INTERPRETIVE TALK AND PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES

INTERPRETIVE TALK
AND

PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES

NORAINI AMANIA MAWASHITAH ZAHIRUL



Interpretive Talk
AND

Presentation Techniques

publisher

Copyright Reserved
Terbitan 2021

All right reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, distributed in any form and by any means
including photocopying, electronic, recording and more
without the permission of the author and publisher of
the Department of Tourism and Hospitality.

Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah

Visitor Interpretation Services
Published in Malaysia by:
Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah
Sungai Lang, 45100
Sungai Air Tawar,
Selangor

TEL: 03 3280 6200
FAX: 03 32806400

Writer & Editor:
Noor Amania Binti Md Din
Siti Mawashitah Binti Zamri
Muhammad Zahirul Afif Bin Hadiah Rawan

Auditor:
Noraini Binti Mohammad Idaris

PREFACE

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe,
as well as blessings and peace be upon His
Prophet and last messenger Muhammad, given us
to completed a book entitle "Interpretive Talk and
Presentation Techniques". The purpose of creating
this book is to provide information for students
and lecturers regarding this topic.

The book will provide a complete information
about the interpretive talk and presentation
techniques from credible and valuable sources as
additional tools for learning. This book was not
only made possible by our efforts, but also by the
work of many parties that help us to complete this
book especially Mrs Norani, our lovely supervisor
who guided and supported us through the process
by sharing and collecting materials to complete
the book. Not forgotten with our family and
friends that have support by mental.

We admit that our book is not perfect yet.
Furthermore, we appreciate the support from
readers so we can make improvement in our skills
of writing and design the book.

O1 1
INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS INTERPRETIVE? 3

EFFECTIVE INTERPRETIVE TALK 4

DEVELOPMENT.

WAYS TO DELIVER INTERPRETATION. 7

PERSONAL DELIVERY TECHNIQUES. 8

NON-PERSONAL/SELF GUIDED 9

TECHNIQUES.

CHARACTERISTIC OF INTERPRETIVE 10

TECHNIQUES AND MEDIA.

TIPS FOR AND EFFECTIVE 12

PRESENTATION. CONTENTS

WORD SEARCH. 13

O2

EFFECTIVE INTERPRETIVE TALK 15
AND PRESENTATION
TECHNIQUES

PREPARE EFFECTIVE INTERPRETATIVE

TALK AND PRESENTATION

CONTENTS TILDEN'S PRINCIPLES OF 16
INTERPRETATION (1957)
INTERPRETIVE THEME 19
ACTIVITY: WORD SEARCH 22

DELIVER AND ORGANIZE EFFECTIVE

INTERPRETATION TALK

PREESENTATION TECHNIQUES

ORAL PRESENTATION 23

INTERPRETATIVE 24

COMMUNICATION STRUCTURE

INTERPRETIVE COMUNICATION

PLAN 28

INTERPRETIVE COMUNICATION

METHOD 33

INTERPRETIVE COMUNICATION

TIPS 35

ACTIVITY: CROSSWORD

PUZZLE 39

O3 42
PERFORM EFFECTIVE
INTERPRETIVE TALK
PRESENTATION FOR TOURISM
INTERPRETATION
ENVIRONMENT

12 PERSONAL DELIVERY 43 CONTENTS
TECHNIQUES.
PUPPETRY 46
USING LIVE MATERIALS 49
INTERPRETIVE TALK 50
GUIDED WALK 53
AUDIO-VISUAL 54
EXHIBITION 56
COSTUMED 58
STORYTELLING 60
DEMONSTRATION 63
PRINTED MATERIALS 65
INTERACTIVE STATION 68
SLIDE TALK 69
ACTIVITY: WORD SEARCH 72

O4 73

REFERENCES



INTRODUCTION OF
INTERPRETIVE TALK
AND PRESENTATION

TECHNIQUES

TOPIC 1

Through interpretation,
understanding;



Through understanding,
appreciation;



Through appreciation,
protection;






Freeman Tilden

1

INTRODUCTION

Effective interpretation enables visitors
to make connections between the

information being given and their own
knowledge and experience.

Effective interpretation offers
visitors opportunities to connect
with and perceive the resource as

personally relevant.

2

What is Interpretive ?

“Technique that assists audiences through
communication media in making both
emotional and intellectual connections
with RESOURCES.”

Interpretation is a communication
process which aims to reveal meanings
and encourage relationships between
visitors and natural or cultural resources
rather than simply communicating factual

information.

3

Effective Interpretive Talk
Development

Successful as a catalyst in creating
an opportunity for the audience to

form their own intellectual and
emotional connections with

meanings or significance inherent
in the resource.

Catalyst - an agent that provokes or speeds
significant change or action.
4 Inherent - belonging by nature or habit.

Appropriate for the audience, and
provides a clear focus for their

connection with the resources by
demonstrating the cohesive

development of a relevant ideas, rather
than relying primarily on a recital of a
chronological narrative or a series of

related facts.

Cohesive - closely united.

Recital - the act of reading something out loud or

saying something from memory usually for an

audience. 5

INTERPRETATION

An explanation of the meaning or
importance of something.
"the interpretation of data"

An explanation or way of explaining.
"this action is open to number of
interpretations"

A stylistic representation of a creative work or
dramatic role.

"he was best known for his interpretation of
folk music"

6

INTERPRETATION

Personal Services/
delivery (Person)

2 ways to deliver
interpretation

Non- Personal
Services/

delivery (Media)

7

PERSONAL DELIVERY
TECHNIQUE

Personal services provide
opportunities for visitor to
interact with an interpreter in
person. Include such things as
informal contact, talks, guided
walks and demonstrations.

8

NON PERSONAL / SELF- GUIDED
TECHNIQUES

Self- guided interpretation
means non- personal
delivery technique.

Panels and displays, audio,
audio-visual, multimedia, art

and sculpture, and
publications are used to

deliver interpretation
messages to visitor instead of

people.

9

CHARACTERISTIC OF
INTERPRETIVE TECHNIQUES

AND MEDIA

The interpreter can develop
opportunities for their audience to
make emotional and intellectual
connections to resource. For example,
the people, object, event and person.

Stimulate excellence learning
process experience.

Reinforces the visual and conceptual
image of interpretation's resources.

Encourage frequently and quickly
oral exchange of sentiment,
observations, opinions or ideas
between sender and receiver.

10

TIPS FOR AN EFFECTIVE
PRESENTATION

Keep it simple Communicate is the key. Some expert
recommend a 30-second 'elevator summary,
or say it no more than 15 words. Whichever

rules we choose, the important thing is to
keep our core message focused and briefly.

Connect with your It's hard when we getting nervous, but a
audience great presenter say that the most important
thing is to connect with our audience, and
the best way to do that is to let our passion

for the subject shine throught.

Eye contact This sound very easy, but surprisingly large
and smile number of presenter fail to do it. Smile and eye
contact will helps the audience to connect with
us and our subject. It also helps us to feel less
nervous, because we are talking to individuals,

not to a great mass of unknown people.

Body Languange It has been estimated that more than three
quarters of communication is non-verbal.
Instead of using our voice, our body language
is crucial to getting our message across. For
example, avoid crossed arms, hands held

behind our back or in our pocket.

11

In order to make presentation smoothly Avoid Filler Word
and confident, avoid using the filler word
such as 'um', 'so' and so on. These words

convey insecurity and inadequate
preparation.

Always try to keep attention with Speak with audience
audience and keep them engaged during
presentation. One way to do this is to ask
questions such as "easy" questions so that
they can easily answered. Other way is by

interact with them.

If we find presenting getting difficult, it can be Relax, Breathe
hard to be calm and relaxed about doing it. The and Enjoy
option that we have is to start concentrating on
our breathing. Slow it down, and make sure we
are breathing fully. Make sure that we need to
pause for breathing during our presentation too.

The beginning of our opening is important. Strong Opening
We need to grab audience attentions and
hold it. They will give us a few minutes to
entertain them, before they start to switch
off if we dull.

12

WORD SEARCH

PLAY THIS WORD SEARCH ONLINE AT:
https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/3134920/introduction-

of-interpretive/

13

14

EFFECTIVE TOPIC 2
INTERPRETIVE

TALK &
PRESENTATION

TECHNIQUES

15

Prepared Effective Interpretive
Talk & Presentation

1. Tilden's Principles of
Interpretation (1957)

Relate Reveal
Provoke Whole

Art Children

16

Interpretation that does not

Relate somehow relate what is being

displayed or described to

something within the

personality or experience of the

visitor will be sterile.

Interpretation should be

personal to the audience.

Information is not same as Reveal
understanding. Interpretation is
a type of revelation that is based
on data. More than just
presenting facts is required for
successful interpretation. A
secret is a provocation, but wait
until the end to be secretive.

Provoke The primary goal of
interpretation is to provoke
rather than to instruct. People 17
should be motivated to take
action as a result of their
interpretation. Makes the
audience intrigued by posing a
question, a secret, or a mystery,
or by attracting their attention
in some other way.

Whole The goal of interpretation
should be to show the complete
rather than just a part of
anything. The purpose of
interpretation is to describe the
links between things. It is
necessary to explain the entire
narrative.

Interpretation is an art, which Art
combines many arts. Any art
is in some degree teachable.
Images, colours, sounds,
voice, touch, models etc.

Children's interpretation should

Children not be a watered-down version

of what adults see, but instead

take a fundamentally different

approach. Varied age groups

have diverse needs, which

necessitates the development of

different interpretative

program. Adults can accept

children's stories, but not

otherwise.

18

2. Interpretive Theme

What is theme?
The whole idea is described in a
single sentence

Good theme
Can connect objects/places
(tangibles) with
intent/ideas/emotions
(intangible)

Example 1: SIKAPAHLA innovation
tangibles can avoid junk
floating intangibles

Example 2: Muafakat tangibles membawa
berkat intangibles

19

Interpretive Theme

Just what is an interpretive theme
anyway? Themes are all encompassing
and the single most important element
in the interpretive planning process.

An interpretive theme is the central
concept or key idea of any interpretive
experience, interpretive exhibit or
interpretive presentation.

A clear interpretive theme helps you

plan and design exhibits, experiences,

activities, programs and presentations.

Not only does the development of an

interpretation theme provide

organizational structure and clarity of

purpose of the exhibit, presentation or

program, it also has a dramatic effect on

the whole business planning process.

20

Good Interpretive Theme

NOT ONLY SHOULD ALSO

Specific, simple Has a story
and compact. Use active
Communicate language
ideas/ Answer the
complete "so what?''
information. question
Uncovering the Provokes and
main purpose attention
of getters
presentation. Convey
Contains only positive
one key information
information.

21

WORD SEARCH

PLAY THIS WORD SEARCH ONLINE AT:
https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/3134930/effective-

interpretive-talk/

22

Deliver & Organize Effective
Interpretive Talk Presentation

1. Oral Interpretation

Example
- Guided Walk
- Costumed Interpretive
- Storytelling
- Puppetry
- Video
- Using animal

Techniques
- Humor
- Question - Do you know

23

2. Interpretive
Communication Structure

Pow Bridge

Body Conclusion

24

Pow Attract the audience

attention with

provocation start.

A good pow:

Grabs attention 

States the theme 

Tells how the rest of the talk

will be organized

Give the answer to the Bridge
last provocation (reveal).

The tone of voice, facial expressions,

and hand gestures of the speaker

can capture the essence of the

conversation. This combination of

verbal/visual communication

provides a more complete

understanding of others’ stories or

ideas than words alone.

25

Body Give example of the
messages (relate) The

are a few things that

you should add in your

interpretive talk. Prepare an

outline of the body of your talk

What are your main points and
how many will you have? (5 or
fewer are recommended.) 
How many details are you
going to include under each of
your main points?
How will you make each main
point meaningful and personal
to your particular audience
What transitions will you use
as you go from point to point?

26

Give a conclusion to

the presentation Conclusion

that was made -
there must be a "call for action"

All conclusions repeat or
reinforce the theme.
Many conclusions also
summarize the key points that
were made in the body.
Sometimes, conclusions offer
ideas about the larger meaning
of the theme or give a call to
action (i.e., suggest ways that
the audience can act on the
information presented).
The ending should always be
clear. Make sure the audience
knows the talk is over, or
experiences closure.

27

3. Interpretive Communication Plan

Identify Background, ability, culture, social
the audience level etc. Make sure the messages are

relevant and meaningful to the
audience.

Unique and interesting. Theme Theme
frequently makes a literary work
memorable and significant for the
reader to learn and remember
something based on the theme
itself.

Objective In a format that can be evaluated.
assessment State what the objective that you
want to achieve.

28

Interpretive Communication Plan

Preparation Location - Choose suitable location for
area you to deliver your talk.

Period - Estimate how long to deliver

your interpretive talk.

Group size - Find out first how many

people will listen to your talk, the number

of visitors should be in accordance with

the capacity of the location.

Reference sources generally Reference
summarize topics or assists in sources
finding secondary literature. These
sources provide background
information or help you to find
other sources for example on book,
internet, brochures and more.

Programme The structure, the introduction of
guidelines the topic, outline, conclusion

29

Identify the audience

“Who are the people we need to
connect with in order to reach our
goals? Are they already coming to your
site, or do we need to attract them?
Where do they live? What are their
habits? How do they travel? What do
they read? How old are they? How
educated are they? What are their
values? What is the way to their heart?”
Talk about these things together, and
do some research, and bring it back
and propose them to you as a set of
target audiences.

30

Theme

Communications planning that use
artefacts and storytellers and cool
interactive displays and talented,
passionate interpreters instead of press
releases or commercials. And that’s
what makes it freaking creative and
fun.

These messages, these stories and
facts, are hiding all around you. Start
with the Big Themes: if your site were a
single sentence, what would it be? And
then we flesh it out into a series of sub-
themes and messages and, ultimately, a
storyline.

31

Objective Assessment

Try to look at the task or assignment
you've taken on and figure out what
clear, quantifiable goals you'll be able to
attain. What advantages would this
exhibition or programme provide to
your audience? What will it do to make
the world a better place for you? What
is the benefit to your community or
organization? And how to assess these
factors?

Example:
Increase visitation. Engage the local

community. Generate more revenue in
the shoulder season. Increase your
profile in the media. Highlight
Indigenous stories. Engage youth.
Foster understanding of species at risk.
Increase length of stay. Change visitor
flow through the site. Increase visitor
satisfaction and positive feedback.

32

4. Interpretive Communication Method

Preparation Stage

Came early, dressed, always ready,
and in confidence. If everything is
well prepared, situation will be run
smoothly and the feelings of rumbling
and nervous will be reduced.

The first moment

The first 30 seconds are the most
critical time to create friendly
atmosphere , avoid any obstacles,
smiles, eye-contact, casual, not too
formal.

33

Interpretive Communication Method

Start the communication

Do not cram, do not hide the the
notes, body language, use humor,
questions and tools to create the
mood.

Voice

Clear, intonations, pause, emphasis
on narrative situation "warn if
something important will be
happen"

34

5. Interpretive Communication Tips

Body Active
language verb

Props and Humor
aids

Questioning

35

Body Body language is the unspoken
Language element of communication that we

use to reveal our true feelings and

emotions. Mimic face, feeling, walking

with reason, avoid shaking and hiding

hands/legs. Body language can also

help you stay calm in situations where

emotions run high.

Active Avoid "fillers" (eemm, eerr, what, haa)
Verb sentence repetition, apologies. It's
tempting to rely on filler words when
we're scared, distracted, or unsure of
what to say next when we're speaking.
These can offer us a chance to gather
our thoughts before continuing, and in
other situations, they can serve as
important markers that the listener
should pay close attention to what
follows.

36

Props & Something interesting but you can
Aids control it. Aids are tools that can

help interpreter manage their
learning settings and activities more
effectively. Props are tangible items
that are frequently utilised in
storytelling and demonstrations.

Humor Must be relevant, easily caught, not
offend, do not make the audience as
a joke. If you need, make yourself a
target

Questioning
Focus/Process/Evaluative/Rhetorical
The question should be specific to the
work and also be clear, easy for
another person to grasp immediately.
A good interpretive question is one
that the student really cares about-one
that has arisen from their own
response to the work and curiosity
about it.

37

Questioning

Focus Questions Process Questions

Basic questions: Who? Audience need to
What? Where? What do give a wide answer
you know about global and think/ What
warming? doea it mean..?

Evaluative Questions Rhetoric Questions

Audience's view and No need answers from
opinion, give them to audience, let them
judge and make an think what is the
evaluation/ Why do answer. If global
human always think warming is happening,
that..? what will happen to
mankind?

38

39

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

11

2
3

4

10 11 77 55
14 12 6

88
9

13

Across Down
4. Focus/process/evaluative/rhetorial 1. Tell the whole story
5. Attract the audience attention 2. Images, colours, sounds, voices, touch
6. Must be relevant, easily caught, not 3 Mimic face, feeling, walking with
offend, do not make the audience as a reason
joke 5. Make the audience curious with
8. A secret is a provocation but do not questions
be secretive until the end 7. Relate what is being displayed or
12. Avoid 'fillers' described
14. Stories can be accepted by adults, 9 The whole idea is described in a single
but not otherwise. sentence.
10 Give a answer for the last
provocation
11. Give examples of the massage (relate)
13. Clear, intonation, pause, emphasis on
narrative situation

40

ANSWER CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER THIS CROSSWORD PUZZLE ONLINE AT:
https://crosswordlabs.com/embed/interpretive-talk-and-

presentation-techniques