Narratives
Narratives are especially effective in speeches because they draw listeners into the action. Because listeners can often “see” themselves enacting certain roles within the stories, narratives can encourage those transformations of identity and behavior that ethical public speaking makes possible. Moreover, narratives stimulate the process of constructive listening . Because stories prompt listeners to create meaning from what they hear, the audience becomes involved in the creation of the message. It becomes their discovery, their truth. Such involvement enhances the impact of the message.
Personal narratives also increase identification between speakers and audiences. They can help bridge the cultural differences that separate people of diverse backgrounds. According to Vice President Gore, storytelling can even help old enemies make peace. On one occasion, when Palestinian, Israeli, Jordanian, and Syrian leaders met to discuss a peace treaty, Gore saw the negotiations coming to a standstill. The situation looked unpromising until, in Gore’s words, “The breakthroughs came when they told stories about their families. I have seen time and time again how storytelling brings people together.”
Narratives serve many of the same functions as examples. They make a speech livelier and help sustain attention. They clarify abstract or technical ideas. They emphasize a point by telling a story that illustrates it. A narrative functions as a speech within a speech—it begins with an attention-getting introduction, continues with a body in which the story develops, and ends with a conclusion that wraps up the message. Facts and statistics fade with time, but narratives leave the audience with something to remember.
Tags: Public Speaking