Analyzing Body Language Assignment Paper
Analyzing Body Language Assignment Paper
Body language refers to non-verbal communication tools such as gestures, facial expressions, tone, and movements to communicate. Body language is critical in speech delivery as it determines how impactful it will be to the audience. Speakers can use non-verbal communication to generate emotion and emphasize the main points of their speech.
In “I have a Dream,” Martin Luther declares his vision for the US to end racism and segregation against black people. Alicia Garza’s speech creates awareness of the objectives of the Black Lives Matter movement. In the speech, Alicia describes the discrimination against black people using statistical evidence about the prison population, the labor market, and other socioeconomic variables. Analyzing Body Language Assignment Paper
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
Martin Luther and Alicia use non-verbal communication to express their thoughts and keep the audience. They articulated their points confidently without a shaky tone, which convinced the audience that their speech was sincere and well-researched. In “I have a Dream,” Martin Luther uses a firm tone and loud voice to read his speech. He maintains firm eye contact with the audience throughout his speech by keeping his chin up and chest out. Maintaining eye contact helps speakers to connect with their audience and not to lose their attention. Luther uses hand movements to emphasize his points. Both speakers did not move around their respective stages to avoid distracting the audience. Analyzing Body Language Assignment Paper
However, unlike Martin Luther, Alicia reads her speech from a podium below her. Resultantly, she constantly loses eye contact with her audience as she is forced to keep looking down at her speech. Maintaining eye contact enhances Martin Luther’s charisma when delivering his speech. Another notable difference between both speeches is that Martin Luther relies heavily on cadence. Cadence is the sequential flow or rhythm of words during a speech. Dr. King’s repetitive use of the phrase “I have a Dream” is catchy and increases the audience’s attention. The phrase also made the speech more memorable and enhanced the audience’s emotional connection to it. Alicia hardly used cadence in her speech, and there were no memorable phrases the audience could relate to. Overall, Dr. King appeared more charismatic during the delivery of his speech which was more impactful to his audience.
The location speakers select to give their speeches always contributes to delivering the message. Martin Luther’s speech was delivered at Lincoln Memorial, while Alicia’s speech was held in a closed space as part of the Rad talks. Having an open-air speech removes limitations on the number of people in attendance. The more accessible a location is, the higher the number of possible attendees during a speech. Approximately 200,000 people attended Lincoln Memorial to listen to Martin Luther’s speech. The number of people who listened to Alicia’s speech was significantly lower. Moreover, the number of people helps to create a euphoric atmosphere that enhances the emotion attached to a speech.
The audience in Dr. King’s speech would relate to Alicia’s audience as the central message is to end all forms of racism and discrimination against black people. During Luther’s era, discrimination was primarily a physical form whereby black people were physically segregated. In the era described in Alicia’s speech, which she delivered in 2015, Racism is more subtle and hidden in policy and regulations (Francis & Wright-Rigueur, 2021)Analyzing Body Language Assignment Paper. The Black Lives Matter movement was formed to protest the increasing pattern of law enforcement agencies unfairly targeting black people. The two audiences thus share the common goal of achieving equality for all black people.
References
“—.” YouTube, uploaded by Centre for Constitutional Rights, 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cniRNj6m0-A.
Francis, M. M., & Wright-Rigueur, L. (2021). Black Lives Matter in a historical perspective. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 17, 441-458. Analyzing Body Language Assignment Paper