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Definition

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Most informative speeches require that the speaker define a term or an idea at some point; when you define something, you identify its essential qualities and meaning. Although we typically think of definitions as short entries in a dictionary, in fact many speeches are focused entirely on definitions. The main goal of definitional speeches is to provide answers to “what” questions. Such questions as “What is torture?” and “What is marriage?” have prompted heated debate in the halls of Congress (and elsewhere) in recent years, making it clear that defining terms is neither simple nor unimportant. As a speaker, you can approach a definitional speech in a variety of ways. A definition in a speech might use one of these approaches; a definitional speech might incorporate more or even all of them.

An operational definition defines something by explaining what it is or what it does. For example, salsa can be defined by what it is: “Salsa is a condiment, usually made of tomatoes, onions, and peppers, common in Spanish and Latin American cuisine.” Alternatively, it can be defined by what it does: “Salsas are most commonly used as dipping sauces for fried tortilla chips, but they also work well alongside grilled fish.”
Definition by negation defines something by telling what it is not. For example, “Salsa is not the same as taco or piquante sauce.”
Definition by example defines something by offering concrete examples of what it is. For example, “Salsas include the basic tomato version you get at your local Mexican restaurant, as well as variants made from mangoes, pineapples, or tomatillos.”
Definition by synonym defines something by using words that mean almost the same thing. For example, “Salsa is basically just a chunky sauce, similar to chutney in Indian cuisine.”
Definition by etymology defines something by using the origin of a word or phrase. For example, “Salsa is the Spanish and Italian word for sauce, derived from the Latin word for ‘salty.’”

As noted, definitional speeches can take one or more of these approaches to defining a specific term.