The Speech Alphabet: Are you confused about all the acronyms or other speech jargon? Here’s a quick primer to what it all means:

 

IHSFA – Indiana High School Forensic Association. This is the state organization that sets the rules for the tournaments and teams. All local meets use the guidelines from this organization. The top finishers at Sectionals go on to the State meet.

 

NFL – National Forensic League. This is the national organization that sets rules for the District meet and Nationals. We are in the Hoosier Heartland district. The top finishers at District go on to Nationals in the summer.

 

Limited Prep Events

IX and DX – Foreign and Domestic (U.S.) Extemporaneous

This category requires knowledge of current events and the maintaining of an “Extemp Box” of news stories from the web, magazines, and newspapers. In Extemp, you are given a topic at a meet and then you have 30 minutes to write a speech using the information from the Extemp Box.

DISC – Discussion

The Discussion topic is selected in the fall, and students research the issue during the year, keeping a binder of the information. Round table discussion has many informal, spontaneous, brief exchanges of views rather than a series of prepared speeches. The discussion shall follow the process of logical thinking (definition of the problem, nature of the problem, possible solutions, selection of the best solution) during the round.

RADIO or BRD – Radio or Broadcasting

In this category, students are given a limited amount of time to write and perform a breaking news bulletin, commercial, news program, or editorial.

IMP – Impromptu

Students are presented a topic or quotation and then they have 30 seconds to organize their thoughts. They may speak for up to five minutes on the issue. One of the favorites from 2006-2007 was “Anna Nicole Smith.”

                                               

Interpretation Events

            DI – Dramatic Interpretation

This is a memorized performance that comes from a play, film script, or story. It is of a serious nature.

            HI – Humorous Interpretation

This is a memorized performance that generally comes from a play, film script, or story. It is funny!

            PRO – Prose

This is a reading of a selection from a prose work such as a book, short story, article, fiction, non-fiction, but NOT plays, film script, movie script, screenplays, or poetry.

            POE – Poetry

This is a reading of a selection of poems that have something in common (either author or theme). You put the poems together into a speech.

            DUO – Scripted and Unscripted

This is a two-person event and can be funny or dramatic, either memorized or read.

            OI – Oratorical Interpretation, also called Declamation

This is a memorized event that presents a speech another person performed.

OO – Original Oratory

You write this yourself. It is a piece that should have an argument about some type of issue (like a newspaper editorial, only in speech form). Research-based information and strong, interesting writing is essential.

OP – Original Performance

You write this yourself. It is more entertaining than OO. It can be serious or funny.

 

                       

Teaser – This is the first part of your speech. It is part of the author’s writing or the script, usually a section that is interesting or funny in some way, and it’s pulled out to the front of your speech to ‘tease’ the audience and build interest.

 

Introduction – This is ALWAYS memorized. It comes after the teaser but before the full performance and provides context to the topic, the author, or other important background.

 

Blocking – This is the term for your movement during the speech.

 

Pops – These are quick transitions from different characters in the piece.

 

Melds – These refer to slow character transitions often utilized in dramatic pieces, but they are also used in humorous pieces, too.

 

Book – This is a small black binder that includes the text of the speech. The coach provides them to the students.

 

Cutting – This is the process of taking a selection and making it fit the time limits in the categories.

 

Rounds – Three preliminary rounds usually take place with the top students competing in a final round. Competition generally starts at 8 a.m. and finishes around 3 p.m. (usually later). Preliminary rounds at local meets tend to only have one judge. Later rounds will have multiple judges.

 

Ballots – These are little slips of paper that judges use to rank the students. Event rules often are printed on the back.

 

Critique sheets – These forms are what judges fill out to offer feedback to the contestants. You will get these back.

 

Tab room – This is where the scoring takes place. Judges take ballots to the tab room (or office) after rounds.

 

Points – You get points for your ranks in rounds. These points accumulate through the NFL and the organization recognizes you for your scores.

 

Drop – A ‘drop’ is a student who backed out of the category after the registration had been submitted. Signature students DO NOT drop once they have signed up.

 

Some other points to note:

 

The Duos, Prose, Poetry, DI, and HI tend to be the most popular events at Sig. If you have a knack for writing, go for OO or OP. You will find success in those categories if your writing is strong.

 

Prose, Poetry, Original Performance, OI/Declamation, and Scripted Duo are not available at Districts or Nationals. Students can turn their prose pieces into a DI or HI for those meets. In the limited prep events, only IX and DX are offered at District and Nationals. Nationals