You Talkin' To Me?

Let me start with a scene from The Simpsons:

MARGE: (sings) ‘How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?’ HOMER: Seven. LISA: No, Dad, it’s a rhetorical question. HOMER: Ok, eight.

LISA: Dad, do you even know what rhetorical means?

HOMER: Do I know what ‘rhetorical’ means?

So begins Sam Leith’s introduction to his book, ‘You Talkin’ To Me? that I recently borrowed from the local library. The sub-title ‘Rhetoric from Aristotle to Obama’ explains what it is all about and its relevance to Toastmasters who may be interested in extending their speaking skills.

Rhetoric may be regarded by some as antiquated; viewed with suspicion as trickery, or a dark art. However as Leith points out, it has been sought out since antiquity to turn crowds, lead nations, and sell soap. For instance, in Shakespeare's day, the grammar school curriculum consisted of grammar, logic and rhetoric - a three- part system of knowledge called the ‘Trivium,’ regarded as the foundation of learning. Along with the more difficult ‘Quadrivium' of arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy, the seven subjects made up the so-called ‘Liberal Arts.’

Rhetoric began in ancient Greece, where mass communication happened in public forums. Knowing a subject was not necessarily as important as convincing the assembled crowd to one’s way of thinking. Juries of up to 600 people would hear arguments presented by opposing litigants. Those who had the most convincing speaker would invariably win their cases and such speakers were in demand.

Not dissimilar to those on the internet who have made millions in six months and would train you also to achieve such riches, the ancient Sophists deployed a set of rhetoric skills which were eagerly sought.

With quotations stretching from Cicero, Shakespeare and the Simpsons and peppered with Leith’s humour (and rhetoric), I sped through this book (295pages) quicker than anything else I’ve read recently.

‘You Talkin’ To Me?’ is a good read full of information and wit. I recommend it to those wishing to further their general knowledge, and as a primer for those interested in developing their own speaking skills into interesting and devious territories.