SOUTHERN VOWEL DISTORTIONS. - Some people from the South have a drawl that makes their speech difficult to understand. They hold the vowel (a, e, i, o, u) sound so long that it slurs into the next sound. For example, "I'm" becomes "Ahhh'm."

To correct this, clip the sound and make it shorter. Run through the following examples, carefully articulating each sound.

THE "S" SOUND. - The "S" sound is the most difficult sound to correct. The general rule is: do not mess with an "S." Take the microphone and place it out of the "S" air zone, so when you talk you are talking across the microphone instead of directly into it.

Rate and Transitions

Changes in the tempo (rate/speed) and the use of pauses (transitions) while speaking are essential to understanding. Normal speech rate varies from 80 to 175 words per minute.

A steady rate of speed will produce monotony. In general, changes of rate help reflect the weight of the issue. Important information is slowed; less important topics may be increased in speed.

As stated earlier, the oral punctuation mark gives the announcer an opportunity to pause. The pause makes the division of thoughts and the segmenting of those thoughts possible. Without the vocal pause, the meaning of the topic would be haphazard and hard, if not impossible, to follow. The oral pause also gives the announcer time to restore his breath supply naturally.

Authority

Announcers, and in particular news people, require authority in their voices. It is that special something that tells the listener, "What I have to say is important." Newscasters either have it (authority) or they do not - there is no substitute. In some cases, because of a naturally higher pitch, women newscasters may suffer from authority problems more than men, but it is not a problem unique to women.

The following techniques may help if you are lacking authority in your voice: Take charge. You must have a thorough understanding of your copy. It is up to the newscaster to tell his audience what it needs to know. You must adopt an attitude of, "This is important - listen to me!" l

l Add volume. Intensifying your vocal tone to establish a sense of authority may be effective. Try this by standing about 10 feet from a wall. Deliver your copy loud enough so that your voice hits the wall and is reflected back. You do not have to yell, but you should be loud enough to be heard clearly 10 feet away. This is called vocal projection.

l Monitor your volume. Have another person stand across the room from you as you read the copy. Every time your volume drops, have that person tell you to speak louder.

Stumbling

All newscasters occasionally stumble over a word, and they should not worry about it as long as it is only occasional. When you experience a lot of stumbles, the cause is usually the brain getting ahead of the mouth. Here are a few solutions:

Concentrate on what you are reading. Your mind should be on your copy and nothing else. Avoid distractions.

Use the index card technique. If you area speed reader or read unusually fast, place a 5- by 7-inch index card on the line you are reading. As you come to the end of that line, move the card to the next line. This technique will slow you down enough so you do not overread and it will help you focus your attention on the line you are reading.

Use parentheses to mark any phrases that give you trouble. Do not mark individual words - only mark the phrase.

Preread your copy at least twice for familiarization. If your copy surprises you while you are reading it on the air, you are not ready to read You should be able to tell, in rough form, what the stories are about without looking at the copy.

Avoid back tracking to correct a stumble. Keep going and do not call attention to the mistake.

Some people worry so much when they make a mistake that they make additional mistakes. Once a mistake is made, FORGET IT. Concentrate on what is coming, not what is gone. Your audience does not expect perfection. (One exception to this rule is if the stumble changes a fact in a story. If this happens, take a second or two to regroup, then correct the error. You also can correct the error after a spot break, if time allows.)

Have your eyes checked by a doctor.

Unfortunately, eyesight deteriorates with age and even the best announcers cannot read words they cannot see.

Speedy Delivery

Speaking too fast is a common problem for beginning announcers. As the announcer, you can correct this problem by understanding that not everyone is able to think as fast as you can talk. If the listener cannot understand you because you are speaking too fast, then you are wasting the listener's and your own time.

The following are a few simple tricks that will help you slow your delivery:

Write the words SLOW DOWN all over the margins of your copy in a bright-colored ink.

This will remind you throughout the newscast to keep your speed under control.

Use the three-step reading system. Read the copy through once, as fast as possible. Then read it as slowly as possible, over-articulating and reading one word at a time. Finally, read the copy somewhere between the two previous speeds. During the third reading, make sure you are in the presence of someone who can tell you to slow down when you start to pickup speed.

Follow the "five-minute rule." The average rate of delivery is 15 lines per minute. The actual rate should be somewhere between 14-16 lines per minute. Limit yourself to 60 lines of copy for a five-minute newscast. Make sure you finish at exactly the five-minute mark. The only way to reach the time mark and not have dead air is to slow down.

Use the eraser technique. Place a medium-sized art eraser between your front teeth. Try to read the copy while holding the eraser firmly in place by biting down. You must articulate and be able to be understood while you are reading. It is almost impossible to talk fast and still be understood while you are holding the eraser.

Mark your copy for breathing points. Breathe wherever you see a mark