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The Speech and Debate Dictionary

From having a child or a student in speech and debate to thinking of joining the team yourself, you will come across what may seem to you like a completely different language.  We've compiled all the words, phrases and outlandish comments that you might find yourself Googling when you get home.


Speech and Debate Words:

  • Break- To make it into any degree of final round
  • Example: "I broke to semi-finals!"

  • Hit- To compete against a specific person in a round
    • Example: "I hit star girl in my last round."

  • IE- Individual Events

  • Novice- first year members in Speech and Debate


Individual Event Words:


  • Being heard- when you perform your cutting for a coach or squad leader.
    • Example:  "Shane's hearing my piece after school today."

  • Cutting or piece- script, book or other published work that you have cut down to approximately ten minutes to use in competition.

  • Stop and go- when you are heard by a coach but they stop you to give critique and then you continue.


Debate Words:


  • Aff - The affirmative stance on the resolution in LD.

  • Con- The stance opposing the resolution in PF.

  • Cross-Apply- Utilizing one argument towards multiple points.

  • Final Focus- Deciding issues in a PF round.

  • Flow- A written record of arguments in a round.

  • KVI- Key voting issues; deciding issues in an LD round.

  • Neg- The negative stance on the resolution in LD.

  • Pro- The stance in favor of the resolution in PF.