Arguments for a Purpose:
* Communication is inherently purposeful. Even if it's just expressing feelings, a speech aims to transmit information, thoughts, or emotions from a speaker to an audience.
* Humans are goal-oriented. We generally act with intention, even if those intentions are not always conscious. A speech, even a seemingly spontaneous one, is a deliberate action likely driven by some underlying motive.
* Social context influences purpose. Most speeches occur in a specific setting with an intended audience. This context inherently creates a purpose, even if it's just to entertain, inform, or persuade.
Arguments Against a Clear, Definable Purpose:
* Spontaneous speech can be purposeless. A casual conversation or a random outburst might not have a pre-defined goal.
* Subconscious motives can be complex. The true purpose of a speech might not be fully understood by the speaker themselves, making it difficult to define.
* Individual interpretation varies. The intended purpose of a speech may not be the same for the speaker and the audience, leading to different understandings.
Conclusion:
While it's tempting to say every speech has a purpose, it's more accurate to say that most speeches *have* a purpose, but that purpose can be explicit or implicit, conscious or subconscious, and open to interpretation.
Ultimately, the purpose of a speech is best understood by considering the context, the speaker's intentions, and the audience's reaction.