Callie Norton

Speech 140, Section 007

April 15, 2015

I. Opening Paragraph (12 pts)

A) Attention Getter:
Language is more than just a mode of communication. It is a way of expressing ourselves in a
way that is unique to the culture we live in. But what if you had no way to communicate? Your
ideas and expressions would have no way of contributing to the world around you. Much of what
makes you, you would be lost. When a language dies, so does the culture in which it lived.
B) Credentialing Statement:
According to The New York Times, there are currently around 7,000 languages spoken in the
world, but almost half of these languages are in danger of becoming extinct within the century.
C) Relevancy Statement:
I’m sure all of you have had to take a language in high school and maybe even here at South
Carolina. If you are anything like me, you sat through 45 minute lectures once a day and
memorized endless flash cards just to forget everything after the test. The importance of learning
a second language has been overlooked. People have begun to see language classes as something
they need to get into college or boost their GPA rather than something they actually need. I’m
here to tell you why this needs to change.

II. Thesis Statement: One short sentence (6 pts)

Learning a second language should be made a priority in the United States.

III. Preview Paragraph: This section of the speech should give us your main ideas and the order in which
you will cover them. Write as a paragraph. (12 pts.)
I am going to first talk about different languages and dialects around the world and the shocking
rate at which the number of languages is decreasing. I will then explain the benefits of learning a
second language. Finally, I will talk about languages in our school systems and what can be done
to improve students’ language abilities.

IV. Visual Aids

1. Possibly a video to clear up what dialects are and why they are important to a language as a
whole.
2. A chart/map to show the depth of the decrease of languages around the world.
 SPEAKING OUTLINE
I.Attention Getter: Language is more than just a mode of communication…
II.Thesis: Learning a second language should be made a priority in the United States.
III.Preview:
A. The Decrease of Languages and Dialects
B. Benefits of learning a second language
C. Languages in our school systems
Body:
I. History and Evolution
A. Beginning is a mystery
B. Geographical barriers
C. Exploration and colonization
II. Languages and dialects today
A. Globalization
B. Similarities and differences
C. Emerging and diminishing
D. English dialect video
Transition: Many languages we have today are becoming extinct, but why does it matter?
I. Preserves Culture
A. Norway example
B. Lost in translation
C. “We’re the Millers” Example
D. House simile
II. Appreciate differences
A. Unique
B. Food Metaphor
Transition: Other than the fact that one universal language would be almost impossible to
achieve, there are many reasons why learning a second language would be beneficial.
I. Memory
A. Speaking several languages improves memory
II. Careers
A. Pay increase
B. Translators 15th fastest growing career
III. Understanding
A. Eliminate war
B. Culture barriers
Transition: So if learning a second language is so beneficial, why aren’t we?
I. School system
A. Treated as science or math
B. Short amount of time
C. Should be immersed
II. US reputation
A. Most foreigners see Americans as lazy
B. Austria example
C. No need for us to learn another language because we know English
Summary: Imagine a world in which everyone could understand one another. Imagine a world in which cultural
differences were appreciated and preserved. And now, imagine a world in which both were true. Learn to speak
another language, and we can make this a reality. Although we may not be able to save every language from the
effects of globalization, we can still learn to appreciate the differences and similarities we share, regardless of the
way we communicate. The benefits of a second language are endless.
Peroration: In the words of Nelson Mandela, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his
head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”