Evolution of public speaking through history

RISE OF ATHENS

By the 5th century, Athens, the intellectual center of the Greek world, was influenced by its location on the sea, trade routes that meant contact with other cultures, and large population.

The city was divided into two groups, the " Family " group of citizens and the kinship group known as " Lawgivers". A form of democracy emerged, with citizens speaking in legislative assemblies and testifying in court.

This participatory democracy allowed citizens to debate issues of war, economics, and politics, a practice that began before Socrates' birth. It was the time of the rise of citizen orators and the emergence of the big three scholars Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

Plato, a student of Socrates, founded the Academy, a club for dialogue and discovery of truth. He also contributed to politics, influencing the use of oratory in government.

Aristotle, a great encyclopaedist, identified the three parts of persuasion for good speech. These pillars of persuasion outline three components: Ethos, which means your credibility and character, pathos, which means emotional appeal and bond with the audience, logos, which means logical and rational argument. It would be best to have these qualities for your audience to accept your message.

Credibility (Ethos) involves the speaker's authority and knowledge about the topic. Logic(logos) ensures clear and valid conclusions, and emotions(pathos) establish an emotional connection with the audience.

WHEN IN ROME

After Rome's ascension, public speaking techniques in Greece were copied and modified by the Romans, which led to its decline in political power and gain of popularity as entertainment.

Marcus Cicero, a politician and philosopher, developed the Five Canons of Rhetoric, which are still used today. They include invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery. Invention involves selecting arguments while arrangement arranges them. Style determines presentation, and memory enhances sound. Delivery uses voice and body language.

MODERN ELEMENTS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

Most public speeches can be split into five basic elements, communicator(sender), message, receiver, medium, and feedback(effect).

TYPES OF SPEECH DELIVERY

Speech delivery can be catagorized into four types: extemporaneous, impromptu, manuscript, memorized.

Extemporaneous

Extemporaneous speeches are prepared and practiced before the actual speaking time, using notes or an outline as a guide. They are practical and are most likely to be used in real-life situations.

Impromptu

Impromptu speeches are spontaneous and often nerve-wrecking due the lack of a plan or agenda( practice)

Memorized speeches

Memorized speeches are commited to memory, with the speaker completely memorizing the text and delivering the speech from memory without reliance on notes. These types of speeches can be challenging for speakers to adopt and deliver effectively.

Manuscript

Manuscript speeches have a script of the exact words to be used, but this can be a trap for speakers as they spend more time looking at the script than at the audience, unable to react or respond to questions.

In ancient Athens, men were required to deliver effective speeches as part of their civil duties over 2,500 years ago. The level of eloquence determined their chances of success, with those with connections and quick wits often gaining political office and wealth. However, those unable to speak well could lose land in property disputes and end up in slavery. Democracy was growing in Athens during the teachings of philosophy and rhetoric by Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

PUBLIC SPEAKING

BARRIERS OF COMMUNICATION

Barriers to transmission, such as noise, can disrupt proper encoding, hinder the message's purpose, or disrupt the communication cycle's smooth completion. Four general barriers hinder effective communication.

Physical barriers

Physical barriers include medium defects( a computer that hangs or a dead telephone line can lead to non-transmission of messages), noise disruptions (examples of physical noise include others talking in the background, background music, a startling noise, and acknowledging someone outside of the conversation), organizational communication issues( such as conflicts in the workplace), and hearing problems (actual hearing deficiencies).

Semantic barriers

Semantic barriers refer to the interpretation of words, which can lead to miscommunication if the receiver does not assign the same meaning to a word. It includes language, education, or cultural differences.

Psychological barriers

Psychological barriers refer to mental and psychological issues like speech disorders, phobias, and depression. It includes ego-centrism and the fear of appearing ignorant. They can build psychological walls and alienate (repel) others with whom we must collaborate. Also, it includes the fear of appearing ignorant and a lack of confidence.

Fear of PS

The fear of public speaking, Glossophobia, is a physiological response to social stress. The body goes into a protective "fight or flight" response, releasing adrenaline hormones. This response increases blood flow to certain parts of the body, causing symptoms like sweating, shaking, flushing, and dry mouth.

Common reasons

It include fear of judgement from others, past negative experiences, comparisons to others, lack of preparation, self consciousness, discomfort, fear of failure, and psychological state.

Being the center of attention can be unsettling(uncomfortable) for both introverts and extroverts since it can result in being singled out and isolated from the group.

Another anxiety is making mistakes during presentation, but it is crucial to remember that mistakes are normal. The audience will most likely be understanding.

Feeling unworthy can also occur since it can make one feel like an imposter and that everyone else in the audience knows more about the subject than they do.

How to overcome the fear and anxiety of PS?

Negative effects of fear: fear can hinder performance and presentation, and even hinder the intended audience's engagement. It is essential to turn fear into excitement to overcome its negative effects.

There exist many practical ways to turn fear into excitement. For example, speakers can practice deep breathing, shift focus outwards, visualize the room and audience, focus on facts, build clarity and relevance, and realize that stress is natural.

Better preparation and understanding of the topic can eliminate the chance of making mistakes or getting off track during a public speaking activity.

A moment of silence is essential for regaining confidence. Practice with a small group of people, seek feedback from the audience and watch yourself talk for self-criticism.

HOW TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL SPEECH

To be effective speaker

Focus on the speech you are giving not the audience, and anticipate the audience's responses and queries.

To be effective speaker, follow various rules and techniques, some of which have been used by famous figures like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Barack Obama.

Stage anxiety is natural, but successful speakers train themselves through persistence, preparation, and practice. Moreover, they control emotions, such as fear and nervousness, to avoid negative effects. The speaker should use his voice as a tool to convey the message, making listeners feel personally addressed.

Join an active public speaking forum(club). It can help students feel comfortable in an unknown environment, reducing anxiety and making them feel at ease

The speaker must shift focus from how he feels to the message he wants to share with his audience.

Guidelines for preparing and delivering an effective speech:

Qualities of effective voice:

Successful speakers utilize various vocal qualities, including intelligibility, variety, stress patterns, pauses( vocal emphasis), and emotional control, to make their speeches vivid and colourful.

It is a crucial aspect of communication. It requires qualities such as loudness, rate, enunciation, and good pronunciation.

To make your speech colorful, vivid, and effective, vary your voice characteristics like rate, pitch, force, and pauses.

To achieve this, adjust the volume based on distance, external noise, and the place you are giving the speech.

Control your conversational rate, varying it to reflect intensity, key ideas, or emotional appeal.

Enunciate clearly and meet regional or national pronunciation standards to ensure accurate communication.

Intelligibility:

variety:

Your objectives should include making your speech pleasant, emphasizing ideas, and making it interesting.

Stress patterns:

They involve accenting sounds, syllables, and words to convey emotions and understand messages. Vocal stress is achieved through vocal emphasis.

Pauses are silence intervals used to create suspense, emphasize, and allow the audience time to digest material.

Pauses:

Avoid filler words, which suggest lack of confidence, to maintain effective communication.

Emotional controlling quality is crucial in communication, as the audience may judge your emotions like anger, happiness, confidence, sincerity, or sadness.

Emotional controlling Quality:

Your voice can convey these emotions through various expressions.

Qualities to be used:

Non-verbal communication

Posture: Posture is a non-verbal communication tool that conveys feelings, thoughts, attitudes, and health. It can show tension, relax, or interest in the speaker.

To maintain a relaxed posture, avoid leaning on the lectern, using it for rest, and avoid touching your hair, or playing with a pen. These subtle reflections can abruptly transmitted to the audience.

Body Placement: During a speech, body movement and placement can be both an asset and a liability. It can help to support and reinforce your message, as well as draw attention and burn off nervous energy.

To prevent distracting the audience, it should be used with caution.

It can enhance understanding of your message. It can be used to illustrate or dramatize a specific point, such as describing a physical action.

Facial expressions: significantly influence the meaning of a message. A friendly smile can convey endearment, while a contemptuous sneer may convey contempt.

A smile is essential for establishing a connection with your audience and demonstrating sympathy and interest.

Eye contact is crucial for the speaker's control and engagement with the audience. It conveys interest, confidence, and authority, and provides feedback on audience responses, ensuring a brief, direct interaction before moving on.

Audio-vision aids such as drawings, photographs, maps, charts, and computer slides, can enhance your presentation.

to effectively use these aids, you should have everything arranged in front of you, check the technology beforehand, maintain eye contact with listeners, use each slide, avoid standing in front of a visual, talk to the audience, and use a large font size.

Analyze the Audience:

Analyze the Audience: understanding your audience is critical for public speaking success. Analyze their knowledge, interests, and beliefs to personalize your message to their specific requirements. To demonstrate this process, consider elements such as age, education level, attitudes, gender, and size.

You will be able to adjust your speech to their individual needs and tastes, impacting their decision-making process.

Age and educational level: Adapt your language and approach to your audience's age and educational level to ensure they can comprehend your ideas and their existing knowledge about the topic.

Attitudes: When presenting a controversial topic, consider the audience's attitudes towards it, whether they agree or disagree, and gather more facts to be more effective.

Size: the size of the group can influence the choice of speech format and delivery techniques. Large groups may require a more formal presentation.

Gender: men and women often have different perspectives on the same issues.
Because each gender has unique knowledge and interests as a result of their upbringing.

Take into account the gender of your target audience. Consider how men and women may perceive the topic you have chosen differently, as well as how men and women have different backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge about the topic. Most importantly, consider how all of these gender characteristics will affect how you develop your topic.

Choose a topic that interests you and you are knowledgeable about. Additionally, pick a topic that fits the occasion. Present your main idea and support it with meaningful details without turning around the subject.

Choosing a topic:

Determine the purpose:

Choose your purpose for giving the speech since public speeches serve three main purposes: to inform, to persuade, and to entertain. Information speeches clarify, enlighten, and correct misunderstandings. Persuasive speeches influence attitudes. Moreover, ceremonial speeches introduce speakers or groups.

Gather information:

You will need to research if your speech necessitates it. there are three steps to take. Examine the topic matter directly. Use the library for books or any online resources. finally, interview an expert or someone with direct knowledge about the topic.

Organize the content:

The content of a speech should consist of three parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The introduction should be engaging and personal, using personal anecdotes or dramatic statements. The body should be related to the topic and coherent. Last, the conclusion should leave a dynamic impression, often with a memorable quotation.

Disadvantages of reading the speech

You became so engaged in the manuscript that you forgot to glance up at the audience. You start speaking in a monotone, which causes your listeners to lose interest.

Disadvantages of memorized speech:

You may miss a crucial topic or forgot what comes next; you may concentrate so hard on remembering the speech that your voice sounds artificial.

Speaking impromptu requires little preparation but offers a lively delivery.

Memorizing may skip important points and make the voice unnatural.

Reading is safe but may lead to forgetting and monotony.

Extemporaneous is organized and spontaneous. An outline is important to keep you on the right track.

Choosing a format:

Choosing a format for a speech involves four options: manuscript, memorized, impromptu, and extemporaneous.

What is the cycle of the communication process?

A message is first encoded by the sender, then received or decoded by the listener to understand its meaning.

Basics of communication:

some of the components that make up the communication process are message, sender, receiver, medium, channel, barriers, decoding, and feedback.

Ideation is the process by which a message is created, and it depends on the sender's skills, knowledge, and experiences as well as the purpose (goal) of communication.

The sender message is crafted in accordance with the receiver's expectation and can be logical or emotional.

The communication must be encoded into ideas in order for the recipient to understand and evaluate it. The encoded message is delivered to the receiver, who must then decipher it.

The terms medium and channel refer to sensory channels such as sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. The medium and channel are the means through which the message is transmitted. Transmission refers to the flow of communication over the selected channel.

The sender is the one that initiates the communication process, selects ideas, encodes the message, and transmits it to the receiver.

Encoding is the process of associating an idea or mental image with words to convey a message. It involves selecting a language, medium, and appropriate communication form.

The right language is critical for effective encoding because a message in a foreign language or dialect cannot be decoded by the receiver.

The medium can be spoken, written, or nonverbal signals such as body movements, facial expressions, posture, eye contact, personal space, gestures, and appearance.

The appropriate communication form is determined by the sender-receiver relationship as well as the overall communication goal (face-to-face, interpersonal, group, speaker-audience, or telephonic communication).

Cultural barriers

Cultural barriers in communication are significant, as different cultures have different meanings for basic values like dress, religion, food, drinks, pets, and behavior. Being culturally competent is crucial; many multinational companies offer special courses to help.

Face-to-face contact, online communication, texting, and watching a movie are all examples of mediums and channels through which a message might flow.

These signs serve as a means of communication without the use of words. It conveys emotions, attitudes, and intentions.

Public Speaking: Public speaking is a formal process and a form of art where a speaker communicates with an audience to inform, convince, entertain, or evoke sympathy for a topic. However, being an effective public speaker requires a combination of tips, techniques, and rules beyond just speaking in front of an audience.