Transcript 幻灯片 1
The cultural sources and resources of English public speaking Xiaoquan Chu Fudan University Public speaking: a universal art? “Given the importance of public speaking, it’s not surprising that it has been taught and studied around the globe for thousands of years.” The Art of Public Speaking by Steven Lucas Page 2 7/20/2015 “That oratory is an art of great consequence will hardly be questioned, unless it be by those (if any are so ignorant) who do not know, that it has been taught and studied, in all countries, where learning has gained any ground.” The Art of Speaking (1804) by James Burgh Page 3 7/20/2015 China seems to be an exception • The bad reputation of 辩士 during the “Warring States” • “巧言令色，鲜矣仁” —— Confucius • In ancient China we don’t have something like Pericles’ speech or a dramatic moment affected by a brilliant speech as at the death of Jules Caesar Page 4 7/20/2015 The defining features of public speaking • First, public speaking presupposes a group of people. • Secondly, public speaking happens on a specific occasion regulated by rules, laws or customs with the purpose of inducing some change: a decision, a resolution, a vote etc. Page 5 7/20/2015 The sources of public speaking in the Western civilization • Citizen’s assemblies in Greece and Roman Senate • The cultivation of the art of public speaking lay at the heart of all Greek intellectual developments. • The Trivium in Medieval education Page 6 7/20/2015 • Six arts for a Confucian scholars in the earlier times: music, rituals, arithmetic, calligraphy, driving, archery. • Four arts for later eras: poetry, calligraphy, music, painting. Page 7 7/20/2015 “That the manners or address of a speaker is of the utmost importance and that a just and pleasing manners in delivering either one’s own composition or those of others is difficult of acquisition and but too much neglected among us seems unquestionable from the deficiencies we so commonly observe in the address of our public speaker, much more than in the matter uttered by them and from the little effect produced by their labors.” The Art of Speaking (1804) by James Burgh Page 8 7/20/2015 “Elocution has, for some years past, been an object of attention in the most respectable schools in our country. A laudable ambition of introducing youth, in the pronunciation and delivery of their national language, has made English speeches a very conspicuous part of their exhibition of oratory, which do our seminaries of learning so much credit.” Lessons in Elocution (1820) by William Scott Page 9 7/20/2015 “I shall not enter upon any praise of the art of public speaking. It is good and it is bad; it is base and it is noble. It is part of human life and it is what one makes it. My point is that it is important. “We need not deny that public speaking was comparatively more important in ancient times. The point is that it is still important today and that apparently in this age of discussion and government by public opinion, it is increasingly important.” Public Speaking (1916) by James Winans Page 10 7/20/2015 “ (T)o begin with, a knowledge of very many matters must be grasped, without which oratory is but an empty and ridiculous swirl of verbiage; and the distinctive style has to be formed, not only by the choice of words, but also but the arrangement of the same; and all the mental emotions, with which nature has endowed the human race, are to be intimately understood, because it is in calming or kindling the feelings of the audience that the full power and science of oratory are to be brought into play. To this there should be added a certain humor, flashes of wit, the culture befitting a gentleman, and readiness and terseness alike in repelling and delivering the attack, the whole being combined with a delicate charm and urbanity. Further, the complete history of the past and a store of precedents must be retained in the memory, nor may a knowledge of statute law and our national law in general be omitted. And why should I go on to describe the speaker’s delivery? That needs to be controlled by bodily carriage, gesture, play of features and intonation of voice.” Page 11 7/20/2015 Five elements for a successful speech according to classic rhetoricians • Inventio • Dispositio • Elocutio • Memoria • Pronuntiatio Page 12 7/20/2015 “A speech is part theater and part political declaration; it is personal communication between a leader and his people; it is art, and all art is a paradox, being at once a thing of great power and great delicacy. A speech is poetry: cadency, rhythm, imaginary, sweep! A speech reminds us that words, like children, have the power to make dance the dullest beanbag of a heart…Speeches are important because they are one of the great constants of our political history. They have been not only the way we measure public men, they have been how we tell each other who we are…They count. They more than count, they shape what happens.” Peggy Noonan Page 13 7/20/2015 Thank you!