Rhetoric in action: public speaking principles
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Abstract
Public speaking, traditionally rooted in classical rhetoric, is increasingly conceptualised as an interactive, audience-centred practice in which meaning is co-constructed. This paper examines rhetorical principles as analytical constructs that guide persuasive communication rather than prescriptive norms. Tracing the development from Aristotle’s ethos, pathos, and logos to contemporary audience-oriented frameworks proposed by D. Carnegie, N. Dereza, I. Hawkins, R. Zeoli, and N. Morgan, the study analyses how authenticity, authority, emotional engagement, and audience orientation shape speaker – audience interaction. Adopting a discourse-analytic and interdisciplinary perspective, the paper demonstrates a shift from speaker-centred formalism toward relational, context-sensitive models of persuasion, highlighting the cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions of public speaking.
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References
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