This segment introduces students to how grammar and tone shape the formality of a speech. In everyday life, we often speak casually—using contractions, fillers, slang, and incomplete thoughts. But in formal public speaking, especially in academic or professional settings, we need to shift to clear, polished, and structured language. This shift is crucial for building credibility, ensuring clarity, and adapting to audience expectations.

Colloquial language reflects everyday, conversational speech. It’s natural, relaxed, and often includes:

• Contractions (e.g., I’m, can’t, gonna)

• Slang or informal vocabulary (e.g., cool, stuff, guys)

• Filler words (e.g., like, you know, um)

• Incomplete grammar (e.g., “Went to the store yesterday.”)

• Tag questions or vague phrases (e.g., “Right?”, “or something like that”)

 Used in: personal conversations, casual videos, informal group discussions.

Avoid in: academic presentations, conferences, formal speeches.

Formal spoken language is used in public, academic, or professional settings. It is grammatically complete, carefully structured, and avoids overly casual expressions. It includes:

• Full sentences with proper grammar

• Precise vocabulary (e.g., children instead of kids, significant instead of big deal)

• No contractions (e.g., cannot instead of can’t)

• No slang or idiomatic fillers

• Objective tone—avoiding personal opinions unless clearly signposted

 Used in: academic presentations, business meetings, TED Talks, job interviews

When you speak formally, your audience:

• Takes your ideas more seriously

• Understands your message more clearly

• Sees you as prepared and professional

When you speak too casually in a formal setting, you may come across as:

• Unprepared or unprofessional

• Difficult to follow (especially for non-native speakers or diverse audiences)

• Less credible or authoritative

Example:

• Colloquial: “Okay, so today I’m gonna talk about how tech is totally changing everything.”

• Formal: “Today, I will explain how recent technological developments are significantly transforming communication.”

Feature	Colloquial  Speech	Formal  Speech
Contractions	“I’m, can’t, it’s”	“I am, cannot, it is”
Vocabulary	“Stuff, kids, cool”	“Materials, children, effective/impressive”
Sentence Structure	Fragmented, casual	Full, well-structured
Tone	Personal, relaxed	Objective, professional
Examples in Use	“You guys know what I mean?”	“This concept can be explained further as follows…”

 

• Tone and speaking style

• Grammar and sentence structure

• Vocabulary choices

• Use of contractions or fillers

• Presentation format and organization

  Which style did you find easier to understand? Why?

  Which presentation felt more credible or authoritative? Why?

  In what contexts would each style be appropriate (e.g., TED Talk, class presentation, YouTube tutorial, business meeting)?

  How could the casual speaker improve their speech for a formal audience?

  How might the formal speaker adapt their style to connect more casually with a high school audience?

   

 

• Tone and speaking style

• Grammar and sentence structure

• Vocabulary choices

• Use of contractions or fillers

• Presentation format and organization

  Which style did you find easier to understand? Why?

  Which presentation felt more credible or authoritative? Why?

  In what contexts would each style be appropriate (e.g., TED Talk, class presentation, YouTube tutorial, business meeting)?

  How could the casual speaker improve their speech for a formal audience?

  How might the formal speaker adapt their style to connect more casually with a high school audience?