Effects of experience on radio language performance

Abstract

Beginning broadcasting students, university broadcasters, and professional broadcasters read a radio newscast and editorial under simulated broadcast conditions. Levels of broadcast experience and speech tasks were distinguished by the frequency, duration, and location of silent pauses (SPs), and by speech rate and fluency measures. The distinctive performance of professionals versus nonprofessionals was discussed with respect to broadcasting prescriptions, psycholinguistic theories of “ideal delivery” and “cognitive rhythm,” and the functional implications of their broadcast performance. Greater broadcast experience was reflected by smaller newscast SP duration and SP frequency, and by slower editorial speech rate. Professionals altered more often and with greater fluency the newscast text, but refrained from changing the editorial text. Also, the professionals were distinguished on both speech tasks by more syntactic SPs, more fluent syllables, and fewer speech errors. Finally, performance differences between speech tasks were greater for professionals. Their performance supported hypotheses of “language use.” Their delivery of the editorial was more expressive (SP duration increased and speech rate was slower); and in the newscast, professionals frequently paused in anticipation of the end of news items. The articulation of speech as well as the use of SPs seemed to reflect thought while speaking.

Notes

Edward J. Clemmer is Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences, Indiana University‐Purdue University at Fort Wayne, and Noreen M. Carrocci is Assistant Professor of Communication, Saint Louis University. This research was supported by the administrative cooperation and technical assistance of KMOX radio in Saint Louis, and by grants to the first author from Saint Louis University's Beaumont Faculty Development Fund and the Indiana University‐Purdue University at Fort Wayne Research and Instructional Development Support Program.