Primary Purposes

1. Inquiry

          Much of our speaking is a search for information that we lack, or something which we are uncertain of.

2. Reporting

          You are presenting information  to your listeners. Your purpose now is to inform or to instruct others who hope to learn from your report. This involves special skills every speaker must master.

3. Advocacy

         The speaker who seeks to convince or persuade is an advocate. This advocate is not content just to provide information. The speaker wants her listener to adopt a specific attitude toward a proposition.

4. Inspiration or Entertainment

          The speaker’s intention is to evoke an emotional response to intensify feelings. You inspire people to greater efforts, comfort a friend in distress,tell a story to get a laugh, share your fears, give encouragement and even express affection.