Eloquence is dictionary-defined as the quality of artistry and persuasiveness in speech and writing.

Broken down and simply put, it is the quality of expressing oneself in such a way that resonates well with the listeners and also effectively passes the intended message across-being able to do this at every needed time.

 

It is also being able to effectually communicate with a personal touch of comeliness.

 

Speech has been proven to be one of the best, and at the same time, one of the worst things that man is capable of. Everything we do, task we complete, problem we solve et cetera, revolves heavily on either giving out or receiving information.

 

In this seemingly simple art of basically ‘just saying stuff’, individuals stand out. Some people seem to be able to move you to buy bread even when you’re allergic to flour, all with the proceedings from their ‘buccal cavity’.

 

What makes them so unique and powerful? Their ability to speak simply and articulately, with an air of confidence that spills over and softly pulls down the mental Jericho walls of their listener(s).

 

 

Related: Grandiloquence and your vocabulary

 

 

There are many beliefs surrounding the art of eloquence, particularly in public speaking.

 

Here are a few of them and whether they are facts or not.

 

 

 

 Some are born with it(false)

 

This should be the most common one. People tend to think that eloquence is a gift to a special few. The truth to this is that the difference lies more in personalities than it does in the actual quality. Some people are more outgoing than others and make friends easier, speak louder, joke more etc. These attributes simply classify people into introverts and extroverts. It has little to do with how good at public speaking they actually are.

 

Many social people are scared of speaking before an audience, they may find it easier to adapt to it than introverted individuals but it is still a common fear. Eloquence is a ‘quality’ and therefore will at least require some effort to acquire.

 

 

 

Everyone feels nervous before speaking(true)

 

The annoying thing about public speaking is that you never really have it in the bag. You could have done it a hundred times and still need to take a deep breath before the next one.

Practice doesn’t really make you perfect, what it certainly does is make you better. Better at facing your fears, at quieting your doubts, at checking the emmm’s, uhhh’s and other unhelpful speaking habits.

 

It pretty much makes you so much better than you were that you seem perfect.

 

Emphasis on the seem.

 

 

Related: Making better conversations

 

 

You can do without it(false)

 

Well, I want to make money and not to appear on TV or all of that…

 

You could say that and you wouldn’t be wrong in the slightest. But you could also consider that you can never really do away with speaking, public or not.

You’ll have to sell your brand/service to people, pitch yourself or your ideas to people, tell your stories to people, have a good time with people, get help from people, probably explain yourself out of a beating…and guess who to…

 

Yeah, to PEOPLE.

 

In any of the above scenarios, eloquence amongst other things, really helps.

 

As for the last case, you’ll probably need a bit extra.(smiles)

 

 

 

The enemy of eloquence is nervousness(false)

 

Sounds strange but it is true. Over confidence might even be closer than nervousness is to being an enemy to eloquence.

 

Short story. In senior high, we were to have a debate and I was the third speaker of a side. I was so relaxed because it definitely wasn’t my first ‘teachers are better than doctors’ moment. I went over my lines like the boss I was.

On the fateful day, when it got to my turn, I wasn’t nervous at all (or so I thought), and it didn’t turn out so bad. I ONLY just forgot the rest of what I had to say after the ‘Good morning Mr. Moderator…’ part.

 

Trust me when I say that the ‘offing your microphone till you’re done’ doesn’t work in real life. I had to start over and it wasn’t really my proudest moment.(laughs in shame)

 

 

This story might not apply to everyone but over confidence is more likely to ruin your performance than nervousness is. Nervousness is actually similar to how adrenaline provides you with ‘fight or flee’ options and boost to carry out whichever you choose.

 

You could be surprised how harnessing it can play out in your favour.

 

 

you do get it, don't you?

 

 

What do you think of eloquence in general? Is it as important as this post makes it out to be? Do you disagree with any of them?

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