12.0: The Importance of Language: Introduction
Jacqueline Gianico
Public speaking is more than a passionate performance behind a podium. It is a dynamic conversation that can extend beyond the conclusion of the speech, potentially moving audiences to think or behave differently. At the heart of this connection between speaker and audience is language. The words you choose don’t just fill the air and evaporate; they stir emotions, shape notions, and set actions in motion. Language is your bridge to the audience, your tool for building trust and engagement.
In this chapter, you’ll explore how language works differently when spoken aloud than when written on a page. Understanding these differences is your first step toward making effective word choices for your speeches. You’ll learn how to choose words that are not only clear and precise, but also appropriate and inclusive, reaching everyone in the room, not just a few. When your words reflect the diversity of your audience, your message becomes more powerful, more personal, and more persuasive. By tuning into the nuances of language, you move beyond simply delivering information. You won’t just “get through” your speech or “check the box” on an assignment. You’ll connect. You’ll engage. You’ll empower. You might even discover how useful these concepts are outside the public speaking class. Whether we are communicating with family or friends, supervisors or professors, roommates or teammates, using language appropriately, clearly, and inclusively can only lead to positive outcomes.
AI Insight
Tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT can help you identify unclear or overly formal language, but they don’t know your audience. Use them as drafting partners but not decision-makers. You still choose the words that fit your style and purpose.
As you read each section, keep in mind any digital tools you currently use that might assist in your endeavor to craft appropriate language for your speeches. When used judiciously, grammar checkers, paraphrasing tools, thesauruses and generative ai chats (e.g. Grammarly, ChatGPT, Copilot), can help you navigate denotative and connotative meanings (12.1); appropriate language and powerful imagery (12.2); and a discourse style that are clear, accessible, economical, and effective (12.3). Keep in mind that these digital tools are just that, tools, and not a replacement for your own speaking style and authentic voice.
