Reading Response from a Piece of Writing - Essay Example

The topic on pausing is very interesting especially to those who wish to teach students in the future. It comprises of two subtopics, which include pausing and speaking speed. From my personal experience, pausing is important because it allows you to take a breath in the midst of your speech. The author gives various reasons for pausing and in my opinion most of them are related. For example, he states that breaks occur where there are speech stretches between clauses and sentences. In another note, he explains the essence of pausing when there is a comma in any paragraph or sentence (Richardson, 1983).

The two purposes are similar because they indicate that pausing occurs whenever there is an end in a tone and the start of another. Indeed, the author doesn’t need to elaborate the reasons separately. They should be in one paragraph. The author gives relevant basis of how you can measure the speaking speed. He argues that speed is the number of units per unit time. He presents his interpersonal arguments on the best methods to use for measuring the speed of speech. In the text, he analyses the strengths and weaknesses of using either the word or syllable in measurement of speed.

In this way, readers can understand both methods despite the limitations and assumptions. Linking pausing and speech speed to learning serves the pedagogical purpose of teaching or training. From the text and author’s arguments you can see that the aspect of learning how to apply the two phonetic components, you can deliver a good speech to learners. The text gives an insight of the rationale behind stressing some syllables or words after pausing, which is a common skill in effective speakers (Richardson, 1983).

Intonation is another phonetic aspect discussed in the text. Note that the author introduces the concept of speech stretch in order to explain the application of tonal variations when one is speaking. The phonetic components discussion has prompted my personal experience in the past encounters with the public. During the launching of the new automated home appliance in a national exhibition, I discovered that many people could not get my points clear. It was a hard time because after pausing at some point in my speech I could not increase the tone immediately so as to be clear and explicit.

Little did I know that pausing can be applied together with intonations, I would have succeeded in my presentation. The writer has enough and valid definitions of pauses, speaking speed and more so intonation, which have nourished my knowledge in speech delivery. It is also important to speakers who are not fluent in their speeches. One should balance fluency, accuracy, tonal variations and pausing when teaching, instructing or presenting something to an audience. I think the writer should have provided a direct relationship between pausing and intonations so as to create more understanding to the reader (Richardson, 1983).

The relationship would have been better since the readers can develop sequential skills in applying them in order. They can practice on how to pause, stress some syllables or words and regulate their speaking speed accurately. In this way, when one becomes a teacher, you can impact on the learners’ ability to speak fast and fluent and at the same time apply the phonetic components. Speakers with the problem of tonal variations usually encounter challenges when delivering a speech to an audience.

Some complain that the speaker is too fast especially the non-native speakers.ReferencesRichardson, R. (1983). Pausing and Speed. New York: Routledge.