Letter from the Editor: What is Eloquence?

 As I began to think about names for our business, I knew I wanted it to reflect the goal of what we are trying to do here. Live and in person public speaking is becoming a lost art. As we move more and more into the digital world, we lose the opportunity to hear live speakers who really know how to effectively inform or persuade a live audience.

     With the exception of attending Sunday morning church service, the average American interacts via digital screens to watch and listen to videos, movies, even church services; or participates in zoom calls with speakers who often use emojis or photos to reflect their presence in the room and sometimes remaining on mute through entire meetings or discussions. What is lost is not just the full experience (or eloquence) of the speaker's performance or sharing of information, but also the experience of being seated as a member of an actively listening audience.

     I have met many wonderful people simply because I was seated next to them at a symposium, conference, or live event where public speaking was the focus for audience attention. Once speakers finish, audience members often interact positively as they discuss and reflect upon the topic or ideas presented. These reflective opportunities seem to be fewer as we live in a time of digital information where the audience listens, but has no opportunity to comment or engage with those around them once the presentation is over. Tweets and social media posts replace those conversations. The takeaway is less meaningful and the long-term impact may be minimal as well.

     So what is it we are missing? And what is it that live events do that the digital world cannot seem to match? The answer is relational communication. Humans are unique; it is only humans that tell stories. We joke, we laugh, we cry, we feel the connection to those with similar experiences, yet we also learn and imagine from hearing about experiences we have never had or experiences we share knowledge about that instantly sparks a connection with the speaker. You might be thinking that the digital world can accomplish this as well, so what is the point? The point is that there is a unique human ability to connect with a live speaker in ways that one cannot via screens such as zoom, and certainly not in one way information transfers where the listener has zero opportunity to respond.

     A two dimensional image is flat. That sounds obvious but what is missing is the fullness of the live visual experience, which informs the aural experience and even has a tactile dimension as well - the feel of the seat and the air conditioning, the smells - a program in hand. At the end of a live event you may have the opportunity to walk forward and meet the speaker, shake his or her hand, and even have a brief conversation. You might ask a clarifying question or simply express how the speech impacted you. If you do not speak with or meet the speaker you may strike up a conversation with the person you attended with or the person sitting next to you in the audience. These experiences are so important and memorable. Why? Because you are having a relational experience with people, interacting because someone spoke on a topic and you are now engaging with others to consider the speaker's ideas. This in turn sparks more ideas, more ingenuity, and...more conversations, which is the point.

     Humans are communicators. As we listen and watch on screens more we communicate in person less. Often during group zoom calls one hits the mute button and it remains engaged for the duration of the meeting. Sometimes this is due to the shyness related to being on camera, other times it is simply more convenient to remain muted. Whatever the reason, the simplicity of just expressing a thought has become more complicated. I am an extrovert who usually finds it a joy to participate in discussions. However, I often find that video calls with groups of more than 5 are difficult to navigate. I will generally remain muted unless I feel that what I have to say is necessary or if I am called upon to speak. I believe the reason people do this relates to a loss of pathos and ethos; can the listener truly understand my pathos - my passion and meaningful expression of feeling; can the digital listener fully understand my ethos - does my credibility come through? In-person discussions and conversations allow one to understand these things more clearly and the eloquence of the speaker comes through far better.

     There is that word again. Eloquence. It is an all encompassing word. The American Heritage Dictionary (online) defines it as, "Persuasive, moving, or graceful discourse." Wow. Think about that. Persuasion is challenging these days. We hear a lot of folks on media sites yelling at each other - not listening - just barking agendas back and forth. There is truly not much persuasion going on. However, the eloquent speaker is persuasive; he or she can better change someone's mind about something or have an impact in some way. In our current age that is a powerful skill.

     The eloquent speaker is moving; he or she is able to stir the listener. Perhaps she will make you laugh, cry, feel joy or sorrow, feel the bliss of early childhood, feel the warmth of a loved one's memory, stir you to anger over injustice, or move you so much that you are willing to go home and call your senator's office. A moving speaker is one whom you can relate to and who shares relatable information in a way that has a real effect on the listener. This is a skill and it can be taught.

     The eloquent speaker is also graceful. I love this word. It implies the idea that the speaker knows how to use words. He uses language well, choosing the right words, not just any word. A graceful use of language is necessary to convey ideas and emotions that fit those ideas. We are losing our grip on this kind of writing as the bar is lowered annually in schools and universities. As a former college professor I am sometimes appalled by what I see lauded as examples of good writing. I do not mean to imply you cannot achieve great writing, I want to emphasize that you will want to challenge yourself and find creative ways to learn to be a better writer. Our society no longer prioritizes great writing as a skill; it has been outsourced to AI, which can certainly never achieve the level of a Shakespeare, Dickens, or Austen. Nor can it achieve the likes of the speeches of Patrick Henry, Winston Churchill, or Dr. Martin Luther King.

     Eloquence is a skill. It can be taught and it can be learned. This is why I chose this word to name our company. The goal for any orator is to become eloquent. To become a persuasive conveyor of information, to move the listener to action, feeling, or thought, and to do so gracefully by choosing the best words, the best sentence structure, the best analogy or metaphor, and the best organization and of course the best delivery possible----and to prioritize grace, kindness, courtesy, and respect in the process.

      This is what we do here at /Eloquence Speaks. Our goal is to teach you the skills, coach you in practice, and watch your diligence lead you toward eloquent speaking. It is a journey that with a willing spirit to diligently practice to improve, will lead you to a lifetime of eloquent speaking. It is my hope that those who choose to learn with our team here at /Eloquence Speaks will catch our unique vision and carry the practice of eloquence into their speech and debate competitions, and from there into the world to impact lives and hearts for Christ.

René Schiltz