Public Speaking: Techniques and Perspectives

Public Address vs. Technical Discussion

Public Address: Develop a topic of general interest to a large audience. The speaker is invested with authority, and their most important purpose is to convince the audience, driving them to adopt a certain attitude or stance towards what is stated.

Technical Discussion: This can be further broken down into different formats:

• Dialogue or Whispers: A subject is discussed freely and informally, answering a short question formulated in advance.
• Symposium: Spontaneous discussion among a certain number of participants. Each participant contributes freely and refutes the theories of others.
• Forum: Participants have a coordinator.

Key Considerations in Public Address Preparation

• Use of Various Discourse Types: Integrate various forms of discourse, such as expository, argumentative, descriptive, narrative, and informative. The choice depends on the purpose.
• Hierarchical Relations Between Sender and Receiver: The speaker is invested with authority, creating an asymmetrical relationship.
• Use of Encyclopedia or Set of Knowledge: It is crucial to avoid assumptions that may create ambiguity, especially if the group does not share the same level of knowledge.

Speaker's Perspective

• Objective: Focuses solely on informing without delivering opinions.
• Critical: Addresses problems or potential shortcomings of an approach.
• Admiration: Used in commemorative speeches, highlighting the positive aspects of the event or person.
• Reflexive: Aims to lead the receiver to a deeper understanding of the speaker's ideas.
• Problematizing: Attempts to create conflict by presenting the problem.

Elocutionary Modes of Public Discourse

• Elocutive Mode (I): Used to foster closeness, sincerity, and subjectivity.
• Interrogative Mode: Poses a question, expecting the receiver to respond mentally, thus creating a connection between sender and receiver.
• Allocution Mode (You): Focuses on the receiver, involving them or calling them to action.
• Delocutive Mode (He, She, They): Used to distance oneself from what is stated.
• Imperative Mode: The speaker adopts a position that compels action from the receiver. This requires a hierarchical relationship where the speaker holds a position of authority.
• Exclamatory Mode: Used to express surprise or admiration, positioning the receiver as a witness or inviting them to share in the emotion.