Art of Manliness - Latest Comments in Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Mat R — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 06:08:17 -0000

Great article.Speech has the power to change the world.! I used to be terrified of public speaking but once I was given the stage (and a little encouragement) I have not looked back.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Enoch Gyas — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 12:51:34 -0000

I so much appreciate your tips .its very informative & i desire more its kind, because it has been my passion.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

chido — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 23:56:11 -0000

Oratory is truly a lost art that seeks revivation. Grammatical garnish shouldn't be mistaken as oratory, articulation is one thing and the gift of the garb is another. Oratory commands attention, personally and professionally, Its an art to be imbibed by every man. I for say have never been a stage frightened kind but have a misgiving at captivating my audience for long. I would appreciate a few tips on some kind of stories to be inculcated in my speeches and the best manner to manage my literature.

Any suggestions ?

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Davis Nguyen — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:45:54 -0000

Having great public speaking skills opens so many doors professionally and personally. I noticed this article came out around the same time I started my quest from stage frightened introvert to national public speaking champion three years later.

On a side note, it is amazing to see how much Art of Manliness has come. I didn't know you used to reply back to each comment when they came.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Thomas Cunningham — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 19:02:28 -0000

Thanks for posting this article - this was a skill I have been looking forward to mastering recently.
If there are any more tips on this subject, I'll read them!

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Shava Nerad — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 14:55:41 -0000

To recall a dialogue with one of our founders -- remember the ladies! Not all great orators were men, and those of us of the "fairer sex" have no less grand or delicate a way with words than our brothers.

I've made a living as a speech writer and ghost writer for a good slice of my life, much of it as a woman writing for men who were good conceptual thinkers -- and poor at putting an idea into words for spoken or written presentation. Coming from generations of ministers, union leaders, political activists, NGO leadership, military leaders and so on, I come by my skills honestly.

Speech writing and ghost writing are one of the havens of oratory in the modern world. I wrote a well-circulated essay in ghosting's defense which started as a sort of throwaway blog article here:

http://usefularts.us/2010/0...

Like oratory itself, speech writing and ghost writing have lost their honor in recent days. But it's incredibly satisfying work.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Jake — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:32:17 -0000

Cicero said that to be a great orator, one must have "ingenium" (it is implied that one is born with this trait) in that area. The word we get from that is "genius." So apparently, to excel in the field of oratory, one must be a genius at oratory. Now that doesn't really sound fair, does it?

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Salahuddin — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:51:48 -0000

I consumed the article like a favourate dish as the reason why the world is spiralling into chaos dawned before me. Those with the right frame of mind to take world events into the most rational direction are currently being overpowered by self seeking speech reading destroyers of the human race. People are moved into supporting cooked up wars. Popular perceptions of fundamental concepts such as democracy are daftly twisted to suit whichever murderous activity they plan to undertake. Enough is enough and all yee orators, rise up in this so called civilized age and find ways around information siphoning tactics and be heard. Oratory as is also stated in the article requires wide readership and an insightful grasp of both sides of any story. One should not be found signing songs of praise for Hitler while History spat him like mucus with a pungent smell. Orators, you have all the aspects of eloquence in you, use them for the survival of the humility of man.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

gaman amy — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 10:04:20 -0000

this is really interesting, i will really want to be a great orator, thou each step i take as the day goes by takes me ahead of my yesterday. thanks for being part of my trainees. i love your work.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

ari-free — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:13:35 -0000

I don't give any points to someone who clings to his teleprompter as if it was his security blanket. A real man has to be able to speak without any written notes.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Fuad Ahasan Chowdhury — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:33:44 -0000

I was expecting Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wik... ) on the list.. He should listed here.. undoubtedly.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Joseph Sanchez — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:36:17 -0000

@Dlux the light
I was thinking the same thing. The art of spoken word and even emceeing is very similar, yet the purpose and setting is different but the skills are pretty much the same. Interestingly, I would argue that future orators would merge from the culture of Hip Hop and have a background in spoken word, community organizing or facilitation.
This was a very interesting article. I appreciate the insight and look forward to more on the topic.

Peace

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Aaron — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:21:59 -0000

“Oratory is the masculine of music.”

-John Atgeld

. . . say that to a real drummer. Like Buddy Rich...

I get the idea, but a blistering musician is in a sense an orator as well. His language is just universal...

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

katrina — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:29:52 -0000

i was reading this article and i found it very inspiring

However, while reading it to myself-

it was tiresome to keep on substituting the term 'man'
in the article for 'woman'

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

hamzah — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:44:38 -0000

i want to be the best orator

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

miragana — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:05:04 -0000

Good day!
It is very informative and has a very good quality in it.
I like it...

www.Squidoo.com/MPI
mliragana.blogspot.com

Thank you very much for your time.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

public speaking tips — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:48:22 -0000

hi there,

Toastmasters is one the reason that convert me into who i am now as a public speaking coach.so i highly recommand it for everyone who wants to master this skill.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Allan White — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:52:41 -0000

Manly, manly, manly. Great topic and post.

I work for Luis Palau, a Christian evangelist who's been on the radio worldwide for over 50 years. The man's memory, logic and humor are sharp as ever (he's 72), and he can wax eloquently on pretty much any topic.

Garr Reynolds of Presentation Zen writes on this topic frequently (in the context of giving great presentations). Definitely worth reading.

I did Forensics/Debate in high school and drama in college - I'm so glad I did. The training was a huge help from the boardroom to the home bible study.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Easy and Elegant Life — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:20:37 -0000

Do you recall the British officer's speech to his men the evening before they entered into battle during the first Gulf War? "Be terrible in battle and magnanimous in victory." Something like that. Stirring, riveting, stuff.

I've got a CD of Churchill's speeches (from Ben Silver) that are equally riveting to listen to.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Chuck Vosburgh — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:46:35 -0000

Toastmasters changed the course of my life. I was so shy it crippled my career and any are of my life that required oral communication. It was out of desperation that I tried Toastmasters. What I found was a group of people from all walks of life with the common goal of helping each other improve their communication and leadership skills. It took me a few months to get up the nerve to join, but in a years time, I went from pathetically shy to a paid speaker. Sure, it was hard work, but well worth it!

I owe much of my success to Toastmasters and the kind patient people in my local Toastmasters club. Ask some of the people you admire, I'd bet the majority of them have been Toastmasters. If I can get that kind of benefit, you can too.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Meiji_man — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:19:51 -0000

@Brett
I've Been blessed in my life with many opportunities to exercise that Trait.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Mike — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:16:57 -0000

Great article. The only thing I'd add is that being a good speaker is as much about being a great writer as anything else. And that the only way to get better at both is to practice. Check around in your local area; see if there are any public speaking organizations in the area. My father, normally kind of a wallflower, belongs to a speakers' bureau, and gives speeches on a regular basis on whatever topic moves him. He seems to love it and has become a much better communicator.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Brett — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:39:34 -0000

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

@Plor-
I agree that Obama doesn't represent a revival of oratory, and is an exception to its general dearth in today's society, the same way that Reagan or JFK was. But I think that is why it gets so much attention-people instinctively love great oratory and want more of it in public life.

@Meiji Man-A great story and an excellent show of humility. Humility is a manly trait as well!

I've thought from time to time about Toastmasters and I'm curious about others' experience with it. I think I'll check out the forum to what people have to say......

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Meiji_man — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:21:00 -0000

Well written!

May I suggest taking a public speaking course at your community college?
Or attending your local meeting of Toast Masters? http://www.toastmasters.org/

I had an opportunity once to speak in front of the Salt Lake City Council and crashed and burned so badly I had to stop, apologize to the Counsel for making a complete ass out of myself (yes I used that word), and sit back down. I did get applauded for that though…

Since then I have tried to exercise my speaking skills.

Re: Resurrecting the Lost Art of Oratory

Plor — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:16:01 -0000

While I agree that FDR brought about a decline in oratory by presidents, but I disagree that Barack Obama is the revival of this, he is but another example of an exception to the trend set by FDR. John F. Kennedy inspired America with his speeches, and Ronald Reagan led the country to defeat communism in part with his great oratory. I think this Obamania is a good thing for the country, but to look at it as unique is a little nearsighted.