A speaker is a person who has the art of speaking. Derived from the Latin word orare and translated as “to speak.” The speaker's speech should influence the audience, be impressive and convincing.
The art of oratory is the science of rhetoric. Aristotle was the first to expand the degree of knowledge of rhetoric and conduct an analysis of its techniques and principles, writing a book about this “Rhetoric”. One of the most ancient methods of persuasion is the concept he developed. It involves dividing the arguments of a speech into the types of ethos, logos, and pathos. Arguments are divided according to the criteria of sensory, mental, and moral conviction of the public.
- It with;
The meaning is translated as “character”, “disposition”. This is the presence of a stable moral element of argumentation. Ethos is the complete opposite of pathos. Aristotle defined it as the depiction of a person's character traits through speech style. He believed that speech must be appropriate, otherwise even strong argumentation (logos) with good preparation will not save the audience.
- Logos;
Means “word”, “meaning”. Logos determines the means of words that are used to write speech. This is a logically written text.
- Pathos.
Means “suffering”, “excitement”. This is a category of rhetoric that determines the style and manner of expressing emotions. A pathetic speaker uses arguments that have an emotional impact on the audience.
Oratory of Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome revealed to the world many theorists of eloquence, whose names are still known and do not leave history textbooks. State issues of this period were resolved exclusively at popular assemblies or in court. The image of the orator of Ancient Rome was equated with God. One of the most famous representatives of art of this period is the brilliant orator and philosopher Marcus Fabius Quintilian (36–96 AD).
Marcus Quintilian was a predecessor and admirer of Cicero's work. He organized a school of rhetoric in Rome, where he became a famous teacher of oratory and participated in the education of his students. Marcus Fabius Quintilian was a famous literary reformer of that time; the main works of his life were the books “On the Causes of the Decline of Eloquence” and “Education of the Orator.” Quintilian made enormous contributions to the development and analysis of eloquence and to the development of these skills in children.
Quintilian considered the speaker's main duty to have beautiful and pure speech and to observe ethical and moral duty. He believed that an orator, sophisticated in eloquence, is a sage, versed in the sciences and the art of speech, who must be one with nature and continuously practice.
Quintilian developed a special system of education. He said that in order to master the art of oratory to perfection, it is necessary to develop special character traits in a child from childhood. Quintilian devoted a separate chapter on the education of an orator to the work of a teacher, offering special exercises and a list of recommendations for reading literature. The philosopher considered the rules of rhetoric not obligatory for the speaker. Quintilian proposed changing them depending on the speaker and the prevailing circumstances, deviating from long-established rules for word construction.
Marcus Fabius Quintilian divided rhetoric into five parts that every charismatic speaker must adhere to:
- Pronunciation;
- Memory;
- Presentation;
- Location;
- Invention.
Quintilian considered the most important thing for an orator to be the absence of arrogance in speech. The presentation should be modest and extremely clear.
What a speaker should be able to do
An orator is a speaker who knows how to speak in front of an audience and has a whole arsenal of rhetorical skills. The speaker can be called a man-orchestra, he:
- knows the techniques of oratory - competently, beautifully and intelligibly conveys his thoughts to the public;
- knows the psychological mechanisms of influence on the audience;
- has acting skills - understands the laws of stage speech, controls gestures and facial expressions;
- feels the response of the audience and knows how to improvise;
- He is well versed in the topic he is talking about.
Back in Ancient Greece, where rhetoric was born and flourished, there was debate as to whether eloquence was an innate talent of the elite, or a skill that could be developed. Many people are still convinced that successful public speaking is the destiny of charismatic leaders, while this option is not available to others. But the story of the famous ancient Greek orator Demosthenes is a lesson for everyone who considers oratory abilities to be exclusively a gift from God.
Demosthenes was tongue-tied, had a quiet voice and constantly twitched his shoulder. It is difficult to imagine a person more unsuited to rhetoric. But the dream of becoming a famous speaker came true thanks to exceptional perseverance and endless training. So the fame of Demosthenes’ talent has survived for a couple of millennia and has become an example of how to develop oratory, having obvious contraindications to public speaking.
Oratory of the Renaissance
Oratory moved to a new stage of development during the Renaissance. The Renaissance was the heyday of judicial oratory and commercial eloquence. The art of rhetoric of the Renaissance period was expressed in literary works and supplemented by live speech, further moving away from the use of book Latin.
The personality of the speaker in the rhetoric of the Renaissance was of fundamental importance. The idol for the public was the philosopher and brilliant orator Cicero.
The main conditions for a person performing for the public in the Renaissance were benevolence and charity. These qualities helped to win over the audience, there was complete mutual understanding and the formation of public trust in the speaker. For speeches, a speaker's platform was used. The Renaissance became a new stage in the development of people's spiritual life.
Types of Speakers
Speakers vary in temperament and manner of presenting information. The following types of speakers are distinguished:
- Emotional type;
An emotional speaker is an impressionable person. The words are imbued with one’s own experienced emotions and feelings. He is capable of raising his voice or shouting. The monologue is filled with passion and does not contain a clear plan; there is active gestures. The emotional appearance tends to be exaggerated, so the audience does not take it seriously. A charismatic speaker of an emotional type is able to agitate, but is not able to inspire with words. Speech is intuitive in nature; it is not possible to predict the course of development of the speech.
- Rational type.
The rational type speaker is an emotionally restrained person who keeps his feelings to himself. The speech of a rational speaker consists of a predetermined plan and is filled with logically constructed reasoning and conclusions. She will easily lead listeners, influencing rational thinking and faith in the spoken words.
Speaker personality and eloquence skills
The Russian thinker and scientist M.V. Lomonosov saw in the speaker a witty, eloquent person with a phenomenal memory. An eloquent speaker must be intellectually savvy, literate, memorable, have logical and figurative memory, and versatile thinking.
A charismatic speaker presupposes an innate ability in public speaking. The innate gift for eloquence stems from the structural features of the nervous system and the functioning of the brain.
For public speaking, a speaker will need special skills. They are of great importance and are divided into basic and acquired.
- The basic skills of a speaker consist of studying specialized literature, the ability to analyze a speech, writing a speech, and knowledge of such a science as rhetoric.
- The acquired skills consist of preparing for a speech, answering questions from the audience, persuasiveness of words, establishing a connection with the audience, and analyzing the speech.
Reading literature on public speaking, practicing speech, and analyzing people’s performances on stage will help develop eloquence skills. Back in his time, Cicero said that poets are born and become orators.
A person who combines the following character traits and abilities will achieve success in public speaking:
- Attentiveness;
It will help to correctly assess current events, the emotional mood of the audience, for a correct and timely response to it.
- Correct rational thinking;
It will help the speaker think in accordance with the laws of logic, carefully analyze the information, reproduce the monologue competently and consistently, and analyze speech.
- Independence;
The speaker must be critical of the information received and have his own opinion, independent of the mood of others.
- Pleasant speech;
A speech delivered in a boring way will not interest the audience. It should be of good quality, the words well constructed, pleasant to the ear and exciting.
- The presence of an emotional note.
Dry text without a “living” word will only alienate the listener. A fiery speaker knows when to add an emotional word to his speech and “shed” a tear.
What other qualities should a speaker have? What criteria should I meet?
To be heard (in the literal sense of the word) by the audience, the speaker must make a clear, absolutely understandable speech for the audience, delivered in a loud, well-produced voice. Clear pronunciation of consonants, clear pronunciation of vowels and other components of good diction are those “basic” qualities that a skilled speaker cannot do without. The content of the speech and the form of its presentation should captivate the audience. Therefore, the speaker must understand the essence of his speech and understand it well in order to be able to answer any question from the audience. If a discussion ensues on controversial points in the speech, then we must try to diplomatically maintain neutrality. You cannot show signs of aggression in a dispute.
But managing an audience requires certain human character traits from the speaker: self-confidence and in what you are saying, education and intellectual ability, goodwill and sincerity. An insecure, poorly educated person who does not believe in what he wants to convey to the public, even if he has read the prepared text, will never be understood and convincing. His speech will be boring, and most importantly, meaningless. Namely, the “persuasiveness” of a speaker is a qualitative criterion in assessing the effectiveness of his speech. The speaker must sense the mood of the audience and notice when they are starting to get tired or bored. It is at this moment that you need to be able to create a spontaneous, informal atmosphere: joke, step away from the main topic for a while, maybe answer questions. In addition, the speaker must have such personal qualities as inner composure, calmness, rich imagination, insight and good memory. And, of course, it is impossible to master the art of oratory without communication skills. This character trait will allow you to feel free in any audience. And this is very important, since any speaker must find contact with his audience, find the right form of communication with him, the right “tone”. He must know exactly the “qualitative” composition of the audience: education, age, gender of the audience. Only then will the speaker be able to find the right approach to the audience.
Appearance and image of the speaker
Any listener is also a spectator; this psychological feature of a person must always be remembered. Before the speech begins, the audience will carefully examine the speaker’s appearance and evaluate his qualities. Regardless of the purpose and content of the speech, appearance requires an attentive, thorough attitude.
The speaker's clothing should be simple and elegant, of good quality, appropriate for the event and leave a good impression. The color chosen is calm, preferably dark tones. The absence of smell, stains on clothes and an awkward appearance is the key to the public's favor with the speaker.
Every detail in clothing should be thought out, making up the overall image of the speaker as a successful, purposeful person. During a performance, you should not wave your arms chaotically, sway from side to side, or move your legs. Gesticulation should be in moderation. The speaker's posture should look natural. Extra movements and active gestures distract the audience from the speech and give the performance a frivolous appearance.
For speeches, a special elevation is used for the speaker so that the audience can better hear and see the speaker. The speaker's platform will also be needed for his convenience. You can put prepared notes on it.
In addition to the appearance of the speaker, his speech image deserves attention.
- The presence of moral qualities in the education of a speaker, knowledge of science, ability to speak;
- Knowledge of speech stylistics, the ability to competently use styles for their intended purpose;
- Ability to use intonation.
Types and styles of oratory
Oratory speech is divided into the following types:
- Socio-political;
The speech is aimed at solving social, economic and political issues, and represents the definition of tasks and goals. The speech provides the audience with practical recommendations for action. Political speakers organize reports or diplomatic speeches on relevant topics, enter into discussions with rivals, observing ethical standards and rules of conduct.
- Academic;
The speech is aimed at considering new facts, ongoing research, tests. The presentation takes place as a scientific report or lecture.
- Judicial;
Speech influences court decisions and forms the appropriate mood of judges and the public in the courtroom. The purpose of speech in a trial is to make a lawful decision, observing the rules that constitute the ethics of a judicial speaker. Judicial speech is divided into accusatory, lawyer, public and speech of the accused.
The ethics of a judicial speaker must correspond to the standards of morality and quality, since the words of the speaker have a direct impact on the fate of the accused, prove or disprove involvement in the case. The court speaker is solely responsible for the content of the speech.
- Household;
The speech illuminates the everyday life of the individual in a free style of presentation. The performance is held at anniversaries, feasts, and birthdays.
- Church.
The oldest form of eloquence, with a rich history. Church speech reflects interest in the spiritual world of man and touches on the topic of habits.
An oratorical speech is carefully prepared using book and scientific sources that determine the speech style of the speech. The following styles of oratory are distinguished:
- Business oratorical style of speech is aimed at conveying information to the audience. The main goal of the scientific style is to convey and prove the truth of the spoken information to the public.
- The artistic style is aesthetically oriented.
- Conversational style is very different from book style. Its goal is communication.
- Orally, the speaker reveals everyday and personal topics during his speech.
Who is a speaker?
A speaker is a person who speaks in front of an audience and whose arsenal includes developed persuasive skills, acting and eloquence. A natural aptitude for public speaking is a rare gift. However, working on oneself, one’s own skills, and self-development is even more important in this matter.
Can anyone become a rhetorician? No, only those who are not afraid of difficulties and are ready to cope with them, and not avoid them, can engage in such a craft. Qualities of a good speaker:
- self-confidence and your opinion;
- flexibility of mind, resourcefulness;
- developed imagination;
- clear logic, foresight;
- quick reaction to changes in the mood of others;
- interest in psychology;
- social openness, concern about the problems of society;
- activity, determination, perseverance.
The speaker regularly speaks in front of an audience. He can conduct seminars, lessons, lectures, scheduled rallies.
However, a true speaker is also capable of delivering spontaneous, spontaneous speech when conditions require him to make immediate decisions and speeches. Therefore, good teachers, tutors, and coaches can be rhetoricians in their parting addresses to the team. Even a market seller can be an excellent speaker if he knows how to communicate with the crowd and individual buyers.
What can be done to lift the secret veil of oratory and get closer to the dream of the stage? How to prepare yourself for such a debut?
Take a self-confidence test
Oratory in modern society
Mastering the art of oratory will help you achieve unprecedented success in the modern world. At the moment, many methods and books on public speaking have been developed. The book “101 tips for a speaker” and the Stanislavsky system for a speaker will help a beginning speaker in writing a speech and preparing for a speech. The author of the book “101 Tips for a Speaker,” Radislav Gandapas, is known for his training in public speaking. The book contains practical advice for aspiring authors on speaking in public.
The main thing is practice, only thanks to it you can train your skills and learn how to communicate correctly with the public.
In London, for example, there is still a Speakers' Corner. Speakers' Corner is located in Hyde Park, London, where anyone can speak publicly, analyze others' speeches, or practice skills.
The Corner was formed in 1872 during the London riots and workers' protest and became a symbol of freedom of speech.
The Speakers' Corner was visited by Karl Marx, V.V. Lenin and other public figures who were in London; it has a rich political history. To this day, speeches do not end in London; tourists or locals listen to them. Previous articlePreviousNext articleNext
What advice can you give to a novice speaker?
The main thing is not to be afraid of public speaking, large crowds of people who come to listen to you, small and large audiences. When you take the podium, you must be confident in yourself and in what you have to say to your audience. Therefore, it is necessary to master the “basic” skills of oratory: clear diction, form of presentation, behavior on the podium. To do this, you can view samples of speeches of various speakers on the Internet. You should also rehearse your speech, for example, in front of a mirror or a small audience of relatives or friends. The next thing that will undoubtedly give you confidence in any speech is having a great understanding of what you are going to say to the audience. The better you know the material of your speech, the more fluent you are in the terminology used in it and the factual data, the easier it will be for you to communicate with the audience and answer listener questions. You cannot go out to people with a report without understanding its contents well. And finally, it is very important to learn to relax and relieve tension before going to the gym. You need to take a few deep breaths, drink a couple of sips of water, distract yourself from negative thoughts and go out to the audience in a calm state with a smile on your face. After all, they came to listen to you. From the very beginning of the speech, you should try to “win” the love and interest of the listeners and try to focus their attention from the first words to the very topic of the report. To do this, it can be started with a relevant quote, fact, or “categorical” statement. After a while, from the silence in the hall and the eyes turned to you, you will understand how interesting your speech and you are to the public.
