Analyzing Tim Winton's Speech 'Saving Ningaloo Reef'

In Tim Winton’s speech “Saving Ningaloo Reef,” he uses a range of complex persuasive language techniques such as imagery, repetition, along with appeal to shared values to employ a sense of worry, concern, urgency whilst also creating vast imagery and emphasis on the consequences in order to persuade the audience to act against the industrialisation of Exmouth Gulf. To persuade his audience, one of the techniques he instils is the persuasive tactic of appealing to shared values. A perfect example of this is when Winton articulates, “We can’t let that happen.” Winton is referring to the consequences of our ignorance, one that if continues to exist will result in a detrimental industrialisation of the Exmouth Gulf. Through the application of the word, “We.” Winton evokes an emotional sense of responsibility originating from his audience and a sense of concern and desire to protect Ningaloo itself as well as all

Through the dramatics of Winton’s statement, “We can’t let that happen.” He creates a sense of immense urgency and makes the consequences seem more drastic. Another persuasive technique used in Winton’s speech is the tactic of imagery. An example of when this tactic is used is when Winton states, “Tugs will drag huge steel pipes and chains out over the coral and sponges.” This creates imagery throughout the audience that chains run all over the reef and throughout most coral and sponges. In reality, less than half of the Ningaloo Reef will be inhabited by chains and pipes, but through his dramatic word choice of “huge” it makes the audience picture otherwise. The word choice of taking something “out” implies devotion; that people are setting time aside to complete the given task, like making an effort to focus on it. Winton depicts the “tugs,” “chains,” along with “pipes” and then goes on to describe sponges and