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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1762]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1762]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1:  the [[act]] or [[process]] of making [[speeches]] in [[public]]

*1:  the [[act]] or [[process]] of making [[speeches]] in [[public]]

'''Public speaking''' is the [[process]] and act of speaking or giving a [[lecture]] to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, [[influence]], or [[entertain]] a [[listening]] [[audience]]. Public speaking is commonly understood as face-to-face speaking between [[individuals]] and an audience for the purpose of [[communication]]. It is closely allied to "presenting", although the latter is more often associated with [[commercial]] activity. Most of the time, public speaking is to [[persuade]] the audience.

'''Public speaking''' is the [[process]] and act of speaking or giving a [[lecture]] to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, [[influence]], or [[entertain]] a [[listening]] [[audience]]. Public speaking is commonly understood as face-to-face speaking between [[individuals]] and an audience for the purpose of [[communication]]. It is closely allied to "presenting", although the latter is more often associated with [[commercial]] activity. Most of the time, public speaking is to [[persuade]] the audience.

The first known Greek work on oratory, written over 2000 years ago, elaborated principles drawn from the practices and experience of orators in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece ancient Greek] city-states. In classical Greece and Rome, the main component was [[rhetoric]] (that is, [[composition]] and delivery of [[speeches]]), and was an important [[skill]] in public and private life. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle Aristotle] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintilian Quintilian] discussed oratory, and the subject, with definitive rules and models, was emphasised as a part of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_arts liberal arts] education during the Middle Ages and [[Renaissance]].

The first known Greek work on oratory, written over 2000 years ago, elaborated principles drawn from the practices and experience of orators in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece ancient Greek] city-states. In classical Greece and Rome, the main component was [[rhetoric]] (that is, [[composition]] and delivery of [[speeches]]), and was an important [[skill]] in public and private life. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle Aristotle] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintilian Quintilian] discussed oratory, and the subject, with definitive rules and models, was emphasised as a part of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_arts liberal arts] education during the Middle Ages and [[Renaissance]].

The art of public speaking was first developed by the ancient Greeks. Greek oration is known from the works of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_antiquity classical antiquity]. Greek orators spoke, on their own behalf rather as [[representatives]] of either a client or a constituency, and so any [[citizen]] who wished to succeed in [[court]], in [[politics]], or in [[social]] life had to learn [[techniques]] of public speaking. These skills were taught first by a group of self-styled "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophists sophists]" who were known to charge fees, to "make the weaker [[argument]] the stronger," and to make their students "better" through instruction in excellence. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato], Aristotle, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates Socrates] all developed theories of public speaking in opposition to the Sophists, and their [[ideas]] took on [[institutional]] form through the development of permanent schools where public speaking was taught. Though Greece [[eventually]] lost political [[sovereignty]], the Greek culture of [[training]] in public speaking was adopted virtually wholesale by the Romans.

The art of public speaking was first developed by the ancient Greeks. Greek oration is known from the works of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_antiquity classical antiquity]. Greek orators spoke, on their own behalf rather as [[representatives]] of either a client or a constituency, and so any [[citizen]] who wished to succeed in [[court]], in [[politics]], or in [[social]] life had to learn [[techniques]] of public speaking. These skills were taught first by a group of self-styled "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophists sophists]" who were known to charge fees, to "make the weaker [[argument]] the stronger," and to make their students "better" through instruction in excellence. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato], Aristotle, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates Socrates] all developed theories of public speaking in opposition to the Sophists, and their [[ideas]] took on [[institutional]] form through the development of permanent schools where public speaking was taught. Though Greece [[eventually]] lost political [[sovereignty]], the Greek culture of [[training]] in public speaking was adopted virtually wholesale by the Romans.

With the political rise of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic Roman Republic], Roman orators copied and modified Greek techniques of public speaking. Under Roman influence, instruction in [[rhetoric]] developed into a full [[curriculum]] including instruction in [[grammar]] (study of the poets), preliminary exercises ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progymnasmataprogymnasmata]), and preparation of public speeches (declamation) in both forensic and deliberative [[genres]]. The Latin style was heavily influenced by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero Cicero], and involved a strong emphasis on a broad [[education]] in all areas of humanistic [[study]] (in the liberal arts, including [[philosophy]]), as well as on the use of wit and [[humor]], on appeal to the listener's [[emotions]], and on digressions (often used to [[explore]] general themes related to the specific topic of the speech). Oratory in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_empire Roman empire], though less central to political life than in the days of the Republic, remained important in law, and became (under the second Sophistic) an important form of [[entertainment]], with famous orators or declaimers gaining great [[wealth]] and [[prestige]] for their [[skills]].

With the political rise of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic Roman Republic], Roman orators copied and modified Greek techniques of public speaking. Under Roman influence, instruction in [[rhetoric]] developed into a full [[curriculum]] including instruction in [[grammar]] (study of the poets), preliminary exercises ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progymnasmataprogymnasmata]), and preparation of public speeches (declamation) in both forensic and deliberative [[genres]]. The Latin style was heavily influenced by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero Cicero], and involved a strong emphasis on a broad [[education]] in all areas of humanistic [[study]] (in the liberal arts, including [[philosophy]]), as well as on the use of wit and [[humor]], on appeal to the listener's [[emotions]], and on digressions (often used to [[explore]] general themes related to the specific topic of the speech). Oratory in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_empire Roman empire], though less central to political life than in the days of the Republic, remained important in law, and became (under the second Sophistic) an important form of [[entertainment]], with famous orators or declaimers gaining great [[wealth]] and [[prestige]] for their [[skills]].

This Latin style was the primary form of oration in the world until the beginning of the 20th century. After [[World War II]] there began a gradual deprecation of the Latin style of oration. With the rise of the [[scientific method]] and the emphasis on a "plain" style of speaking and [[writing]], even formal oratory has become less polished and ornate than in the Classical period, though politicians today can still make or break their careers on the basis of a successful (or unsuccessful) [[speech]].  

This Latin style was the primary form of oration in the world until the beginning of the 20th century. After [[World War II]] there began a gradual deprecation of the Latin style of oration. With the rise of the [[scientific method]] and the emphasis on a "plain" style of speaking and [[writing]], even formal oratory has become less polished and ornate than in the Classical period, though politicians today can still make or break their careers on the basis of a successful (or unsuccessful) [[speech]].  

These basic principles have undergone [[modification]] as [[societies]] and [[cultures]] have changed, yet remained surprisingly [[uniform]]. The [[technology]] and the methods of this form of communication have traditionally been through oratory structure and rely on an [[audience]]. However, new advances in technology have allowed for more sophisticated [[communication]] for speakers and public orators. The technological and [[media]] sources that assist the public-speaking atmosphere include both videoconferencing and [[telecommunications]]. Videoconferencing is among one of the more recent technologies that is in a way revolutionizing the way that public speakers communicate to [[the masses]]. David M. Fetterman of Stanford University wrote in his 1997 article ''Videoconferencing over the Internet'': "Videoconferencing technology allows geographically disparate parties to hear and see each other usually through satellite or telephone communication systems". This technology is helpful for large [[conference]] meetings and face-to-face communication [[contexts]], and is becoming more widespread across the world.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_speaking]

These basic principles have undergone [[modification]] as [[societies]] and [[cultures]] have changed, yet remained surprisingly [[uniform]]. The [[technology]] and the methods of this form of communication have traditionally been through oratory structure and rely on an [[audience]]. However, new advances in technology have allowed for more sophisticated [[communication]] for speakers and public orators. The technological and [[media]] sources that assist the public-speaking atmosphere include both videoconferencing and [[telecommunications]]. Videoconferencing is among one of the more recent technologies that is in a way revolutionizing the way that public speakers communicate to [[the masses]]. David M. Fetterman of Stanford University wrote in his 1997 article ''Videoconferencing over the Internet'': "Videoconferencing technology allows geographically disparate parties to hear and see each other usually through satellite or telephone communication systems". This technology is helpful for large [[conference]] meetings and face-to-face communication [[contexts]], and is becoming more widespread across the world.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_speaking]

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Rhetoric]]'''''

*'''''[[Rhetoric]]'''''

[[Category: The Arts]]

[[Category: The Arts]]

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]