The Speaker of a Parliament Speaks for It, Not in It
A speaker is someone talking, a loudspeaker, and the presiding officer of a parliament. The third is the oldest and the least obvious.
A speaker is anyone who speaks, and also a device that reproduces sound. The parliamentary sense is the surprising one: the Speaker of the House of Commons was originally the member who *spoke for* the House to the monarch, a dangerous job in the wrong century. Today's Speaker chairs debates and rarely speaks in them.
- Someone who speaks. *A native speaker.*
- A loudspeaker. *Bluetooth speakers.*
- The presiding officer of a parliament. *The Speaker called order.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | speaker | A keynote speaker. |
| Plural | speakers | Portable speakers. |
| Verb | speak | Speak clearly. |
| Compound | loudspeaker | A public loudspeaker. |
| Related | spokesperson | A company spokesperson. |
How it is used in a sentence
- She is a native speaker of Portuguese.Language.
- The speaker on the left is crackling.Audio equipment.
- The Speaker suspended the sitting.Parliament, capitalised.
Speaking roles
- Keynote speaker — the main address at a conference
- Spokesperson — someone authorised to speak for a body
- Speaker — the chair of a legislature
- Native speaker — someone who grew up with the language
- Public address — the system that carries a voice to a crowd
From *speak*, Old English *sprecan*, which lost its r in the Middle English period. The parliamentary office dates from the fourteenth century.
Why is the presiding officer called the Speaker?
Because the role began as speaking for the Commons to the Crown. Several early Speakers were executed for the messages they delivered.
Does the Speaker vote?
In the Commons, only to break a tie, and by convention in a way that allows further debate rather than deciding the issue.