Speeches come in many forms. A talk you heard in person. A recording on a site. A clip on radio or TV. A transcript in a book or PDF. In Harvard Referencing Style, pick the pattern that matches how you accessed it. Keep your in-text citation tight and your reference list complete.
For a research paper or dissertation, note the route you used. Live, online, broadcast, or transcript. That choice controls the format you use.
Quick Case Picker
- Live speech you attended – cite speaker, year, title, date, place.
- Online recording – add [online], URL, and Accessed date.
- TV or radio broadcast – add programme title, broadcaster, air date.
- Transcript in a book/report – cite the book as the container and credit the editor who transcribed it.
- Multiple speakers – treat like a work with multiple authors.
- Interview answers used as speech – treat as personal communications.
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Formats You’ll Use
Live (in-person) speech
In-text
(Speaker Surname Year)
Reference list
Speaker Surname, Initial(s). Year. *Title of speech*. Day Month, Venue, City.
Harvard citation example
- In-text: (Obama 2008)
- Reference: Obama, B. 2008. A More Perfect Union. 18 March, National Constitution Center, Philadelphia.
Online recorded speech (video or audio)
In-text
(Speaker Surname Year)
Reference list
Speaker Surname, Initial(s). Year. *Title of speech*. [online] Day Month, Venue, City. Available at: URL [Accessed Day Mon. Year].
Harvard citation example
- In-text: (Obama 2008)
- Reference: Obama, B. 2008. A More Perfect Union. [online] 18 March, National Constitution Center, Philadelphia. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHuDLM-xiBo [Accessed 10 Jun. 2017].
Need a timestamp? Add it to the in-text citation only: (Tennant 2020, 00:36:39).
Broadcast speech (TV or radio)
In-text
(Speaker Surname Year)
Reference list
Speaker Surname, Initial(s). Year. *Title of speech*. Day Month, Venue, City. *Programme Title*. Broadcaster. Date of transmission.
Harvard citation example
- In-text: (Obama 2008)
- Reference: Obama, B. 2008. A More Perfect Union. 18 March, National Constitution Center, Philadelphia. Newsnight. BBC. 1 September 2008.
Transcribed speech (in a book or edited volume)
In-text
(Speaker Surname Year) or (Speaker Surname Year, p. #)
Reference list
Speaker Surname, Initial(s). Year. *Title of speech*. In: Editor Surname, Initial(s). ed. Year. *Title of source*. Place: Publisher, pp. #-#.
Harvard citation example
- In-text: (Clinton 2011)
- Reference: Clinton, H. 2011. Strength in Resilience. In: Wilson, H. ed. 2012. Representative American Speeches 2011–2012. Ipswich, MA: H.W. Wilson, pp. 97–100.
Multiple Speakers and Panels
Cite like a work with multiple authors.
In-text
(Surname, Surname & Surname Year)
Reference list
List all speakers in the order given on the programme or recording page.
When Speech Content Comes from Your Study
Quotes from respondents in interviews count as personal communications.
In-text
(Initial Surname Year, pers. comm., Day Month)
No reference list entry. If you transcribe an interview, note that in your Methodology, and place full transcripts in appendices if your supervisor agrees.
Which Fields to Capture
| Case | Must-have fields | Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Live speech | Speaker; Year; Title; Day Month; Venue; City | Country |
| Online speech | Speaker; Year; Title; [online]; Day Month; Venue; City; URL; Accessed date | Channel name |
| Broadcast | Speaker; Year; Title; Day Month; Venue; City; Programme; Broadcaster; Air date | Episode number |
| Transcript | Speaker; Year; Title; In: Editor; Year; Book/Source; Place; Publisher; pages | DOI if the book is online |
Frequently Asked Questions
In Harvard style, cite a speech with the speaker’s last name, year of speech in parentheses, speech title in italics, event details, and URL if online. Example: Smith (2023) “Empowering Innovations” at Tech Summit [Online]. Available: URL
Cite the speech. Add the venue and city. If online, add the URL and Accessed date.
Yes in the in-text citation after the first full listing, if your department allows. List all in the reference list.
Use a clear description in place of the title, in square brackets: [Speech at Climate Forum].
No. If you cite the talk, use the speech format. If you cite the deck, use the PowerPoint format.
Describe your transcribing an interview process in Methodology and place materials in appendices.
