When speaking in public, the ability to use humor is an important skill to possess whatever your natural ability. Most people like to smile, laugh, or enjoy a listening experience. Humor adds sparkle and interest to a speech. Humor, when used, should be in goodwill and not in a way that shows how resourceful you are.
It is probably impossible to catalog humor completely. Here I have listed the 7 types of humor that are commonly used when speaking in public.
Phrase twist
In this type of humor, you laugh as you begin to make a serious point in one direction and an unexpected meaning is suddenly revealed. Mark Twain used this technique when he said that “youth is such a wonderful thing, it is a shame to waste it on children.”
The word game
A word is used to evoke a serious meaning and then it is used in a completely different meaning. The second meaning gives a whole new point of view to the speaker’s comments. To be funny, the meaning shouldn’t be overextended or it will elicit groans instead of smiles. For example, the organizer of an event may ask an audience member if the guest speaker was a capable speaker. The audience member may reply, “Yes, the guest speaker was able. He was able to stand for the entire speech.”
Exaggeration
This is where a little thing becomes a bigger question. This is similar to how a cartoonist exaggerates the characteristics of a politician for effect.
Attenuation
This is the opposite of hype, and words are used to downplay an event or problem.
Irony
Here, the meaning of the face value of the words is different from the intended meaning. An example is the phrase “as nice and relaxed as a coiled rattlesnake” that Kurt Vonnegut uses in one of his books.
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is a cutting form of wit and should be used with care. To be funny, the audience shouldn’t have a lot of sympathy for the intended goal. Doing so will not work in your favor.
Satire
Satire is an attack on something pleasantly worded but clear in meaning. Will Rogers at a bankers convention asked, “I’ve often wondered where the Depositors hold their convention.”
To be funny, humor must be said with a funny spirit. However, for the best effect, the humor should be unannounced and featured with a straight face (you don’t want to laugh before your audience). It requires more practice and preparation than other parts of your speech. Humor will die if you get the words wrong or stumble during the joke. When speaking in public, as with conversation, the narration of humor should be natural and effortless.
To be effective when speaking in public, humor must be relevant to the points being made. It is woven into the fabric of the speech. With practice and preparation, it is possible to employ the 7 types of humor listed, regardless of how dry and shy it is.