For people who are just beginning to learn about public speaking, it is easy to mistake it for a form of conversation. Indeed, public speaking and conversation are similar in the way that they both involve imparting a message. However, other characteristics of these two forms of communication make them very different. First of all, a conversation requires dialogue and includes an exchange of messages, whereas, in public speaking, the message is communicated by a single person. For example, in school, a discussion of a group project wherein students share their ideas and suggestions is an example of a conversation. Nevertheless, when they distribute parts of the presentation and deliver them to the rest of the class, it becomes an example of public speaking.
Secondly, the goals of public speaking and conversation are different. Public speaking always serves a specific purpose, such as to inform, entertain, motivate, or persuade the audience. For this reason, public speakers often use various rhetorical devices to make their speeches more influential and achieve their goals. A conversation, on the other hand, is a pattern of interactive and spontaneous communication. This means that messages are not premeditated or planned in the form of a script.
Finally, the third difference between conversation and public speaking is that public speaking uses formal language that restricts slang and jargon. The language is typically tailored to the audience so that the people can understand it freely. A conversation, on the contrary, might include slang, swearing, or incorrect grammatical structures. This distinction is essential for public speakers since using informal language can be off-putting for the audience, thus damaging the effectiveness of a speech.