Coursework

Introduction

The audience at which the speech is targeted is an audience with a wide variety of age, tastes and humour. This is what makes writing a best man speech such a complex procedure.

The aim of my project is to compare and contrast British and American Best man speeches as I am interested in finding how aspects of culture are reflected in a speech. I expect to find that the structural features within the speech and the register to be the same yet the humour to be different as this is an issue which is essentially down to taste which will vary between cultures.

The main focus within a best man's speach is humor.

Methodology

To discover the features within best man speeches I had to take transcripts YouTube clips. I decided to use the first two minutes from when the dialogue begins from four best man speeches. This way I would have enough data to show patterns and similarities in the speeches. Best man speeches tend to be at a length of around ten minutes. I wanted to compare features within different speeches so decided to take only the first two minutes which narrows down my data allowing a more detailed analysis of the first part of the speech.

To ensure that the speeches I looked at were considered to be effective by a wide audience therefore to make my analysis fair. I looked at the number of views and likes a video had; only choosing videos which were widely liked with the most views. I made sure that the speeches were dialogue based as some of the videos which were widely liked and viewed had other reasons other than the dialogue for being liked such as dance sequences.

As the dominant feature within a best man's speach is humor I will focus mainly on this area yet later explore other area's such as formality, lexis and sexism.

How do the nature of American and British best man speeches differ; in which ways and why?

I decided to investigate best man speeches due to their interesting nature. Best man speeches fall within the genre of speeches. As a prepared speech; they are multimodal and therefore contain features of both spoken and written language. They have the prepared and structured format of written text yet the interactive and conversational form which spoken language has.

As the best man speech is a traditional speech its purpose is known widely by all and certain points which are expected to be hit and must be hit in order for it to be successful;

· it must be very humorous, commonly mocking the groom

· it must include thank-you’s and a toast

· it must honour the bride and groom


Later in my analysis I will explore these area's yet first I will look at the focus of a best man's speech which is Humour.

The root of a Best man’s speech; Humour

Most speeches show a relationship of language and power were the speaker has power over the audience however I would argue that for a best man's speech this is not the case. I believe that the relationship of a best man with the audience is more similar to the dynamic of an audition, for example; if a person auditioning auditions well and successfully entertains his audience then the audience, through their reaction, give power to the speaker and he is then seen as a powerful figure, yet if he is unsuccessful the audience unconsciously create an almost infamous connection with him. This is one of the reasons writing a best man’s speech is such a high pressure and high profile task.

The purpose of a best man's speech is split into two; addressing the formalities and entertaining an audience through humour. Here I will be looking at humour as this is the key to entertaining an audience at a wedding; therefore gaining power/success. It had become a tradition at weddings that best man's speech must be comical to the point of stand-up comedy. Stand-up comedy has many similarities to a best man’s speech;

· It has the same audience-speaker relationship

· It has the same pressure to create humour

· It involves a similar type of humour which is tailored specifically for the audience

Analysis of Humour within the Speeches

Self-depreciation

Speech one and two both contain elements of self-depreciation. Self-depreciation works as it brings the speaker down to a lower level allowing the audience to relate and therefor sympathise with him. This is a tried and tested technique which stand-up comedians use. By tying self-depreciation in with humour this means that the speaker is no different than the audience and by showing no offence to this joke he is displaying that his humour means no harm and should not offend. This is a preparation technique where he is setting the audience up in the appropriate mind-set for the jokes he wishes to make. This means when he uses depreciation in dispense of the groom, bride or any member of the audience it is likely that they will not be offended as he shows by example on himself that it means no harm. For example “both of us have the maturity level of about a seventh grader”. This shows depreciation to the groom yet it is made acceptable as it also depreciates the speaker and therefore means no harm.

Self-aggrandisement

This is often made humorous as it is done in a sarcastic manor implying that the statement is false which makes this a form of self-depreciation. For example “I’m so young and uh handsome”.

Anecdote in dispense of the bride/groom

Many jokes are made at the grooms dispense often referring to the groom’s bad behaviour. This works as a device which appears to embarrass yet today's culture takes pride in bad behaviour so it is actually promoting an image which the groom sees as positive. For example "take the whole thing up to his room and leave us with cool aid packets that’s right he didn't even make the cool aid for us".

A common way in which the best man will make a joke is by using the context of a wedding and using stereotypical phrasing and praise in an anecdote commonly about the groom, then at the last minute there is a twist to the story. The anecdote often works and a building device; a device which is evidently building to a joke yet the anecdote, making an audience wait creates suspense which often increases the humorous effect then at the last moment it the punch line is said in the grooms dispense. The sudden contrast in dynamic allows for the audience to be surprised which in turn makes the humour more shocking.

Linguistic devices

Linguistic devices can help to create comic effect and due to the manipulation of language, this type of humour reflects a level of intelligence within the speaker. Certain devices can be appropriate for syllabic patterns within the sentence which provide comic timing.

- Pun

Where a word is suggested to have another meaning to which it is originally meant. For example "I’m supposed to sing the grooms praises and tell you about his many good points well I’m sorry to say that I can't sing and I won't lie". Here the word 'sing' is first used in a metaphorical way yet the speaker takes its literal meaning and uses this for comic effect.

- Parallel phrasing

The quote seen above is also an example of parallel phrasing. The parallel phrase in this example acts as a question and answer

-Inversion

This is where a common phrase it taken and inverted or turned on its head. The common phrase depends on the context of the speech and therefore culture. An example of this is "every silver lining has a cloud". This sort of linguistic device is the most effective when portraying a higher level of intelligence as it shows a level of cultural knowledge and the ability to manipulate language.

-Triplet

Triplets are used often for their rhythmic quality and memorable effects. For example "stand up, speak up then very quickly shut up". In this triplet sibilince and the use of a repeated imperative rhythmicly assists the .Here triplets are used within humour to exaggerate a punch line and make a joke more effective which is evident in the example as the third section of the triplet is the punch line.

Sexual reference/Suggestive behaviour

In the speeches very subtle but suggestive behaviour towards women is used which is also a feature very common in stand up comedy. The subject of intimacy is one which people find personal and intriguing which is why, when spoken about, it is often very comical as it exploits the speakers or someone’s personal emotions. An example of this is; "I'd like to thank john for his kind words on behalf of the bridesmaids um I'm sure they'll thank you personally later". Although the humour is only suggestive and very slight it is followed by two seconds of laughter from the audience.

Which speeches contain these features within humour?

	Self-depreciation	Self-aggrandisement	Anecdote in Dispense of bride/groom	Linguistic devices	Sexual/Suggestive behaviour towards women
Speech 1	"my speech does not really contain any original material" "I can't sing"	-	"his generous nature, what with him donating his body to science when he started at Queen's University and preserving it in alcohol the entire time"	(triplet)"stand up speak up and very quickly shut up" (inversion) "sing the grooms praises and tell you about his many good points well I’m sorry to say that I can’t sing and I won't lie" (Pun) "If I am the best man then why is Kim marrying Simon"	"if I am the best man then why is Kim marrying Simon"
Speech 2	-	-	-	-	"you look beautiful its amazing, every guy in this room will agree with me when i say that it is a very sad day for us" "she's amazing she's gorgious she's beautiful she's smart  she's sincere" etc...
Speech 3	"every silver lining has a cloud and that comes in the form of me" "hello chocolate man"	"I actually am the best man"	“he took my hand in turn and said hello chocolate man”	(Pun) “I actually am the best man” (Inversion) "a man who is witty charming intelligent good looking but I really shouldn't talk about myself"	"the 5th time I've risen from a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand" "I'm sure they'll thank you personally later”
Speech 4	"both of us have the maturity level of about a seventh grader"	"I'm so young and uh handsome"	"take the whole thing up to his room and leave us with cool aid packets" "that guy would really be something if he had a personality"	-	"I'm so young and uh handsome"

Looking at the context of the humour; Formality and Register within the speeches

Speech one

Out of the four speeches I believe this speech to have the highest register as it contains no slang, few filler’s, few abbreviations, formal structure and lexis and minimal suggestive/sexual references. It also contained the most linguistic devices, which reflects a greater level of inelegance within the reader.

Addressing the formality’s

Weddings being a large event have a level of formality higher than that of stand-up comedy yet lower than that of a political speech. Being a formal event there are several formalities which are expected at the beginning of a best man’s speech. The formalities expected to be hit are; introduction of the speakers name, praise of the groom/Bride and a toast/a few words in celebration of the wedding.

Speech one hits all of these points at a level of register which is appropriate to the level of formality required. Firstly he introduces himself; "for those of you who don't know me I am Ollie".  Here there is simplistic use of language but no slang and no casual manor yet the use of an abbreviation (don't) and assuming that Ollie is short for Oliver this shows that the register is not overly high.

He then raises a toast to the couple; "so first of all I'd like to raise a toast". This is common phrasing for a wedding and a phrase commonly heard at weddings which makes it evident to an audience what he wishes to address.

The highest level of formality occurs during the toast where he says honours the bride and groom and says "to two of the most beautiful and wonderful and loving people I have ever had the pleasure to have in my life" he then goes on to say "so a huge cheer to their future our incredible fortune and to everybody having a blast at this wonderful event". Here a triplet is used for memorable and rhythmic purposes which give the end of the phrase emphasis making it effective. Here the choice of lexis is very humble for example words such as 'pleasure, incredible fortune' give the impression of greatness to the Bride and groom and words such as 'beautiful, wonderful, loving' will flatter them.

Choice of lexis

The choice of lexis within the speech is evidently carefully chosen and planned in this example of prepared speech. For example "the formative years I have spent in the company of the groom". Here adjectives such as 'formative' are carefully selected over commonly used words such as 'past' to purposefully higher the register of the speech.

Little suggestive/sexual references

The only suggestive reference which occurs is "if I am the best man then why is Kim marrying Simon" which is a very light-hearted suggestion. Highly formal lexis contains next to none and by mimicking that, the speech is given a higher register.


Speech three


Addressing the formalities

After speech one, in order of register, speech three is next. This speaker also addresses all the points needed to be hit and has a slightly less formal but appropriate register. He introduces himself by saying "for those of you who don't know me my name is Raj" which is a typical introduction for a best man's speech. Again this introduces the register as friendly yet formal as this is the same as the above introduction. Early on in the speech he says a few words in celebration of the event; "I'm sure you'll all agree its been a fantastic day so far". This beings a positive tone into the speech early on. He honour's the groom by saying "firstly I would like to take this opportunity to thank John for asking me to be his best man it really is an honour". Giving thanks shows gratitude and adds a sense of humbleness to the speaker which in turn shows that the event is formal.

Choice of Lexis

In this speech the choice of lexis is very evident for a formal event. "Ladies and gentlemen" is a phrase commonly heard at formal events and connotes a very formal occasion when said.

Suggestive/Sexual References

Talking about the bridesmaids and the groom he says "I'm sure they'll thank you personally later". This is a lighthearted reference so it does not have much effect on the register but the second sexual reference is much more graphic as he says "this is actually the fifth time I've risen from a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand". Although this sort of reference is quite graphic the audience respond in a positive manor and the speaker immediately back-tracks and repairs what he said; "that's a bit graphic should have saved that one for later" which makes the joke more acceptable yet it does lower the register to a degree as it shows a more personal relationship between audience and speaker.


Speech Four

Addressing the Formalities

This speech unlike the British speeches, does not hit all the formalities expected. His introduction is typical; he says "for those of you who may not know I am Rickey's younger brother Johnson". His honouring of the groom is also very typical; "I'm extremely honoured to be here tonight to be the best man not just for my brother but one of my best friends" yet there is no part of the speech which celebrates the wedding. This part is an important feature as it creates a sense on unity to audience and speaker as they are part of the same event.

Lexis

The choice of lexis is a feature which displays a lower register than the British speeches. Slang such as the word 'sucks' and 'kinda' is used which gives the speech a tone of casual conversation. The work 'kinda' shows that the speaker is not taking care through pronunciation which shows he feels himself that there is not a high level of formality.

Suggestive/sexual references

He makes one suggestive reference which is very slight; "I'm so young and uh handsome". This does not much alter the register.

Speech Two

Addressing the formalities

This text is linguistically the least formal with a very casual tone and attitude. The speaker fails to introduce himself to the party and fails to say anything in celebration of the wedding. Yet he does praise the bride, a little too much as he praises her on three occasions in the first two minuets of the speech.


Lexis

He says "when I first met Brit um obviously a great looking girl but she's much more she's amazing she's gorgeous she's beautiful she's smart she's sincere she's uh intelligent". In this phrase very simple adjectives are used to describe the bride with adjectives of a similar meaning in the same sentence. For example the words beautiful and gorgeous and the words smart and intelligent have almost identical meanings. This either reflects the best man has not been prepared or has little intelligence. In the last phrase within the two minuets he says "I know how great my brother is so it's a great great thing". Here again the speaker's choice of lexis reflects a level of low intelligence by using the same adjective thrice in a sentence. Overall the word choice is very basic with words no longer than three syllables. The speech shows little complex lexis, a few fillers and a casual tone, giving it a low register.

Suggestive/sexual references

A suggestive reference towards the bride is made were he says "every guy in this room will agree with me when I say it is a very say day for us". This is one of many compliments on the brides behalf. The extensive compliments; although flattering, may become too much as this does not focus on the wedding.

Evaluation

I must take into account my British nationality so my analysis may be slightly byist in favour of British humour and levels of formality due to my British likes and dislikes

 in ella corsework new

 (noticeable differences in American and British. longer laughs in American. British - blunt humour)