Week 11, Question 3

In this weeks reading, I really took in the most from the section about language and gender, specifically about sexist language, but since that is mentioned in question 2, I can't write about it :). so, my second choice is the section which speaks about putting your language into context.  To me, this is huge!  If you are listening to someone speak about something in which you can comprehend, but not relate to, it is going to be in one ear and out the other, and chances are you will also probably be bored during the presentation.  On the flip side, if the speaker has tailored his/her speech to the audience and done the relevant research as it pertains to that area and whom will be attending, there is a much higher chance of connecting with the audience and having a successful presentation.  If someone is speaking on poverty in general, they need to incorporate some area specific statistics, or somehow relate the large number of sufferers to the people in the audience, just like the sample speech in the book mentioned.  Though that speaker was referencing specifically AIDS in Africa, it was tied in very well by comparing those statistics to the number of people in which were in that room at that moment.  In my persuasive speech I am speaking on the spaying and neutering of animals and this will definitely be something I need to keep in mind.  I need to make sure I find a way to touch everyone in my audience so they can personally relate and feel moved.