Ways of Thinking About Language

Ways of Thinking About Language

Select the Best Wording

When writing your speech, it's imperative that each and every word is carefully selected for inclusion in your speech. Each word should serve a purpose--to advance your logic and address your speech subject in some way. How you organize your speech, outline your thesis and supporting arguments, as well as the ways you describe those points are all essential to crafting the best speech you can. Devoting yourself to the creation of multiple drafts of your speech ensures that you are honing and refining your speech down to its most effective words and parts.

Consider Your Audience

Who will be listening and watching your speech? Why are they there and what do they want? You'll want to not only fully understand your audience for who they are, as this may inform you of their experience with your subject, but you'll also want to understand what has brought them to your speech in the first place. In thinking very specifically about the groups and types of people attending your speech, you can more finely tailor the language of your speech.

Consider Your Venue and Occasion

Understanding your speech venue and the occasion for your speech is just as important as getting to know your audience. Venue and occasion can often dictate both subject matter and formality of your speech. You want to make sure your languages both of those elements.

Your Overall Goals, Objectives and Purpose

Why are you giving a speech? What have you, from all the other people who could speak, been selected? What makes you the subject matter expert? Consider each of these questions as you prepare your speech. Knowing your purpose for speaking must be one of the guiding principles as you craft your thesis, supporting evidence and make your case to your audience. Thinking about what you want to achieve informs how you can establish a plan, that is, select the right language, to achieve that goal.