Maybe one day you will be expected to deliver a speech at a public gathering or social event, and being prepared to speak at these occasions requires good planning and preparation. 

 

The nature and the quality of a speech is linked to the intention,  the public for which it is intended and the person delivering the speech. 

 

The speech is a literary genre which serves different purposes, which include:

 

To inspire

To instruct

To convince

To rally support

To lead to action

To encourage

 

There are 4 basic types of speeches.

1. Informative: Informative speaking generally centers on talking about people, events, processes, places, or things. When you give an informative speech, you explain something to your audience and help them understand the object of the speech. Your main goal is to teach people something that they don’t already know. Some examples include:

• A computer programmer telling people about a new app

• A tour guide telling people about the city they are visiting

• A teacher speaking about an historical event

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Examples: How to travel the world with almost no money:  https://youtu.be/R7vmHGAshi8

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1. Persuasive: Persuasive speaking is the most commonly used form of public speaking. In a persuasive speech, a blend of information and opinion are shared. This type of speech aims to persuade the audience of a message. The message is adjusted to people’s interest, values, knowledge, and beliefs. Persuasive speeches are often given by people who support specific causes or try to rally a group. A good example of a persuasive speech is the speech given by a coach to the members of his team. Even if the speech is mainly improvised, the purpose remains the same.

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Sport speech example: https://monurl.ca/sportspeech

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Great moments are born from great opportunity, and that's what you have here tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here tonight. One game; if we played them ten times, they might win nine. But not this game, not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight we stay with them, and we shut them down because we can. Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players—every one of you, and you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em. This is your time. Now go out there and take it!"

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1. Special occasions or entertaining:  Special occasions like ceremonial or commemorative speeches that pay tribute or praise a person, an institution, an event, idea, or place.

 

Example: A tribute to Led Zeppelin: https://youtu.be/k4Q3zKfBRnI

 

1. The political speech is almost a form of art in itself. Political speeches are rarely written by the person who delivers it. There is a lot of work involved in the writing of a political speech. They are composed by skilled writers who master rhetorical devices* such as analogies, parallelism, metaphors, just to name a few. People who deliver political speeches make it look very easy but it is very tricky to get it right. The speech is intended for voters, thus a very large audience. The politician’s aim is to mostly trigger an emotional response to support him, his positions and his party. The speaker uses many tactics to make sure the audience connects and adheres to his proposal: personal stories, issues that concern them, humour, etc.

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*For more information on the rhetorical devices consult the designated section

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Examples:

1. Martin Luther King Jr: I have a dream https://youtu.be/vP4iY1TtS3s

2. J.F. Kennedy (Ich Bin Ein Berliner) https://youtu.be/0GKd50lrROc

3. A good example: http://www.esl-lab.com/politics/politicssc1.htm