Verbal communication is something that we do every. single. day.
It’s something that is easily overlooked as it happens too frequently! It’s one of the basic fundamental skills we possess, as an human being.
I was looking at various articles both online and in print and nothing spoke to me as much as this video clip below.
(well, maybe for the fact that i’m engulfed with readings from all modules whilst putting myself at gunpoint after looking at the tests & projects given)
The clip above is popular US Comedian, Ellen DeGeneres giving the commencement speech for Tulane University’s class of 2009.
Ellen DeGeneres to Headline Tulane University’s “Katrina Class” Commencement
February 16, 2009
Mike Strecker
New Orleans native Ellen DeGeneres, a twelve-time Emmy Award-winning stand-up comedian, actress and host of the popular talk show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” will be the keynote speaker at Tulane University’s 2009 Commencement, May 16 at 9 a.m. in the Louisiana Superdome. …
(extracted from http://tulane.edu/news/releases/pr02162009.cfm )
Commonly Guest Speakers at Commencement Ceremonies are to be alumnis of the respective university and impart their words of wisdom towards the newly graduating class, but as a New Orleans native as well as her star status, Ellen was invited to speak.
Verbal Communication is used in this type of communication. She addresses the graduating batch of students with the aide of a microphone (duh).Ellen also utilises the full use of the English Language by recalling previous experiences and through the recollection, sends her intended message towards the students.
The 4 subsytems of the language system is present here: Phonemes, Syntatics, Semantics & Pragmetics.
Her speech shaped thoughts and perceptions of who she is and what she said. For example, she said she is a homosexual and she references that lifestyle (00:36-00:42) through relating her living quarters with her domestic partner. Through insights on how her house is, would the viewers start to form let their cognition be influenced and perhaps, in a long shot, have a swayed opinion on homosexuality in general, but I digress.
As Language is a symbol, her jokes are often analogies, such as the popular Common-Cement. (00:50-01:05) which engagies the analogy of finding a crack in a perfectly shaped cement would “break your mother’s back”. (probably in reference to having an imperfect academic qualification & potential family disappointment)
As Ellen is a comedian, she didn’t face much language-based barriers to the students. She didn’t use Exclusionary language (but perhaps inclusionary by being pro-homosexual), she did not use any complex terms that ordinary people wouldn’t understand (i.e Bypassing) so hence there was a general belief that everyone pretty much understood the gist of the speech.
The speech was also a general success as she referenced Popular Culture in her speech. E.g The Pussycat Doll’s “When I Grow Up” (07:28-07:36) and Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” (09:24-09:31). She also referenced Barack Obama’s recent win in the US Presidential Elections! (05:36-05:38) “This was when we just had white presidents” (In reference to the thought of US Television accepting an openly homosexual TV host)
Overall, this speech, in my opinion is a success, the message was well received, simple & understandable and Extensionally-centred (relating the puzzled and undecided path of graduates with Ellen’s pre-hosting days).
I watch this over & over again, not just for its direct message on Life’s lessons, but just on the fact that the way Ellen delivered is is pure comedic genius with a slice of life added in.
This really makes me want to graduate really soon. Could we get someone funny to speak at our commencement? Maybe, Irene Ang?
Total Word Count: 545 (without references)
September 19, 2009 at 9:38 pm |
Heyhey, yup I agree with what you said, her speech was well received for good reasons. I personally understand why would the University would want her to do that talk. She delivers her message clearly with wit, zest and humour. Irene Ang is an interesting choice btw. lol.
Desiree.
September 20, 2009 at 7:40 am |
Hi Isaac,
Great choice for a video!
I laughed a lot in that short 9 minutes! Ellen is a real verbal genius. She is able to very comfortably engage the crowd with her endless jokes about politics, past events and the fact that she is “gay”. During her speech, I noticed that she loved to quote recent events or trends which the crowd can relate to. She also used a lot of analogies to emphasize certain points, and i quote, “by the time i was your age, i thought i knew who i was, but i had no idea, like for example, when i was your age, i was dating men”.
You know, this video should be used for a Public Speaking class.
Cheers,
Chin
September 20, 2009 at 3:39 pm |
oohh! I’ve always liked ellen’s shows.
The way she speaks attracts the attention of people easily and seems to convey the wanted message easily too. Indeed a great example of effective verbal communication.
Comment on my blog too!
Kai Ting
http://commmediadiscourse.wordpress.com
September 20, 2009 at 4:31 pm |
heyyyy!
your video certainly changed my impression of Ellen because i used to think that she had no depth.haha ! but there you go- PERCEPTION IS DECEPTIVE.
anyway, YESSSS, verbal communication is soooo important! imagine if you become deaf or mute one day, i really can’t bear to think of how life would be like as verbal communication is such an important aspect in life.
i feel that in this video, Ellen could capture her audience’s attention because she was so sincere and so true, which is rarely seen when a guest speaker is asked to speak to a huge crowd. no offence to any of them, but they will tend to give politically correct answers which are usually cliche, hence are not able to hold long to their audience’s attention. haha !
so yeah . verbal communication, i emphasize once again, is of utmost importance !! good analysis you have this week, isaac!! keep them coming!:D
claudia(:
September 21, 2009 at 7:39 am |
very humorous and entertaining! good interpretation of the video. it shows how important it is that one should be able to converse proficiently! verbal communication is a very powerful tool when one wants to leave an immediate impact on the audience. in Ellen’s case, she definitely did touched the audience’s hearts. in the midst of such a humorous speech, the underlying message is actually an important one to guide the future generations.
September 21, 2009 at 8:45 am |
I <3 ELLEN!
And I want to graduate like ASAP toooooo HAHAHA
EBBIE
Yes very much agree with your post, she has delivered her speech brilliantly. Knowing her target audience (omg so ESL407), and knowing how to address them, using jargons and songs and stuff, actually draws the attention of the graduating batch. Although non-verbal communication is not as evident here, we can tell that verbal communication still plays a bigger role in getting messages across. This all boils down to how you deliver it, who is the target audience and exactly what and what not to say. Great job Isaac!
September 21, 2009 at 9:09 am |
Hey Issac!
I love Ellen! She’s so funny! Haha I wish I got to know her personally(:
Anyway, I agree with you that we take verbal communication for granted and we tend to underestimate the power of it at times. Through verbal communication, we are able to communicate our thoughts and ideas to people! Thus, it is definitely important that we learn to perfect the art of verbal communication!
Ellen sure is someone who has great verbal communication skills. Her sense of humour definitely helps her alot as we are able to relate to her more. Not to mention, she is a international figure! Also, kudos to you one your analysis of the four subsystems of the language system present in the video!
Keep up the good work!
September 21, 2009 at 5:45 pm |
Ellen rocks! what rocks even more is that she not just a comedian but also a comedian with intelligence. She makes sense most of the time if you think about it, her jokes and her statements are things that you don’t usually realise, but go “woah” (more like laughing your ass off).
Genius that woman is. Great reference zac!
September 22, 2009 at 3:35 am |
I love her too her shows are damn funny! She always without fail attracts anyone to focus on her shows. Always watch it in the morning on channel five.
Although she is someone who has been educated to very high levels, she is definitely one who speaks with intelligence. Her jokes are always something that comes to you as a surprise and before you realise you are already laughing like mad. It is really a good choice to invite her for a speech at the commencement (haha common cement!).
This video really makes me like her more, because she is truthful to everyone and herself. She also teaches us to be simply ourselves and know who we are and not follow other people’s path.
Shuanghui
September 22, 2009 at 4:54 am |
Everyone went “Isaac you rock, wow!”. So im gonna go ” AWESOME ISAAC”. Ellen is sucha funnyass, i feel empowered by her every time i hear her speak. Communication has made this available to me, and communication no doubt may send the wrong signals to the receiver, but Ellen has done a great job so far.
September 22, 2009 at 1:16 pm |
hey isaac! Ellen’s speech is a real success, balancing everything a good speech should consist of. She’s witty, funny, and full of life and she can really capture the attention of the crowd. Furthermore, she still successfully delivers her message across very clearly amidst a whole sea of jokes and funny antics.
Irene Ang would be a good choice, but i think Kumar would also be a good choice.
September 22, 2009 at 5:01 pm |
WHOA.
hey golden-no-more-mile!
Guess what, i thought i’d be too lazy to watch it, but when i watched it, i sat right up, listening to what she said! Humour is such a great way to move people! And she is an inspiring figure too!
Reminds me very much of desiree’s blogpost on Hitler!
Personally, i think the impact you make after your speech determines how well you’ve communicated! Simply that. (That’s of course leaving out the fact about how good or bad a person he/she is…) :]
I think greater success in communication is achieved when one has influenced others. That is, to make them sway towards your perspective and point/stand.
OOooOOOh. I say job well done for bringing up the points and noting this video of good rhetorics! :]
matchix9019@HOTmail.com
September 22, 2009 at 5:29 pm |
Long live Ellen DeGeneres! I too agree that she has a remarkable way with her audience and this heightens especially, that eloquence in one’s speech definitely cuts other people down to size. It is no wonder Ellen was invited to make a speech at such an academically inclined event as such, given her celebrity status(2 very different contexts).
I commend her bravery at coming clean with her sexual orientation(ie, addressing it at such a formal event with honesty and sincerity) and being influential as she is, definitely has changed some of the masses’ stereotypical impression of homosexuals. Kudos to that!
She also addresses the audience with much wit in her speech, which makes the whole convention of the ceremony more light-hearted and less dreary, a form of communication that draws university graduates towards. After all, young adults of this age group would not like to be bored to tears with yet another dreary speech by one of the professors in the academic field. Having Ellen make a speech was hence, a very good choice.
You have clearly broken down the reasons why her speech worked for the audience, and we see at first glance, the power of language that influences us! Irene Ang would definitely be the closest candidate in running to be the next ‘Ellen’ ! :>
September 24, 2009 at 6:05 am |
Ellen DeGeneres rocks!!
I watch her talk show, and it has never once been boring!
I think of her charismatic charm unto people, that has this captivity value in her speech. Thus, drawing people to listen attentively to her.
She doesn’t use difficult terms when speaking but simple and everyday-words so everyone (regardless of age or where they come from) understands. This is why I love her!!
Good job! For breaking down and analysing her influence value in her speeches.
September 25, 2009 at 7:34 am |
Ellen is a great communicator. She is one talkshow host that doesn’t need prompters (tele or otherwise) in her shows. You communicate very naturally too and people feel good talking with ya. One thing: I perked up at your use of terms like phonemes and stuff. What are those?
October 1, 2009 at 3:56 pm |
Nice! I loved the video. Ellen really knows how to use communication to put across her message and she has never been to collage (what are we doing?).
Agree with the points that you have written in regards to the different parts of her speech. Good job!
I’m bias towards her so I’ll say, SHE’S GREAT!!
November 6, 2009 at 8:26 am |
Ellen is great! She is just being herself and speaking her mind in a way that everyone understands. Communication at the end of the day is just about getting the message across, not about using flowery languages so who knows, maybe one day the duck and the chicken by using actions are able to communicate too !!!
HEHE.
November 7, 2009 at 3:42 pm |
Hi Isaac!
What a great speech by the one and only Ellen DeGeneres, I was captivated from start to finish which can be quite difficult to do when it comes to speeches.
Like you said, Ellen used many methods to keep the attention of the audience which consisted of not only the graduates but the staff and parents as well. She uses lyrics from currect pop songs which the graduates can relate to and of course, humour. She drew from personal experiences which can be said to be pathos as well because of the tragic events that occurred in her life. She also uses logos with her reasoning as to how people would see her if they found out she was gay early on in her career and also how people should follow their own path and be themselves.
Whatever she says, people seem to want to listen. Myself included. Partly because she is funny, but I think it is also largely because she is just so sincere and genuine and unpretentious. Ellen FTW!
November 8, 2009 at 3:54 am |
When you showed me the video, I was thinking, “crap another thing to review for you.” However, after watching it, I realised it’s purpose and meaning.
Somehow, she managed to strike a note in me that made me reflect on my life. (Definitely, a great speaker for ANY occasion!) I think the most basic thing a speaker of any occasion should be the ability to engage a person to reflect upon any part of his/her life.
To be honest, I’ve this ‘fetish’ for great speakers. How they actually capture the attention of their audience that easily and how they portray themselves.
Then it kind of reminded me that, sometimes these people are BORN to be speakers. While it’s true that this can be trained or something, however you can never deny the fact some people are just born with that natural charisma to capture our attention whenever they speak, be it even if it’s just a few words. Basically these people make you THINK!
Communication is probably one of those very important barrier everyone have to learn to handle well because it really determines many aspect of your life. Sure enough a person’s speech is a sign of how they lived their lives…
Overall, great analysis of her speech! Looking forward to more such posts!
Edmund.