a speech competition. These different occasions require one thing in common –each requires and response. It is time for making speeches. A speech of acceptance usually includes three steps.

Thank those who grant you the award

You may wish to name not only the sponsor of the award but also the person who made the speech of presentation.

Thank those who helped you attain the award.

Seldom do we achieve things by ourselves. Thank those who invested time, money, and expertise to help you achieve your best, like your parents, teachers or coaches.

Accept the award graciously

An acceptance speech is no time to be cocky or clever. Be sincere. Convey a sense that the award means something very special.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. president, and all the distinguished guests. I can’t believe that I have been selected as the employee of he year. When I was informed of my nomination, I couldn’t believe my ears. In fact, I am still not sure if I really deserve this honor, because I know many of my colleagues work even harder than I do.

I want to take this opportunity to thank them all, and share with them the pleasure and honor of receiving this award. Thank you very much and I will try my best to contribute to the further growth of our company.”

Another example

Accepting the Congressional Gold Medal

Nelson Mandela

Thank you, President Clinton, Mr. Speaker, distinguished members of the Senate and the House, ladies and gentlemen…

It has been my great privilege to serve a people whose bondage to an inhuman system evoked the solidarity of all those who love freedom and justice, a people whose triumph over the divisions of racist doctrine has given new life to humanity’s hope for a world without hatred and discrimination. I am conscious that in bestowing the Congressional Gold Medal upon me you are evoking these bonds between our nations and paying tribute to the whole South Africa nation for its achievements in realizing our shared ideals…

It is in that spirit that I humbly accept the award, aware at the same time of the great honor you do me by using me as the vehicle of a unique distinction conferred by this hollowed institution of American democracy. As one who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of unity, I am moved by the consensus in your nation’s regard for the achievements of my people. And I feel a great pride in the fact that with a few citizens of other countries who have received this high honor, the name of an African is now added…

The award within which you honor me today is an expression of the common humanity that binds us, one person to another, nation to nation, and people of the north to of the south. I receive it with pride as a symbol of partnership for peace, prosperity, and equity as we enter the new millennium. I thank you.

Useful expressions

I am very happy to receive this award.

It is an honor and a privilege to receive this award.

I am very happy that my work has received such recognition.

None of this would have been possible without the help and support of my fiends.

I especially want to thank Mr. James for his continuous support and encouragement.

I want to thank all of you whose diligence and dedication made this possible.

I believe that they also deserve this award and I think I happen to represent them in accepting this award.

They have always been my precious team mates, adviser and above all, friends.

Speeches of tribute

Mr. Shaw is retiring after forty years as a college English teacher. At his retirement banquet, three former students tell the audience the important role he played in their lives.

This is an example of speeches of tribute. This type of speech honors a person, a group or an event.

A special form of the speech of tribute is the eulogy, a speech of praise usually given for those who have recently died. A minister performing a funeral usually gives a speech of eulogy by praising and honoring the deceased.

Establish noble themes

As you begin wring a speech of tribute ask, “Why is this person worthy of my praise?” answer this question by developing themes you want your audience to remember. A speech of tribute celebrates what is good about a person. Remember to focus on the positive.

Be sincere

You must be careful not to exaggerate a person’s accomplishments. To do so, your speech may seem insincere or unbelievable.

Connect with the audience

The audience is part of the occasion. If you are honoring a former teacher, you can also speak for your class or even all students who studied under Mr. Shaw.

Appeal to the audience

You may want to use stories, anecdotes and vivid examples to appeal to the audience. This makes the honoree more human and more memorable.

Speeches of welcome

The purpose of a speech of welcome is to express pleasure for presence of a person or organization.

Be familiar with the person or organization you are welcoming

You want accurate information about he person or organization you are introducing. Although the speech will be brief, you need accurate and complete information from which to draw.

Be familiar with the situation to which you are welcoming the person or organization

It is surprising how little may members of organizations, citizens of a community, and students at a college or university really know about their organization or community. To give an appropriate welcome speech, you need to find relevant information.

“I am Jason lee, president of this company.

First I would like to extend a sincere welcome to you all.

As you know, or company is one of the big names and has a long tradition. I think you must be proud of being part of such a great company. But we cannot afford to depend on tradition alone. We need new blood like you to bring us new ideas, new knowledge and new insights.

I would like to welcome you once again, and from today, let us begin to work together.”

Useful expressions

I am excited to see so many young and energetic faces.

The hope and ambition of young people is refreshing.

I am sure you are all well equipped with knowledge.

We want to welcome you to the planning department.

Our company needs young people with new and professional ideas.

Working smart is more important than working hard.

I want you to learn to think creatively.

It is about time you put what you’ve learnt into practice.

Speech of farewell

A farewell speech should be clear and concise. What you say and the manner in which you say it should be suitable to the special occasion. The farewell speech may include the following:

A sincere and appreciative tribute to those individuals who are leaving.

An announcement about the special occasion and its importance, referring to the gratification gained from your relationship with those leaving.

Best wishes for the future successes and happiness of those leaving.

“as you know Mr. Jones will soon be leaving us to become the director of the Los Angeles branch.

I am very happy that he has been promoted. For the five years Mr. Jones has been with us, his ability and dedication have always been a source of pride to us. His absence from this office will be a great loss.

However, it will definitely be a great gain for the Los Angeles office. Mr. Jones, we are going to miss you very much and we wish you the very best of luck in your future.”

Useful expressions

We are very sad to say goodbye to...

It is very unfortunate that Mr. Douglas will be leaving us.

I regret to announce Mr. Davis’ resignation.

We are going to miss you tom.

Mr. Brown has been promoted to manager of our USA branch.

Mr. Hoffman will be transferred to New York next month.

We are going to miss her smiling face.

We were fortunate to have worked with him for so many years.

Assignment: the second presentation

●Presentation on special occasions

●Around two minutes

●Next Saturday

●Would be graded

●No absence