Unit 1: Why study public speaking?

In public speeches, we mainly use formal or standard (also called consultative) English, unless we know the audience very well, in which case we may use some casual expressions. Frozen language (as the name suggests) is the language of texts that cannot be changed: quotations, prayers, laws, etc., whereas intimate is the language of lovers (best avoided in public, so that it cannot be misinterpreted as harassment). We should also adjust the formality level to the subject matter. A discussion of a legal system in a country calls for a more formal presentation than the description of tourist attractions in a certain town. Therefore, when preparing to speak in public, we need to ask ourselves the following questions:

1. Is the presentation academic? On a technical or medical subject? If it is to be presented in a formal setting, the formal register should be used (precise technical expressions and no slang).
2. Is the presentation to be made in a professional setting among peers? If so, the standard (consultative) register should be used with formal vocabulary and no slang or colloquialisms, unless we know the audience very well.
3. Is the presentation to be given for friends or teammates only? Then we should use casual language, which may include more informal expressions and slang.

As public speaking has become one of the core skills for the 21^st century, learning the skill has become an imperative for everybody. In the course of life, you may need to present some new technology to fellow students, prepare technical or sales presentations at work, or conduct briefings or virtual presentations, which have become more popular with the Covid-19 pandemic. You may be required to speak to groups of foreigners at conferences or show them around your home town. This all makes “presentation literacy” one of the most important skills to learn. And, like many other skills, public speaking can be learnt and improved with practice.