Debate as an oral text: linguistics features

Abstract

The article discusses the linguistic features of debate, from the perspective of teachers having to develop and promote the skills necessary to produce and sustain argumentation in debate contests. Starting from the consideration that it is an oral text, the article begins by framing debate in relation to the ways in which it combines the three main components of speech mode (transmission channel, relationship between sender and receiver, conditions of production and reception of the message); this is followed by a discussion of the linguistic structures typical of spoken communication that are most relevant in debate; finally, the focus shifts to consideration of the linguistic indicators of argumentation.