Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Bellowing boorish broadcasters

By Ian Nance - posted Tuesday, 28 August 2012


If you become excited when talking to someone, perhaps you might speak a little faster, a little more loudly, but would you shout at them? Not if you want your conversation to be accepted credibly. Not if you do not want to shock them, or disturb them.

But shouting is almost entirely what happens in media sports commentary at present, as boorish broadcasters act out their belief that the louder their commentary is screamed, the more exciting it is!

If you caught any of the Olympics coverage, you will have been aware of it in many events, although I note that the equestrian and sailing challenges tended to let the pictures tell the story, with most description filling in background information which after all is one of the functions of commentary.

Advertisement

Despite its not being conversation, the raucous ranters seem to feel that their obligation in their one-way communication of an event is for shouting to become louder as the contest climaxes, in some kind of vain attempt to create excitement and enthusiasm.

No! Emphatically... no!

There is a huge difference between excitement, and shouting.

Yelling is not the best way to convey excitement; it is more a sign of losing control, of indicating alarm or warning, of showing anger.

Shouting is also insulting to the listeners or viewers because it assumes that they cannot take in the overall scene for themselves and heighten their own excitement. It presumes they have to be led into accepting whatever level of thrill the commentator wishes to impose on them.

Shouting or yelling has become so formulaic in radio and television sports broadcasting that it has become almost a speech style in its own right, in a similar way to the nasal accents adopted by race callers.

Advertisement

This style even permeates the voice reads of post-event scripts, as though the audience needs that kind of aural prompt to be able to understand the item. Sadly, producers have fallen for this habit also, and fail to assert control of the delivery to ensure that the message, not the method, dominates.

The sound and the form of speech is a major factor in rendering any language.

Take the contrast between the reading of an idyllic poem, and the declamatory exhortation of a nationalistic call to arms. The meaning of the message is very clear, no matter in what language it is delivered; many of us would remember the aural effect of Hitler's oratory, even if we understood no German.

  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

3 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Ian Nance's media career began in radio drama production and news. He took up TV direction of news/current affairs, thence freelance television and film producing, directing and writing. He operated a program and commercial production company, later moving into advertising and marketing.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Ian Nance

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Ian Nance
Article Tools
Comment 3 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy