speech definition in communication

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Definition of speech

• declamation

Examples of speech in a Sentence

Word history.

Middle English speche , from Old English sprǣc, spǣc ; akin to Old English sprecan to speak — more at speak

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing speech

• acceptance speech
• figure of speech
• freedom of speech
• free speech
• hate speech
• part of speech
• polite speech

speech community

• speech form
• speech impediment
• speech therapy
• stump speech
• visible speech

Dictionary Entries Near speech

Cite this entry.

“Speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speech. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of speech, medical definition, medical definition of speech, legal definition, legal definition of speech, more from merriam-webster on speech.

Nglish: Translation of speech for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of speech for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about speech

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Meaning of speech in English

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speech noun ( SAY WORDS )

• She suffers from a speech defect .
• From her slow , deliberate speech I guessed she must be drunk .
• Freedom of speech and freedom of thought were both denied under the dictatorship .
• As a child , she had some speech problems .
• We use these aids to develop speech in small children .
• banteringly
• bull session
• chew the fat idiom
• conversation
• shoot the breeze idiom
• tête-à-tête

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

speech noun ( FORMAL TALK )

• talk She will give a talk on keeping kids safe on the internet.
• lecture The lecture is entitled "War and the Modern American Presidency".
• presentation We were given a presentation of progress made to date.
• speech You might have to make a speech when you accept the award.
• address He took the oath of office then delivered his inaugural address.
• oration It was to become one of the most famous orations in American history.
• Her speech was received with cheers and a standing ovation .
• She closed the meeting with a short speech.
• The vicar's forgetting his lines in the middle of the speech provided some good comedy .
• Her speech caused outrage among the gay community .
• She concluded the speech by reminding us of our responsibility .
• call for papers
• maiden speech
• presentation
• public speaking
• talk at someone phrasal verb

speech | American Dictionary

Speech noun ( talking ), examples of speech, collocations with speech.

These are words often used in combination with speech .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of speech

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

a plan or method that you use if another one fails, or is likely to fail

Cringeworthy and toe-curling (The language of embarrassment)

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• speech (SAY WORDS)
• speech (FORMAL TALK)
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Speech, including narrative speech , is a powerful tool for communication, allowing individuals to express thoughts, ideas, and emotions. It encompasses verbal and non-verbal elements, influencing interactions in personal, academic, and professional contexts, shaping opinions and driving social change.

What is Speech?

Speech is the act of expressing thoughts, ideas, and emotions through spoken language. It is a fundamental mode of communication that involves the use of words , tone , Elevator pitch , and body language to convey messages. Speech can be spontaneous or planned, and it varies widely in form and function depending on the context. For instance, casual conversations differ greatly from formal presentations or public addresses. The ability to speak effectively is essential for personal interactions, educational metaphor for success , and professional achievements.

Speech Format

Introduction.

• “Good morning/afternoon/evening, everyone.”
• “Hello, ladies and gentlemen.”

Attention Grabber:

• Start with a quote, question, or interesting fact.
• Clearly state the purpose of your speech.
• “Today, I want to talk about…”
• Briefly outline the main points you will cover.

Main Point 1:

• Statement: Introduce the first main point.
• Example/Evidence: Provide examples or evidence to support it.
• Explanation: Explain how this point supports your overall message.

Main Point 2:

• Statement: Introduce the second main point.

Main Point 3:

• Statement: Introduce the third main point.

50 Speech Examples with Answers

• “Thank you for the award.”: “You’re welcome.”
• “I appreciate your kind words.”: “It’s my pleasure.”
• “Congratulations on your graduation!”: “Thank you very much.”
• “Good morning, everyone.”: “Good morning!”
• “I’m honored to be here.”: “We’re glad to have you.”
• “Happy birthday!”: “Thank you!”
• “Welcome to our event.”: “Thank you for having me.”
• “Let’s work together for a better future.”: “Absolutely, let’s do it.”
• “I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”: “No problem at all.”
• “Please join me in welcoming our guest speaker.”: “Welcome, glad to have you here.”
• “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”: “Likewise, pleasure’s mine.”
• “We can achieve anything if we work hard.”: “Absolutely, hard work pays off.”
• “Thank you for your support.”: “Always happy to help.”
• “I’m grateful for this opportunity.”: “You deserve it.”
• “Let’s make a positive impact.”: “I’m with you on that.”
• “I believe in the power of teamwork.”: “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
• “We must strive for equality.”: “Absolutely, equality for all.”
• “I’m confident in our abilities.”: “That confidence will take us far.”
• “Let’s celebrate our successes.”: “Cheers to that!”
• “Communication is key in any relationship.”: “Couldn’t agree more.”
• “It’s important to listen to others.”: “Listening is learning.”
• “Kindness costs nothing.”: “Indeed, spread kindness.”
• “We should always be open to learning.”: “Learning never stops.”
• “Let’s embrace diversity.”: “Diversity enriches us.”
• “I’m committed to making a difference.”: “Your commitment is admirable.”
• “We need to protect the environment.”: “Earth needs our care.”
• “Education is the foundation of progress.”: “Education empowers.”
• Speech: “Never give up on your dreams.”: “Dreams keep us going.”
• “We must advocate for justice.”: “Justice is everyone’s right.”
• “Let’s support each other.”: “Together we’re stronger.”
• “Hard work pays off.”: “Absolutely, no shortcuts.”
• “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”: “Change starts with us.”
• “I’m proud of our achievements.”: “Proud of you too.”
• “Honesty is the best policy.”: “Absolutely, honesty builds trust.”
• “Let’s foster a culture of innovation.”: “Innovation drives progress.”
• “Every voice deserves to be heard.”: “Your voice matters.”
• “We can overcome any obstacle.”: “Together, nothing can stop us.”
• “Let’s spread kindness and positivity.”: “Kindness is contagious.”
• “Respect is essential in all relationships.”: “Respect builds bridges.”
• “We’re stronger together.”: “Absolutely, unity is strength.”
• “Thank you for your dedication.”: “Dedication is key to success.”
• “Let’s lead by example.”: “Actions speak louder than words.”
• “Gratitude leads to happiness.”: “Grateful for your wisdom.”
• “Let’s build a brighter future for the next generation.”: “The future belongs to them.”
• “I’m inspired by your resilience.”: “Resilience conquers all.”
• “Empathy can change the world.”: “Empathy breeds compassion.”
• “Let’s make the world a better place.”: “One step at a time.”
• “We have the power to create change”: “Change starts with us.”
• “I’m grateful for your friendship”: “Grateful for yours too.”
• “Together, we can achieve anything”: “Absolutely, let’s make it happen.”

Speech Examples for Public Speaking

• “Thank you for inviting me to speak today.”: “It’s an honor to be here.”
• “Let’s take a moment to appreciate the hard work of our team.”: “Absolutely, their dedication is commendable.”
• “I believe that together we can overcome any challenge.”: “Agreed, unity is our strength.”
• “In conclusion, let’s remember that kindness can make a huge difference.”: “Absolutely, kindness matters.”

Speech Examples About Life

• “Life is full of ups and downs.”: “True, it’s a rollercoaster.”
• “We learn from our mistakes.”: “Absolutely, they shape us.”
• “Cherish the moments that matter.”: “Indeed, they’re precious.”
• “Success comes from hard work and perseverance.”: “Agreed, there are no shortcuts.”
• “Embrace change, it’s the only constant in life.”: “Absolutely, adaptability is key.”

Speech Examples for Writing

• “Writing allows us to express our thoughts and feelings.”: “Absolutely, it’s a powerful form of expression.”
• “Every word we write has the potential to impact someone.”: “Indeed, words hold immense power.”
• “Through writing, we can explore new worlds and ideas.”: “True, it’s a journey of creativity.”
• “Practice is key to improving our writing skills.”: “Agreed, consistency leads to growth.”
• “Writing is a lifelong journey of learning and discovery.”: “Absolutely, there’s always more to explore.”

Types of speeches

Informative Speeches : These speeches aim to educate the audience about a specific topic, idea, or concept.

Persuasive Speeches : The goal of persuasive speeches is to influence the audience’s beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors regarding a particular topic or issue.

Special Occasion Speeches : These speeches are delivered during specific events or occasions such as weddings, graduations, or award ceremonies. Examples include wedding toasts, acceptance speeches, or eulogies.

Demonstrative Speeches : Demonstrative speeches involve teaching the audience how to do something or providing instructions, often accompanied by visual aids or demonstrations.

Motivational Speeches : Motivational speeches are intended to inspire and encourage the audience to take action, overcome obstacles, or achieve their goals.

Entertaining Speeches : These speeches focus on entertaining the audience, often through humor, storytelling, or engaging anecdotes.

Impromptu Speeches : Impromptu speeches are delivered without prior preparation and require the speaker to think on their feet and respond quickly to a given topic or prompt.

Debate Speeches : In debates, participants deliver speeches to argue for or against a specific proposition or resolution, presenting arguments and counterarguments to persuade the audience.

Commencement Speeches : Given at graduation ceremonies, commencement speeches often provide advice, reflection, and inspiration to graduating students as they transition to the next phase of their lives.

Keynote Speeches : Keynote speeches are delivered at the beginning or conclusion of an event and set the tone or theme for the gathering. They are often delivered by notable figures or experts in their field.

Differences Between Speech and Language

between speech and language in table format:

How to start Speech

Begin with a Powerful Quote : Start your speech with a relevant and impactful quote that relates to your topic. This can immediately grab your audience’s attention and create intrigue.

Ask a Thought-Provoking Question : Pose a thought-provoking question that stimulates the audience’s curiosity and encourages them to think about the topic you’ll be discussing.

Tell a Compelling Story : Open with a short anecdote or story that illustrates the importance or relevance of your topic. Stories have a way of drawing in listeners and making your message more relatable.

State a Startling Statistic or Fact : Share a surprising statistic or fact related to your topic. This can grab attention and highlight the significance of what you’re about to discuss.

Use a Personal Anecdote or Experience : Share a personal experience or anecdote that connects you to the topic and helps establish rapport with your audience. Personal stories can make your speech more engaging and relatable.

Create an Atmosphere : Set the scene by painting a vivid picture or describing a scenario related to your topic. Engage the audience’s senses and transport them into the world of your speech.

Start with Humor : A well-timed joke or humorous anecdote can instantly lighten the mood and create a connection with your audience. Just be sure the humor is appropriate for the context and audience.

Make a Bold Statement or Assertion : Begin with a bold statement or assertion that challenges conventional wisdom or provokes thought. This can intrigue your audience and make them eager to hear more.

Acknowledge the Audience : Start by acknowledging the audience and expressing gratitude for their presence. This helps establish a rapport and creates a sense of inclusivity.

Pose a Rhetorical Question : Pose a rhetorical question that gets your audience thinking about the topic and primes them for the message you’re about to deliver.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

10 Examples of Public speaking

20 Examples of Gas lighting

Definition of 'speech'

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speech in British English

Speech in american english, examples of 'speech' in a sentence speech, cobuild collocations speech, trends of speech.

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• speech bubble
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• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'S'

Related terms of speech

• cued speech
• free speech
• hate speech
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What is speech, language and communication.

Speech: When we use the term ‘speech’, we are referring to the production of sounds to form words.  

Language: In the simplest sense, we think of language as being the understanding and use of words, sentences and grammar. This involves both receptive language (understanding) and expressive language (use of language).

Communication: Communication involves conveying thoughts, needs, wants and ideas to another person or people. We communicate using language but also non-verbal means such as gesture, facial expression, body language, eye contact etc. Speech is not essential.

Children develop their Speech, Language and Communication skills at different rates and ages. Typically, children will do this through the development of the skills represented in the Communication Pyramid below.

The skills at the bottom of the pyramid act as the foundations for the skills at the top. 

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• Humanities ›
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Speech in Linguistics

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

In linguistics , speech is a system of  communication  that uses spoken words  (or sound symbols ). 

The study of speech sounds (or spoken language ) is the branch of linguistics known as phonetics . The study of sound changes in a language is phonology . For a discussion of speeches in rhetoric and oratory , see Speech (Rhetoric) .

Etymology:  From the Old English, "to speak"

Studying Language Without Making Judgements

• "Many people believe that written language is more prestigious than spoken language--its form is likely to be closer to Standard English , it dominates education and is used as the language of public administration. In linguistic terms, however, neither speech nor writing can be seen as superior. Linguists are more interested in observing and describing all forms of language in use than in making social and cultural judgements with no linguistic basis." (Sara Thorne, Mastering Advanced English Language , 2nd ed. Palgrave Macmillan, 2008)

Speech Sounds and Duality

• "The very simplest element of speech --and by 'speech' we shall henceforth mean the auditory system of speech symbolism, the flow of spoken words--is the individual sound, though, . . . the sound is not itself a simple structure but the resultant of a series of independent, yet closely correlated, adjustments in the organs of speech." ( Edward Sapir , Language: An Introduction to the Study of Speech , 1921)
• "Human language is organized at two levels or layers simultaneously. This property is called duality (or 'double articulation'). In speech production, we have a physical level at which we can produce individual sounds, like n , b and i . As individual sounds, none of these discrete forms has any intrinsic meaning . In a particular combination such as bin , we have another level producing a meaning that is different from the meaning of the combination in nib . So, at one level, we have distinct sounds, and, at another level, we have distinct meanings. This duality of levels is, in fact, one of the most economical features of human language because, with a limited set of discrete sounds, we are capable of producing a very large number of sound combinations (e.g. words) which are distinct in meaning." (George Yule, The Study of Language , 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2006)

Approaches to Speech

• "Once we decide to begin an analysis of speech , we can approach it on various levels. At one level, speech is a matter of anatomy and physiology: we can study organs such as tongue and larynx in the production of speech. Taking another perspective, we can focus on the speech sounds produced by these organs--the units that we commonly try to identify by letters , such as a 'b-sound' or an 'm-sound.' But speech is also transmitted as sound waves, which means that we can also investigate the properties of the sound waves themselves. Taking yet another approach, the term 'sounds' is a reminder that speech is intended to be heard or perceived and that it is therefore possible to focus on the way in which a listener analyzes or processes a sound wave." (J. E. Clark and C. Yallop, An Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology . Wiley-Blackwell, 1995)

Parallel Transmission

• "Because so much of our lives in a literate society has been spent dealing with speech recorded as letters and text in which spaces do separate letters and words, it can be extremely difficult to understand that spoken language simply does not have this characteristic. . . . [A]lthough we write, perceive, and (to a degree) cognitively process speech linearly--one sound followed by another--the actual sensory signal our ear encounters is not composed of discretely separated bits. This is an amazing aspect of our linguistic abilities, but on further thought one can see that it is a very useful one. The fact that speech can encode and transmit information about multiple linguistic events in parallel means that the speech signal is a very efficient and optimized way of encoding and sending information between individuals. This property of speech has been called parallel transmission ." (Dani Byrd and Toben H. Mintz, Discovering Speech, Words, and Mind . Wiley-Blackwell, 2010)

Oliver Goldsmith on the True Nature of Speech

• "It is usually said by grammarians , that the use of language is to express our wants and desires; but men who know the world hold, and I think with some show of reason, that he who best knows how to keep his necessities private is the most likely person to have them redressed; and that the true use of speech is not so much to express our wants, as to conceal them." (Oliver Goldsmith, "On the Use of Language." The Bee , October 20, 1759)

Pronunciation: SPEECH

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