When Reading Publicly. Naturalness in public reading requires effort. To achieve it, identify the principal ideas in the material that you are going to read, and observe how these are developed. Have these clearly in mind; otherwise, you will simply be reading words. Check the pronunciation of unfamiliar words. Practice reading aloud so as to get proper inflection and to group the words together in a way that conveys thoughts clearly. Do it again and again until your reading is fluent. Get to know the material well enough that when you read it aloud, your reading sounds like spirited conversation. That is naturalness.

Of course, most of our public reading is from our Bible-based publications. Apart from reading assignments in the Theocratic Ministry School, we read scriptures in the field ministry and when giving talks from the platform. Brothers are assigned to read material being considered at the Watchtower Study and at the Congregation Book Study. Some qualified brothers receive assignments to read manuscripts before convention audiences. Whether you read the Bible or other materials, read portions that embody quotations in a way that makes the material live. If a number of characters are quoted, alter your voice somewhat for each one. A word of caution: Do not be overly dramatic, but do put life into the reading in a natural way.

Reading that is natural is conversational. It does not sound artificial but has conviction.