David Randall’s “Conversational Enlightenment” explores the 18th century’s “conversation boom” in literature, philosophy, art, and society. He shows how conversation expanded beyond elites, influencing politeness, public opinion, and even art. He argues it wasn’t just chatter but a tool for shaping ideas & the Enlightenment itself. He challenges traditional views, highlighting salons & women’s role Continue reading The Conversational Enlightenment: the Reconception of Rhetoric in Eighteenth-century Thought David Randall (2020)
Rhetoric is about far more than influencing people through speech. It is how we communicate effectively in our daily lives and, in addition to speech, can take the form of text, images, videos, or any other form of media. | David Gurteen Continue reading What Is Rhetoric? David Gurteen
The Oracy Lab is an experimental space for exploring the power and possibilities of spoken communication for conveying meaning and co-creating a deeper understanding of the complexity and dynamics of the world. | David Gurteen Continue reading What Is an Oracy Lab? David Gurteen
Numerous words or phrases describe the varied forms of conversation and speech. This page lists some of the more common ones in alphabetic order. Continue reading The Language of Conversation and Speech Meanings of words describing conversation and speech
Storytelling is widely treated as a core leadership skill in organizations. When stories are used mainly to inspire or persuade, conversation can shift from inquiry to performance. Conversational Leadership keeps stories in play, but centres attention on shared reasoning and what unfolds after the story is told. Continue reading Storytelling and Conversational Leadership Placing storytelling in the practice of thinking together
Without oracy skills, we would struggle to communicate our ideas and opinions, leading to challenges in personal and professional settings. This can include difficulty building relationships, advocating for ourselves, and contributing to group discussions. Continue reading Oracy Is a Core Conversational Leadership Skill Communicating effectively in spoken language
Debates are an essential part of communication, allowing for the exchange of differing viewpoints. However, understanding their various forms and purposes can be challenging. By examining the structure and significance of debates, we can gain a deeper understanding of their role in public discourse and critical thinking. Continue reading Understanding Debates Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it
Rhetoric is often construed as insincere or meaningless language that sounds clever. This is an unduly negative perspective. Rhetoric is a critical cognitive and communication skill. Continue reading Rediscovering Rhetoric Rethinking how we influence and communicate every day
On the face of it, rhetoric and oracy would seem the same, but although they have much in common, they have some significant differences. Continue reading What Is the Difference Between Rhetoric and Oracy? Rhetoric is monologue, oracy is dialogue
