The Special Occasion Speech

Special occasion speeches celebrate a moment. They can be joyous, somber, or they can simply set the agenda for the day. What makes them unique is that they’re intertwined with the here and now. Toasts, roasts, sendoffs, and eulogies are the most common examples of these speeches. They are also given when presenting an award, as well as when saying a few words after receiving one. The key characteristic of a special occasion speech is that they are delivered in the present tense, marking the time spent together as significant. The secret to delivering a successful special occasion speech is to recognize that it is a series of stories connected by transitional phrases.

A few of my former public speaking students at College of Menominee Nation have reached out to me to discuss a eulogy they’ve been asked to deliver. In times of grief, they’ve been asked to say a few words to help remember someone their community lost to the hereafter. They call me because they want direction on how to begin. I remind them to make a list of all the stories they would like to share, remembering that the crux of a successful speech lies in sharing ideas that they enjoy speaking about and that their audience would benefit from hearing. Once they have their list, we get to work on how best to present it.

There are eight good ways to capture an audience’s attention, and the best speakers use most of them in all of their speeches. Speakers most often gain attention through the use of stories, which are at the heart of special occasion speeches. They could also pose a question, asking the audience to rhetorically consider something. One could additionally refer to the occasion at hand, establish common ground with the audience through the use of “we” rather than “I,” or use humor when it is appropriate. They could share a quote that fits the gathering or cite unusual information that surprises their listeners in a good way. Of course, as seen across Indian Country, speakers could also begin with a self-introduction, be it in their Native language, English, or Spanish. Once they have their stories selected, they can review this list to decide how best to deliver them.

When a speaker has decided upon the content and method of delivery for each of their points, they can begin to place them into an outline. Transitions are what connects each story to the next, letting the audience know if the following idea is along the same lines or in opposition to the point that precedes it. “Similarly,” “therefore,” “however,” and “on the other hand” do much of the heavy lifting while creating connections within one’s speech. Yet, each speaker must be careful to use each transition only once, as the repetition of the same words can become distracting for listeners. Further, a speaker can lose their credibility if they use a transition such as “most importantly” more than once. I recommend one employ the synonym button on their word processor to find a suitable replacement whenever they find themselves repeating their transitions.

The trick to making a special occasion speech memorable is to conclude it with a call back to the beginning of the speech. If one started with a joke, story, or quote, one should return to it, putting a cap on the moment and showing how the points shared throughout the speech are all interconnected. I refer to this concept as “bookends,” as it reminds speakers that the best way to conclude their speech can be revealed simply by reviewing their own introduction. Seasoned stand-up comedians use a version of this technique in their performances, always calling back an earlier story to highlight how their words have resonated with their audiences. Special occasion speakers would be wise to do the same.

Special occasion speeches take stories connected by transitional phrases and turn them into a potent experience shared between the speaker and their audience. They are often uplifting, typically impactful, and are most likely the singular speech that everyone will be called upon to deliver at some point in either their private or professional lives. While presenting a special occasion speech can seem like a dauting responsibility, when done correctly it has the potential to honor an important moment in time through the incalculable power of the spoken word.

Ryan Winn, PhD, teaches in the Liberal Studies Department at College of Menominee Nation.

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in the Writer’s Corner or any other opinion columns published by the Tribal College Journal (TCJ) do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TCJ or the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.