Signaling Transitions in Oral Presentations: Language and Strategies

One of the key elements of a successful presentation is the smooth and clear linking of ideas in and between slides. To achieve this, a presenter needs to know the appropriate language and effective strategies for signaling transitions. With the aim of providing better guidance on signaling transitions in presentations, in this study we will first review the advice given in popular self-help guides aimed at native and nonnative speakers of English. Next, we will compare this advice with the actual language and strategies used by experienced presenters at international conferences through an analysis of presentation transcripts and video footage. Finally, we will discuss some of the implications of this research for instructors of scientific and technical presentation courses.