Here's how you could think about it:
* Emotion: Gratitude is a positive emotion, a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation.
* Expression: We express gratitude through various means, including speech.
* Speech type: When expressing gratitude through speech, you might use:
* Statements: "Thank you for your help." "I'm so grateful for your support."
* Gestures: Saying "thank you" with a smile, bowing, or offering a gift.
* Letters or emails: Writing a thank you note.
* Public speaking: Giving a speech of thanks or appreciation.
So, while gratitude itself isn't a type of speech, it's a powerful feeling that can be conveyed through various forms of verbal and non-verbal communication.