Rhetorical criticism of public speaking - directions for communication research

1991 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-79
Author(s):  
Johann C. De Wet
Keyword(s):  
Public Speaking ◽  
Rhetorical Criticism ◽  
Communication Research

“Men så skedde inte i Sverige” – om anklagens anatomi

2021 ◽  
pp. 50-66
Author(s):  
Stefan Iversen ◽  
Rebekka Lykke Nørremark
Keyword(s):  
Legal System ◽  
Rhetorical Criticism ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Communication Research ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Essay Tests

Despite the fact that defense and apology have been studied thoroughly in rhetoric and communication research in recent decades, their counterpart; the accusation has received ­surprisingly limited ­attention from rhetorical criticism. This essay sets out to remedy parts of these shortcomings by suggesting to define the accusation as a situated act where somebody ascribes guilt to a group or individual. The definition ties the accusation to the representation of acts considered to be in violation of ­existing norms and the essay argues that the logic of narra­tive determines the forms and functions of an accusation. The essay tests the definition through close readings of accusations from the debate about the proper handling of the corona-virus, as this debate has played out in the Scandinavian countries during 2020. Two extreme examples of accusations – one situated in the ­formal legal system, one situated in an informal, private conversation – are briefly analyzed before the essay turns to its main case in the form of an article from Dagens Nyheter, in which Swedish scientists accuse the Swedish health authorities and the Swedish government for neglect

Aerodynamic and Acoustic Voice Measures Before and After an Acute Public Speaking Stressor

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (10) ◽  
pp. 3311-3325
Author(s):  
Brittany L. Perrine ◽  
Ronald C. Scherer
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Public Speaking ◽  
Stress System ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Subglottal Pressure ◽  
Response To Stress ◽  
System Activation ◽  
Speaking Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Pituitary Adrenal Axis

Purpose The goal of this study was to determine if differences in stress system activation lead to changes in speaking fundamental frequency, average oral airflow, and estimated subglottal pressure before and after an acute, psychosocial stressor. Method Eighteen vocally healthy adult females experienced the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) to activate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. The TSST includes public speaking and performing mental arithmetic in front of an audience. At seven time points, three before the stressor and four after the stressor, the participants produced /pa/ repetitions, read the Rainbow Passage, and provided a saliva sample. Measures included (a) salivary cortisol level, (b) oral airflow, (c) estimated subglottal pressure, and (d) speaking fundamental frequency from the second sentence of the Rainbow Passage. Results Ten of the 18 participants experienced a hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis response to stress as indicated by a 2.5-nmol/L increase in salivary cortisol from before the TSST to after the TSST. Those who experienced a response to stress had a significantly higher speaking fundamental frequency before and immediately after the stressor than later after the stressor. No other variable varied significantly due to the stressor. Conclusions This study suggests that the idiosyncratic and inconsistent voice changes reported in the literature may be explained by differences in stress system activation. In addition, laryngeal aerodynamic measures appear resilient to changes due to acute stress. Further work is needed to examine the influence of other stress systems and if these findings hold for dysphonic individuals.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document