72.2 Judging the Audience (அவை அறிதல்)
Question:
What are
the essential things to be considered by a speaker when he addresses an
audience?
Answer:
Good men of eloquence
should use the right words
to suit the time and place.
(Couplet - 712)
இடைதெரிந்து
நன்குணர்ந்து சொல்லுக சொல்லின்
நடைதெரிந்த
நன்மை யவர். (குறள் – 712)
Explanation:
When a speaker addresses an audience,
he should consider the time and occasion of speech. For example, if he must
make a presentation just before lunch, he should realize that the audience will
be eager to go to lunch, and therefore, he should be brief in his speech. If he
happens to speak after lunch, it is possible that part of the audience may feel
a little tired and sleepy. Under those circumstances, he should include humor
in his speech to get the audience’s attention. Also, the speaker should know in
advance how much time he should speak. He should finish his speech within the time allotted for him. The speaker should also take the occasion into account. For
example, if he is delivering a commencement address, he should be positive in
his speech and motivate the students instead of dwelling on the potential
difficulties in real life.