What is the primary purpose of a speech?

The primary purpose of a speech often revolves around persuasion, particularly when the goal is to motivate the audience to take a specific action. Persuasive speeches are designed to influence the beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors of listeners. This approach goes beyond merely sharing information; it actively engages the audience, aiming to inspire or convince them to embrace a particular viewpoint or undertake an action.

In many contexts, such as political speeches, rallies, or advocacy events, the goal is clearly geared towards eliciting a response from the audience, which underscores the significance of persuasion in speechmaking. While other purposes like entertaining, informing, or defining concepts are also valid objectives of a speech, the intention to prompt the audience to act is a fundamental aspect of effective communication in various settings. Thus, this choice reflects the most common underlying intent of many impactful speeches.