Mrs. Eddy expected a good reader to be conversational. When she wanted someone to read her dedicatory message of 1906, she asked for "one whose voice is ample, articulation distinct, and whose emphasis, pause, tone, is according to conversation,—to the laws of understanding his subject and making it clear to the hearer." Christian Science Sentinel, October 5, 1946.
As we exchange thoughts, sentiments, observations, and opinions with others, our speech is characterized by quickening and slowing, loudness and softness—with a certain directness, a one-to-one approach. Good conversation includes spontaneity, a "just come to thought" feeling. One speaker responds to another, and there's a natural variation of speech rhythm as thoughts come to mind. Conversation is almost always animated; we spontaneously phrase and emphasize to bring out what we are saying.
Of course, there's a difference in communicating with one or two listeners and with twenty, fifty, one hundred, or more. For church reading we want conversational reading that is adequate to fill a large space. It should have all the elements of good conversation but be more dignified, a little more eloquent, and more forceful.
