Commentary

Introduction:
This essay examines the language choices used in sports commentaries by English pundit Gary Neville and British sports commentator Peter Drury. Neville, an English football pundit and former player right-back for Manchester United, criticised the launch of the European Super League, labelling English clubs as "disgraces" and calling for Premier League sanctions.
Drury, a British sports commentator for Sky Sports and NBC Sports, is known for his expressive and literate style, often using phrases like "in a trice" instead of common language. He is referred to as the "voice of millions watching on the international feed at the World Cup”. Neville’s commentary is his reaction to the European Super League plans, whereas Drury’s commentary is in the World Cup Final 2022.

Pitch:
In his commentary Drury uses the pitch of his voice for effect of a greater impact on the audience. A delivery feature Drury effectively uses in his commentary is unique formal language. For example, “France just might! …Mbappe with a thrust, a superstar re-enlivened”. The use of volume is to connote that Drury knows what he is confidently talking about and has an idea on what is about to happen next so he raises the volume and pitch of his voice to make his audience of football fans to feel more attracted to what is happening and feel more involved.
Where as Neville has a lower pitch and volume of his voice, for example “They’ve got no voice”. This shows us as the audience that Neville’s topic of speech is more emotional and wants to get his opinion across in a more serious manner. This makes the listener feel curious about why Neville wants the super league to continue but most other football fans don’t in the fact of money.

Pace:
In his commentary Neville uses the pace of his voice to attract the audience towards the super league plans. For example, “ You know what motivation is. It’s greed.” A fast delivery feature Neville has in the use of speaking is informal language. This exaggeration along with a short sentence shows us as an audience that Neville feeling very strongly about the super league and what to talk everyone else’s way into it.
However, Drury uses the pace of his voice efficiently to show that something good or bad is about to happen within the football match. “Kylian Mbappe is on a hat-trick. Moments remain of an epic world cup final”. Drury slows his pace dramatically to create the sense of a cliffhanger and anticipation because the match can swing in either direction and make victory for either rival team at this pivotal moment. The slowing of pace is a very clever tactic…