Speech Writing and the Language of Leadership
Introduction
- Speaker: Discusses the peculiarities of speech writing.
- Example: Australian businessman mispronouncing "fight" as "fart".
- Importance of rhetoric in leadership and communication.
Ancient Rhetoric and Leadership
- Rhetoric was a core part of education in Ancient Rome and 19th-century London.
- Today, rhetoric education is limited to a privileged few.
Six Rhetorical Techniques
1. Asyndeton
- Mimics hyperventilation, conveying fear and emotion.
- Examples:
- David Cameron: "Broken homes, failing schools, sink estates."
- Tony Blair: "Education, education, education."
- Barack Obama: "A world at war, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a generation."
2. Tricolon
- The rule of three for compelling arguments.
- Examples:
- "Government of the people, by the people, for the people."
- "Eat well, laugh often, love much."
3. Anaphora
- Repetition for emotional communication.
- Examples:
- Winston Churchill: "We shall fight on the beaches..."
- Personal passion: "I love Verona. I love Italy. I love pasta."
4. Balance in Statements
- Balanced sentences imply balanced thinking.
- Examples:
- "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
- "To be or not to be."
5. Metaphor
- Metaphors heavily influence perception and emotions.
- Examples:
- "The Arab Spring" vs. "The Arab Inferno."
- "The Calais Jungle": dangerous imagery.
- "The financial storm" vs. Pope Francis's "dung heap of capitalism."
6. Exaggeration and Rhyme
- Exaggeration in emotional speech.
- Rhymes enhance believability.
- Examples:
- "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
- "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
Application and Demonstration
- Speaker improvises a speech about Donald Trump using rhetorical techniques.
- Emphasizes the importance of rhetoric in fair societal participation.
Conclusion
- Rhetoric should be taught to all, not just an elite few.
- Promotes broader and fairer debate globally.
- Reviving rhetoric could empower everyone to become leaders, enhancing democracy.
Note: The presentation ends with a call to action for reviving education in rhetoric to foster democracy.