Anyone who
presents regularly understands eloquence is not innate. It is a learned skill
requiring much practice. Indeed, it can be compared to acting in that public
speaking requires rehearsing and even choreography.
The Gift of the Gab: How Eloquence
Works by David Crystal
is a useful reminder of some of the things to get right for public speakers. While
the book is comprised of many short chapters making it easier to read, it is
also filled with complex technical advice about eloquence. In other words,
Crystal uses his background as a linguist to good use during the book.
It’s not
only about the language but also delivery. Delivery includes pauses, hand
motions, posture, tones and a whole lot more. Crystal touches on all of them in
his book.
Crystal
also uses examples to highlight every section of the book. To be sure, the book
is US centric in that the prime example of an ideal speech which recurs
throughout is former president Obama’s ‘Yes We Can’ speech in Chicago, USA. Obama’s
speech, along with Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, are even added
to the appendix for reference.
The Gift of the Gab is not the best place for a newbie
to start learning about presentation skills – a mite technical for that.
However, it will certainly help anyone improve who makes an effort to implement
Crystal’s advice.
__________________
Imran is a Singapore based Tour Guide with a special interest in
arts and history. Imran has lived and worked in several countries during his
past career as an international banker. He enjoys traveling, especially by
train, as a way to feed his curiosity about the world and nurture his interest
in photography. He
is available on Instagram (@imranahmedsg); twitter (@grandmoofti) and can be
contacted at imran.ahmed.sg@gmail.com.
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