Public speaking

For the film, see Public Speaking (film).
"Public speaker" redirects here. For a person who delivers an oration, see Orator.
A red arrow indicating U.S. president Abraham Lincoln at Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on November 19, 1863, approximately three hours before Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, widely considered one of the most famous speeches in the American history.[1][2]

Public speaking, also called oratory, is the practice of delivering speeches to a live audience.[3] Throughout history, public speaking has held significant cultural, religious, and political importance, emphasizing the necessity of effective rhetorical skills.

The ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, a key figure in the study of public speaking, advocated for speeches that could profoundly affect individuals, including those not present in the audience. He believed that words possess the power to inspire actions capable of changing the world. In the Western tradition, public speaking was extensively studied in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, where it was a fundamental component of rhetoric, analyzed by prominent thinkers.

Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, identified three types of speeches: deliberative (political), forensic (judicial), and epideictic (ceremonial or demonstrative).[4] Similarly, the Roman philosopher and orator Cicero categorized public speaking into three purposes: judicial (courtroom), deliberative (political), and demonstrative (ceremonial), closely aligning with Aristotle's classifications.[5]

In modern times, public speaking remains a highly valued skill in various sectors, including government, industry, and advocacy. It has also evolved with the advent of digital technologies, incorporating video conferencing, multimedia presentations, and other innovative forms of communication.

  1. ^ Conant, Sean (2015). The Gettysburg Address: Perspectives on Lincoln's Greatest Speech. New York: Oxford University Press. p. ix. ISBN 978-0-19-022745-6.
  2. ^ Holsinger, M. Paul (1999). War and American Popular Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-313-29908-7.
  3. ^ Publishers, HarperCollins. "The American Heritage Dictionary entry: Public speaking". ahdictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  4. ^ University of Minnesota, Author removed at the request of original (2016-11-08). "6.1 General Purposes of Speaking". {{cite journal}}: |first= has generic name (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ Author removed at request (2016-11-08). "6.1 General Purposes of Speaking". University of Minnesota. {{cite journal}}: |last= has generic name (help)