SPEECHES WITH EFFECTIVE LANGUAGE USE: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Public speaking is an important and practical skill. It also requires a lot of techniques to make successful speeches. We conducted a case study on a selected speech delivered by Hillary Clinton for better understanding of language use and clearer identification of what make it effective. In terms of content, the speaker chose to say what the audience likes (praise, attention, sympathy, etc.) and what the audience wants (health, money, housing, jobs, education, economy, security, amongst others). In terms of rhetoric, the speaker used rhetorical questions, contrasts and repetition. These techniques, which were interwoven and repeatedly used, not only functioned as strong links between ideas but also aroused great excitement among the listeners, helping them quickly and easily catch important messages the speaker intended to convey. These techniques are therefore important for language learners to acquire, which is an essential pedagogical implication of this analytical paper.