Chapter 13: Oral Literature Language

After practising the activities in this chapter, you should be able to: 

1. Analyse and evaluate how speakers present points effectively through use of language and gesture.

2. Present a spoken argument, sequencing points logically, defending views with evidence and using persuasive language.
3. Explain and give reasons for your views and choices.
4. Understand persuasive techniques.

Keyword

• activist
• feminist
• volume
• imagery
• persuasive

Introduction

In this chapter, you will listen to at least one persuasive speech, and carefully analyse what makes the speech effective. You will identify persuasive language gestures, eye contact and voice.

You will divide into groups to prepare a formal speech on an important school issue, using what you have learnt from listening to the speech. You will present the speech to the class and provide feedback to other speakers.

Persuasive language is used in speeches, and in adverts. When used effectively, it should influence listeners to believe something, or do something. Have you ever been persuaded to do something that you didn’t want to do at first? Have you ever tried to influence someone to do something they did not want to do? Were you successful? Perhaps an advert has persuaded you to buy something you would not have otherwise bought? Identify your favourite adverts, and think about why they appeal to you? In this chapter, you will listen to part of a speech, and identify what makes persuasive language effective.

Activity 5.1 Listen to features of speeches
1. Find these famous speeches online, or in a library. Listen to them or read them. Try reading them out loud. You can search YouTube for Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ (1963); Nelson Mandela’s speech after being released from prison (1990), and Sojourner Truth’s ‘Ain’t I a woman?” (1851).

Martin Luther King Junior was a civil rights activist in America and gave his famous freedom speech in 1963. In his speech he demanded equal rights, jobs and an end to racism.
Nelson Mandela was a political activist and leader who was imprisoned for 27 years, and became the first black president of South Africa when he was released in 1990.
Sojourner Truth was born into slavery and escaped with her baby. She was a feminist activist in America and gave her famous speech in 1851, long before women anywhere in the world had the vote.

2. If possible, do research on other famous speeches by men and women by people such as Chimamanda Adichie, Mahatma Gandhi, Graça Machel, around the world. Search online or use a library to find persuasive speeches
Queen Elizabeth I, Bethlehem Alemu, Winston Churchill, Patrick Henry, Demosthenes, and others.



Activity 5.2 Identify persuasive language
1. Listen again to the speeches you have found. Notice what features make them effective. What made them famous? Why did people listen to them and support the speakers? Was it because of: 

• body language, such as facial expressions and gestures?
• tone of voice?
• volume of voice?
• language used?
• humour?
• imagery, painted by clever use of adjectives?
• stories told to make a point?
• something else? If so, what?

2. Think of effective adverts you have seen or heard. Discuss these by asking the same questions as in number 1, about the adverts.
3. Work in groups. Study the phrases listed. Most of them are persuasive, but some serve another purpose, for example, providing information, humour or imagery. Discuss the purpose of each phrase. 

Activity 5.3 Identify your favourite speeches
1. Work in groups. Consider all the speeches you have listened to, or read. Decide which is your favourite speech, or favourite part of a speech. Ask each other these questions to help you decide:

• Which speech, or part of a speech do you remember best?
• Why do you think this is?
• Which speech gave a message that made most sense to you? Why did you relate best to this message?
• What was the funniest/saddest/most interesting thing you heard?
• Who spoke in the most interesting way?
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• How much did their voice, body language, character or appearance influence your choice?

2. Write a paragraph summarising your answers to the questions in number 1.

Activity 5.4 Use body language

Body language is almost as important as spoken language, as it can:

Work in pairs.
1. Discuss the usefulness of body language. What can it tell you? Use the picture examples to help you think of your own ideas.
2. Imagine that you do not speak the same language as your partner. Communicate the following messages by using only body language:

• No sounds allowed!
• Yes!
• I don’t know what you mean.
• Say again?
• I don’t want to talk to you.
• I am terrified of that man over there!
• Come and play soccer with us.
• We came first and won the trophy!
• Have you seen an elephant?
• You are so tired. Go and sleep.



3. Decide what the following examples of body language might mean.
a) Talking very loudly
b) Whispering
c) Always keeping eye contact
d) Yawning
e) Smiling at someone
4. Think of all the messages you can give by putting your hands on your head
in different ways.
5. How do you think each of the people in the picture is feeling?

6. Work on your own. Start a body language dictionary of all the facial expressions, gestures and ways of using your voice you can think of. Add to your body language dictionary, whenever you notice an example of body language.

• Draw or use pictures from magazines to show body language.
• Write captions below each picture to explain their meanings. For example, you could cut out a picture of somebody stretching to show tiredness.