Oratory, types and types of oratory. Stages of preparing oral public speech. Oratorical techniques

What is public speaking? This is the art of public speaking with the goal of convincing the listener of a particular idea using a combination of various techniques. The art of rhetoric itself originated in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome and underwent many changes under the pressure of changing eras.

The importance of rhetoric for human life remains unchanged. Public speaking, first and foremost, teaches you how to be confident and how to instill that confidence in your audience. Good speakers achieve their desired heights in any field, be it their own business or a teaching career.

Rhetoric opens many doors to new opportunities, but becoming a speaker does not happen overnight. In order to master this art, rhetoric training is necessary, which can be completed independently or in specialized classes. This article examines the main pillars of the art of rhetoric.

Working on your speech

The first training is dedicated to writing. Preparation of an oratorical speech before a speech is the basis on which the art of oratory is built. A carefully crafted speech is already half a step towards a successful speech. So, work on speech is usually carried out in several stages.

• First you need to collect information and study it thoroughly. It is very important to consult several sources in order to consider the issue from different angles. The speaker should be well-versed not only in all current news, but also in the main trends in all areas of human life. Take sufficient time to study the information. At the end of this stage, you need to structure the collected information.
• Next, when working on a speech, the speaker must think about how to attract his audience. The speaker's speech always has as its goal one or another effect on the listener. When preparing for a performance, it is necessary to study the audience, their interests, communication style, etc. The success of a speech is measured by whether the desired effect was achieved or not. To achieve it, you need to speak in a language that the public understands about what interests them.
• Learning rhetoric is also about building the purpose of your speech. Aimless ranting in front of the public is the lot of a demagogue. Such speeches do not attract the necessary audience. That is why you need to learn to put at the forefront of your speech this or that pressing problem that needs to be solved. Its solution is the purpose of the speech, uniting the audience and the speaker.
• The public trusts the speaker who reveals himself to them as a person. Therefore, it is very important to include your own thoughts on the issue under discussion. Few people will listen to a speaker who does not have a clear position. To do this, it is necessary to pass through all the collected information through your experience and your worldview and form your own position.

Oratory is, first of all, the ability to prepare a speech so that it captures the attention of the target audience.

It is equally important to properly prepare for the performance itself.

Stages of preparing abstracts and speech text

Some of the most famous authors of textbooks on public speaking, Dale Carnegie and Heinz Lemmerman, are similar in their opinions regarding preparation for public speaking. They recommend setting aside enough time to gather the necessary material, think through the structure, and prepare for speaking in front of a specific audience. According to leading experts, it is important to pay attention to the following details, which we tried to arrange in order of priority:

A good illustration on the topic of preparing a speech:

Create a structure (plan) for your speech. If you have spent enough time and effort collecting the necessary materials, then most likely all of them will not fit into your speech. Therefore, the next stage of preparing your speech should be structuring the information received. To create a good speech, you need to select the most important points and, based on them, create a plan for your speech.

In the next lesson you will find the necessary recommendations and techniques for the best structuring of your speech. In addition, a good frame for your theses will be various techniques that better clarify your thoughts and create a certain perception of your speech by the audience. You can learn about these techniques in one of the following lessons of this training.

Preparing for the performance

The rules of public speaking state that any speech must be well planned.

Although the speaker must also be prepared for spontaneous speech. To prepare a speech, the following scheme is usually used.

• First of all, you need to give up speaking on paper. You can leave on paper only an outline and short notes about important points that need to be mentioned. Thus, it is better to learn the main part of the speech. This is why public speaking skills include an excellent memory that needs to be trained regularly.
• Teaching public speaking also involves following the structure of a speech. This gives the speech logic and integrity. It is necessary to clearly limit the introduction, main part and conclusion. It is advisable to pay special attention to the introduction, since at this moment the public’s attitude towards the speaker begins to form.
• It is recommended to think through the organizational issues of the performance in advance, that is, if possible, familiarize yourself with the performance area, discuss with the organizers technical issues regarding the operation of microphones, prepare water, etc.
• Public speaking skills not only include various speaking abilities, but also the ability to look good. A speaker should always look neat, as appearance is the first thing the public notices.

Oratory teaches you to attract people and lead them, which is practically necessary for many professions. However, one is not born an excellent speaker, so teaching rhetoric has been relevant since ancient times to this day.

Oratory - history, techniques and little secrets

09.17.202015.01.2021 Elena LitvinenkoPosted in Oratory

Oratory or rhetoric is one of the most ancient sciences. According to Aristotle, this is the art of speaking well and finding ways to persuade. After all, human speech literally from the moment of its inception has turned into an instrument of organization and management in society.

At first it acquired an important role in any production and social processes, and then under its influence the norm and style of social life were formed. People who master the skill of public speaking have always been valued in society.

“All the best statesmen in the era of prosperity of states, the best philosophers, poets, reformers were at the same time the best orators. The path to any career was strewn with the “flowers” ​​of eloquence, and the art of speaking was considered obligatory...”

(From the article by A.P. Chekhov “Good News”)

Interesting things about the history of Russian rhetoric

In ancient Russian literature you can find a whole series of words that characterized people who mastered the art of speech. They were called Chrysostomed, good-tongued, good-speaking, and only later - eloquent.

It was believed that a kind word is the first thing one should address to a person. In ancient Russian eloquence, only two genres predominated:

- solemn laudatory “Word”,

- edifying “Teaching”.

On important events or traditional holidays, people have always organized feasts and entertainment. And there, laudatory and congratulatory speeches were certainly made.

During the time of Peter the Great, a decree was issued in which it was categorically forbidden to read the report “to gentlemen senators... prohibit speech from being read from a piece of paper, only in your own words, so that everyone’s stupidity would be obvious to everyone.” This encouraged the boyars and nobles to take eloquence lessons.

However, the true art of secular public speech in Russia is associated with the name of M. V. Lomonosov, the author of the book “A Brief Guide to Eloquence.” According to the memoirs of his contemporaries that have come down to us, Lomonosov had excellent speech, his style was “magnificent, pure, firm, loud and pleasant... he had a cheerful disposition, spoke briefly and wittily, loved to use sharp jokes in conversations.”

Did you know that in Russia, until 1917, rhetoric was taught everywhere: in schools, cadet corps, gymnasiums, theological seminaries and academies, and universities.

However, rhetoric gradually passed into the status of special disciplines, and now most people can master oratory skills

only as a matter of self-development.

Fateful public speaking performances

In Russia in the 19th century, judicial eloquence reached a high level of perfection, both in the practical sphere and in the development of the theory of oratory. V.V. Veresaev in his memoirs writes about F.N. Plevako: “His main strength lay in intonation, in the genuine, downright witchcraft infectiousness of feeling with which he knew how to ignite the listener...”

As you know, Vera Zasulich, who shot the Tsar, was acquitted. She was defended by a not very well-known attorney at law, Pyotr Akimovich Aleksandrov. He gave a brilliant speech and left the courthouse world famous. N.P. Karabchevsky wrote later that “with this speech alone, Alexandrov secured his immortality.”

And I would also like to quote from a speech that has become famous all over the world. This is a speech by one of the most creative and talented businessmen of our time, founder Steve Jobs, to graduates of Stanford University:

“...Death is probably the best invention of Life. She is the cause of change. She clears away the old to make way for the new. Now the new is you, but someday (not too long ago) you will become old and you will be cleansed. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it's true. Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't fall into the trap of dogma that tells you to live in other people's thoughts. Don't let the noise of other people's opinions drown out your inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."

What stage are your speaking skills at? Test yourself

It is important for anyone whose professional activity involves communication and the need to speak in public to develop their oratory skills. After all, beginning speakers have many questions and problems:

• How to build your speech convincingly so that they listen to you?
• How to eliminate fear and anxiety?
• What about your hands?
• How not to lose face when answering questions?

Right now you can take a test and find out at what level your speaking skills are. For every positive answer, give yourself a “plus”.

1. Looking out the window, are you able to describe in detail what you saw? Record your time and try to develop your story within 2-5 minutes. Happened?
2. Can you, after reading a lot of materials on a topic, summarize it in simple, understandable language?
3. When you talk about something, do you imagine images, places, situations from your speech?
4. Do you find yourself literally every day telling others what you know?
5. Have you practiced filming yourself because you were curious about what you looked like from the outside?
6. Do you like your own voice and recorded speech?
7. Is it easy for you to look people in the eye when you speak to them?
8. Do you remember poems from the school curriculum well, do you often quote wise sayings?
9. Do you manage to control yourself in difficult situations?
10. Are you able to answer provocative questions without much anxiety or difficulty?
11. Have you been able to stop a chaotic, confused conversation by grasping the essence and expressing it in such a way that everyone will understand and agree with you?
12. Do you think about how people listening to you perceive your speech, what thoughts or actions it leads them to?

Each of the questions essentially characterizes one of the skills of a good speaker: the ability to improvise in speech, analyze text, good memory, self-control, the need to share knowledge and impressions, imaginative thinking, the desire for self-development, the ability to structure information and understand cause-and-effect relationships.

Therefore, we can assume that if you have less than 4 pluses, then you are at the beginner level. If you score 8, then your skills are at an intermediate level: you have experience of successful performances. Well, 12 positive answers indicate that you are a good speaker.

And here is another approach to testing from the famous Russian business coach Radislav Gandapas. I suggest you write about the results after passing the test in the comments.

Techniques to help you start public speaking effectively

Many great and even good, experienced speakers use one winning technique at the beginning of a speech. Adolf Hitler always resorted to it in his speeches. You've probably noticed how it is used by other politicians, university lecturers, and even school teachers.

Where should any successful performance begin? From a break of course! If you are speaking to an audience from a stage, lectern, or large room, before you speak:

• look around the audience,
• smiling and nodding slightly, wait for silence,
• take an expressive pause and only then start speaking.

No matter how long your speech is, you should pay special attention to the first phrase. This is exactly what everyone will hear, which will allow the audience to be involved as much as possible. Therefore, it must be strong and evoke a positive response from listeners. And a good technique is to ask the audience a “sore” question that is relevant to them.

Of course, after just a couple of minutes any speaker loses the attention of some of the listeners. And each speaker must understand that not all those present were attracted by the topic of his speech. Someone came for the company, for the sake of prestige, because there was nothing better to do... And people leaving the hall or chatting on a smartphone is most often not a demonstration that he is a bad speaker. People just have a lot of problems and distracting life situations.

Focus on those who, under the influence of your first phrase, will support you and listen carefully to the end. And in order for the audience to perceive you as a leader, you need to immediately take the bull by the horns. Start with a suitable aphorism, tell an interesting story from your life. It could be important news, a shocking fact, something surprising and amazing.

Any prepared oratorical speech consists of an introduction, a main part and a conclusion. Make your introduction brief, tell your listeners what lies ahead: what experience you are going to share, what solutions to offer, what questions to answer. Make it intriguing and promising. And then you will have a much better chance of retaining most of your audience until the end of the speech.

3 secrets of public speaking from Winston Churchill

In his book “Secrets of Great Speakers. Speak like Churchill, act like Lincoln” D. Humes describes the oratorical techniques used by the great British politician and undoubtedly brilliant orator, Winston Churchill. Here are 3 of them that have not lost their relevance today.

Secret one

. Never read a text from a sheet of paper with your eyes downcast! You need to learn to read correctly! Don't say words if you are looking at the text.

Use the SOS technique:

1. look
2. stay
3. say.

This requires training. Take the text, lower your eyes and memorize a few words. Then raise your eyes and look at the intended listener. Tell him what you remember. Practice until you have delivered the entire speech. By the way, one of the US presidents, Barack Obama, is also very good at this technique.

The second secret.

To make your speech sound more convincing, use this technique: divide your speech into separate phrases. Use rhyme and internal consonance in a phrase to give it poetic impact. An example is Churchill’s phrase “We must follow the principles of HUMANISM, not bureaucracy.”

The third secret.

If you are unhappy with your speech, all is not lost. The ending is very important! There is no need to end your speech on a minor note. And a good joke, a life-affirming quote, or maybe a witty anecdote can save the ending. Make the ending of your speech motivational, use an appeal!

This may be useful to you too:

How to protect and not lose your voice - practical advice from professionals

Speech voice development: exercises for changing pitch

How to correctly use oratorical gestures. Gesture development

How to prepare for a public speaking and answer questions adequately

Techniques of a good speaker

Oratory techniques - what are they? These are well-known tricks that a speaker uses to make a speech accessible to the audience and to increase the digestibility of information. There are a huge number of such techniques. Below are two basic public speaking techniques.

1. Comparison. Often the speaker's speech is replete with abstract descriptions that are difficult to imagine in the mind. Since information is better perceived when it receives a figurative projection in the mind, the speaker resorts to comparisons that make the abstract more material. To convey a certain mood, the speaker sometimes uses hidden comparisons - metaphors.
2. Repeat. Everyone knows the expression “Repetition is the mother of learning.” The art of public speaking often refers to this saying, because the more often a person receives the same information, the more firmly it is fixed in his mind. It is very important for a speaker to convey to the listener the main idea of ​​his speech, which is helped by appropriate repetition of the key idea.

In addition to comparison and repetition, the rules of oratory also advise resorting to allegories, rhetorical questions, appeals, hyperboles, irony and other means of speech expression.

Speech technique

Speaking in front of an audience is a kind of physical work. Speakers know that this is often difficult. Oratory and the art of speech requires the speaker to work on the technique of delivering a speech, which includes the following aspects.

Breath

During active speech, the pace of a person’s breathing changes: inhalation becomes shorter and exhalation becomes longer. The rules of oratory require special exercises to establish speech breathing. During inhalation, the speaker requires a larger volume of air, as well as more economical consumption of it during speech. In addition, the evenness of breathing is affected by anxiety, which you need to learn to get rid of.

Volume

Oratory and the art of speech lies in the ability to control one’s own voice. A speaker should be equally good at speaking loudly and softly depending on the situation. Also, within one speech, it is necessary to highlight the main information using changes in the tone of voice.

Diction

Intelligible speech is clear and clear. To achieve the correct pronunciation of sounds and syllables, speakers carefully monitor the work of their articulatory apparatus and regularly train their diction using tongue twisters.

Pace

Rhetoric oratory tends to average the pace of speech delivery. The speaker should not shoot words like a machine gun, nor should he drawl out his words. As a rule, in the process of learning and gaining experience, the speaker manages to find the most comfortable speech rate for himself and for the listener.

Intonation

Intonation changes make speech bright, lively and more accessible to perception. Expressive reading of fiction aloud helps to train intonation.

Tips for a speaker

Mastering oratory skills, at first glance, may seem like a difficult task, however, following the rules of the oratory course, learning rhetoric will not be difficult. Some tips for inexperienced speakers will also help in this matter:

• In order for spontaneous speech to flow freely, you need to engage in a kind of “chatterology,” that is, learn to talk about all sorts of nonsense. You can train on anything. For example, for 10 minutes try to talk about only one item (bag, cat, plant, pan, etc.);
• the speaker cannot afford to “traumatize” the audience’s hearing with parasitic words, therefore, if there are any, it is necessary to urgently get rid of them;
• background knowledge and a rich vocabulary are very important in speeches, so it is recommended to read a lot (not only fiction), follow changes in society, communicate with people and, in general, be an active part of society;
• You can only get rid of the fear of public speaking through public speaking, so you need to pull yourself together before every public appearance. Over time, experience will come, performances will seem like a routine and therefore will no longer inspire fear;
• When speaking in front of people, it is important to always remain yourself, without playing or deceiving. Only an honest and open speaker can win the trust of the public.

Any undertaking, at first glance, seems difficult, but do not be afraid. With the right approach and diligent study, any craft or art can be mastered—even one as demanding as rhetoric.

Public speaking training

Among other things, there are many opportunities for not independent, but professional training in eloquence. So, you can enroll in public speaking courses, where classes are taught by public speaking and stage speech coaches. This format is suitable for those who lack a specialist’s perspective or discipline. By doing homework, you will somehow begin to work on your skills.

Another way, although it forces you to step out of your comfort zone even more, is to participate in public speaking competitions. It is suitable for people who already have some experience and are not lost on stage, but it is highly motivating. By competing with other speakers, you can learn something new from them, hone your public speaking skills and come up with your own tricks.