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Mind your language

Introduction

Your language (the words, phrases and sentences you use) will have an impact on how well you communicate with your audience.

Explore four language features below.

Persuasion: Learn some persuasive language techniques that will help to win your audience to your point of view.

Formality: Find out how public speaking differs from our everyday conversations.

Speak it: Explore some differences between the way we speak and write.

Connections: Learn some techniques to connect your ideas together.

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Persuasion

Many speeches try to persuade an audience to a particular point of view. For example, the purpose may be to gain:

• support for a government policy
• votes for an election candidate
• action on a local issue.

When you want to win your audience to your point of view, it is helpful to use some persuasive techniques.

One technique is to use strongly positive or negative words such as 'achievement' or 'disaster'.

Read about Persuasive techniques(.pdf, 29 kB) (opens in new window)

Persuasive techniques example (.pdf, 44 kB) (opens in new window)

Quiz (opens in new window)

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Formality

Making a speech is different to having an everyday conversation.

A speech uses more formal language than day-to-day talk. For example, it usually:

1. omits words such as 'sort of', 'you know' as well as 'um' and 'ah'
2. consists of complete sentences
3. does not use a lot of slang or colloquialisms
4. uses correct grammar and word pronunciation.

Some speeches are more formal than others because of their context and purpose. A speech at a school awards night would probably be more formal than one at a friend's birthday party.

Formal language example (.pdf, 44 kB) (opens in new window)

Quiz (opens in new window)

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Speak it

Our spoken language is different from our written language.

When we speak we often use:

1. shorter, simpler sentences
2. personal pronouns (such as 'I', 'you', 'we', 'our')
3. contractions (such as it's instead of it is)
4. colloquial expressions
5. markers (such as 'firstly' or 'finally').

A speech is not an essay you read aloud. You want to speak to your audience.

Instead of writing out your speech word for word, only record the key phrases or words as prompts.

Spoken language example (.pdf, 45 kB) (opens in new window)

Quiz (opens in new window)

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Connections

Your ideas in your speech are connected.

By making the links between your ideas clear, you will help your audience follow your speech and stay engaged.

Two techniques to help link ideas (words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs) are:

1. using connecting words or conjunctions such as 'because', 'afterwards', 'although'
2. repeating key words or phrases of your speech.

Read about Connecting words (.pdf, 135 kB) (opens in new window).

Connection example (.pdf, 42 kB) (opens in new window)

Quiz (opens in new window)

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Tips

Remember these tips about language use, particularly when preparing speeches for public speaking competitions.

Follow these tips on language.

• Be comfortable with the language you use in your speech.
• Use correct grammar.
• Pronounce your words correctly; don't use informal contractions, for example, dropping the 'g' at the end of words such as 'looking'.

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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Training 2009