a Let’s Study This Verbal communication refers to the vocal performance of a speaker, its rate, volume, pitch, and pauses. These aspects of vocalization are critical to effectively conveying ideas (after all, if your audience has trouble understanding what the words ‘are coming out of your mouth, then they will be unable to understand your message.) Rate refers to the speed at which a person speaks. Follow these suggestions to adjust your rate of speech to your best advantage: 1. Choose a rate appropriate for the ideas being expressed and for a speech setting. For example, it makes sense for a sportscaster announcing a basketball game to speak faster than a sportscaster at a golf match. 2. Vary your rate of speech to express different thoughts and feelings. You may want to speak slowly to emphasize an important point or to communicate & serious or somber mood. A faster pace is appropriate when you are telling your audience something it already knows (many speeches include background information that sets the scene) or to express surprise, happiness, or fear. Use pauses to change the pace and add verbal variety.