0647 – Why We Hit Script-Reading Speed Bumps

2022.10.09 – 0647 – Why We Hit Script-Reading Speed Bumps

Why We Hit Speed Bumps

·        Not being prepped-up, to rev-up – if your engine of articulation is not properly warmed up then it could seize up! On TV dance shows, neither the pros or the celebs go straight onto the floor and perform. Athletes don’t just put on shorts and sprint. You have to gear your speaking gear, into gear. See our section on exercises to go through, various humms and glides and your equivalent of a practice lap. Oh, and did I mention to top up with oil? Oh, sorry, water…

·        Being unfamiliar with the road ahead – do you think racing car drivers’ first knowledge of the circuit is the first lap? They study it before they arrive, watch performance of other drivers on that course, and take the car for a few spins around so they can feel the bends, chicanes and cambers. Similarly, you need to know the script: take it for a drive through a few times so you know the route it’s taking and the mouth manoeuvres you will have to make at speed. Know the tricky pronunciatory turns, and where the pit stops are where you can take a breath.

·        Being sleepy at the wheel – like any good driver, especially one against the clock, you need to concentrate on what you’re doing. Get in the race zone and focus on the job at hand.

·        Punctuation potholes – watch out for these; they could be littered throughout the route ahead. It may be that, even though you are the main driver of the message, you will have to fill them in yourself, so you know where to lift and subdue words, where to pause, alter your tone or even change gear.

·        Not ‘reading the road’ – you need to be scanning ahead so you can drive to the conditions, seeing the upcoming words and phrases that may cause trouble, the ones that may leap out and force you to slow down. If you see them in advance, you can mentally muster your mouth movements, preparing for your pronunciatory prosody.

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