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What is a Speech?

2.1.1

A speech is an address or discussion with an audience conveying the expression of thoughts and feelings using oral communication.

          A speech is an address or discussion with an audience conveying the expression of thoughts and feelings using oral communication. Speeches can be prepared or spontaneous, impromptu. They often include the use of visual and audible aids to help convey the message. 

A Brief Overview of Speech Types

Informative speeches share knowledge and understanding of a topic. 

Persuasive speeches share a view with the intent on changing people's belief, attitudes, values, or actions regarding a topic or issue.

Entertainment speeches share humor and enjoyment.

Special occasion speeches share a topic with a specific audience.

Small group/team speeches share information with a small audience.

Interview speeches provide informational results of an interview.

          There are three main types of speeches with possible subcategories under each. They are:

  • Informative: To share knowledge and understanding of a topic acting as a teacher, lecturer, information giver.

    • These can be a speech about a person, process, an event, concept or event.

  • Persuasive: To share your views with the intent of changing people’s belief, attitudes, values, actions regarding a topic or issue.

    • These can also be any of the ones listed under Informative and addressing an issue.

  • Entertain: To share humor and enjoyment.

 

  • Other types of speeches that may fall within the 3 main types include:

  • Special Occasion: To share a topic with a specific audience which may have a common purpose.

    • Special occasion speeches such as after dinner/toasts and rallies can be entertaining, commemorative, etc.

  • Small groups/team: To share information with a small number of members within their own small group or with a larger group of individuals.

  • Interview speeches: To provide informational results of an interview to a particular audience.

  • Demonstration Speeches: To demonstrate or show how something is done or works.

 

          Be sure to explore each of these types of speeches for more information on them.

Demonstration speeches show how something is done or works.

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Related Reading:

Speech Types

Review Questions

1) What is a speech? How many types of speeches are there? What the sub-types? 

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