Use of Language in the I Have a Dream Speech Essay

In Martin Luther King Jrs famous speech, I have a dream, King uses many writing techniques to promote equality and equal laws for African Americans being treated with discrimination in America. The speech was delivered in 1963 as part of a rally at the Lincoln memorial, in the presence of more than 250 thousand people, a fifth of them white, to rally for jobs and freedom. King uses inclusive language, repetition and vocal expression to encourage the audience to help achieve his dream.

King uses inclusive language effectively in his speech. Inclusive language is when particular words are chosen by the speaker to include the listener, and therefore encourage them to agree with the speaker, as they feel they are a part of it. King uses inclusive language throughout his speech, particularly to include the other African Americans who feel they are also being unfairly treated and discriminated against. When King says as we walk, we must pledge that we will always march ahead, he is using terms such as we to include the listeners. In this particular example, King uses inclusive language effectively to encourage the listeners to march forward with him to achieve his dream and to make them aware that they do not walk alone in this long fight for freedom.

Another literary technique Martin Luther King Jr uses in his speech is repetition. Repetition is used to increase the effectiveness of the words and to emphasize a particular idea. For example, by repeating the words one hundred years later... a number of times at the beginning of each sentence near the start of his speech, King is able to reinforce his anger and passion and emphasize the effect of the words. By repeating these words, King is able to point how long this inequality and discrimination has been going on; even since the emancipation proclamation was signed. The Emancipation Proclamation was supposed to free the African Americans from their hardship. Whilst speaking this line of his speech, King also uses his voice to emphasize the point.

King also uses a number of public speaking techniques to make his speech more interesting and effective, the main one being vocal expression. King uses his voice to include emotion into his speech. By pausing, emphasizing on particular words, increasing or decreasing speed, and changing the volume, King is able to engage the audience and therefore make his speech more powerful and effective. He is able to show emotion such as anger, passion, sadness or anticipation by using his voice. When King says the words one hundred years later his voice become louder, he slows down, and emphasizes on these three words. By doing all of these things, again he is able to reinforce and emphasize the effectiveness of the words.

Martin Luther King is able to use a number of literary and public speaking techniques including inclusive language, repetition and vocal expression to successfully produce an effective speech promoting equal laws for African Americans in America, the result of which became a landmark statement of civil rights in America, and a dream of all people sharing America equally.