The Basics of Speech

Chapter 16: Preparing for Oral Interpretation

Overview

Oral interpretation involves performing literature aloud to communicate meaning to an audience. There are many sources of good pieces of literature that are appropriate for oral interpretation. Quality literature pieces can come from your favorite authors, literature collections, biographies, autobiographies, plays, screenplays, oral histories, and your own or a friend's writing. When selecting material, it is important to consider four standards: the quality of the literature, its audience appeal, the oral possibilities of the literature, and your feelings about the piece. After you have chosen a piece, you should consider its setting, plot, mood, theme, conflict, characters, and culture. As an interpreter, you will need to study the word choice, style, rhythm, and rhyme of the literature. You should also learn about the author of the piece in order to more effectively convey his or her message to the audience.