Debate vs Discussion
Debate and Discussion are two words that are often confused when it comes to understanding their meanings and usage. Strictly speaking, there is some difference between the two words.
The word ‘debate’ is generally used in the sense of ‘deliberation’. On the other hand, the word ‘discussion’ is used in the sense of ‘detailed conversation’. This is the main difference between the two words. It is important to know that there is an element of argument in a debate. On the other hand, a discussion can be free of arguments.
A discussion normally is centered on a particular topic with assertions made by two or more people that do their best to establish the validity of the topic. Hence discussion normally take place during meetings such as company meetings, official meetings, meetings between the heads of institutions, meetings between the heads of organizations and the like.
On the other hand, a debate does not take place during meetings like official meetings, company meetings, meetings between the heads of organizations, and the like. In fact, debate takes place to oppose certain points regarding a topic. It takes place between two or more people that are intent upon proving their own statements, and thereby, engaging in arguments to oppose the assertions or statements made by other people.
This is primarily the reason why debate is considered a skill in developing one’s communication. It is a test of one’s communicative abilities. A debate is held as a kind of competition to prove one’s speaking and communicative ability. On the other hand, a discussion is not held as a competition to judge a person’s speaking or communicative ability. This is another important difference between the two words.
The word ‘debate’ is thus used sometimes in the sense of ‘contest’ as in the sentences,
1. A debate was held for college students yesterday.
2. Angela won the first prize in the debate competition held for girls.
In both the sentences, you can find that the word ‘debate’ is used in the sense of ‘speaking contest’, and hence the meaning of the sentences would be ‘a speaking contest was held for college students yesterday’, and ‘Angela won the first prize in the speaking contest held for girls’.
The word ‘discussion’ is sometimes used in the sense of ‘chat’ as in the sentences
1. There was a discussion among the members of the club.
2. Francis took part in the discussion about civic sense.
In both the sentences, the word ‘discussion’ is used in the sense of ‘chat’, and hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘there was a chat among the members of the club’ and the meaning of the second sentence would be ‘Francis took part in the chat about civic sense’.
The word ‘discussion’ takes its origin from the verb ‘to discuss’. It is interesting to note that the word ‘debate’ is used both as a verb and as a noun. These are the differences between the two words, namely, debate and discussion.
This was helpful in seeing the subtle differences between these 2 similar words. In the past, without ever looking at the dictionary for definitions, I have described having conversations that turned into heated debates. It seems to be an instinctive word usage, it feels almost natural. I think when we hear the prefix dis used it switches memory recall in the brain, and almost without thinking(a least on a conscious level) our brains differentiates the dis-connect from the connection.