Speak Up and Succeed Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Public Speaking

Annually, Speak Up and Succeed Day is observed on the fourth Tuesday of January. Mary-Ellen Drummond, an author and public speaker, established the day to recognise the significance of public speaking. Only through speaking up can others take note of our identities and beliefs. It has the ability to persuade and motivate others. Speaking in front of others can result in professional and personal success. You can only acquire the skill of public speaking by challenging yourself, and this is the ideal time to do so.

HISTORY OF SPEAK UP AND SUCCEED DAY

Ancient Greeks supported political participation through public debate. Aristotle (384 B.C. – 322 B.C.) is recognised as one of the most influential proponents of rhetoric, i.e., the classical style of persuasive public speaking. Early tutors known as Sophists instructed citizens on public speech during the Classical Period. Sophists were self-appointed educators who provided information on how to be successful in Greek civic life.

In 106 B.C., the Roman Cicero became one of the most influential personalities in the history of public speaking. He published numerous volumes on the art of public speaking and developed the five canons of rhetoric, a five-step approach for crafting a persuasive speech that is still taught today. Beginning around 1600 A.D., the Enlightenment Period revitalised the classical public speaking tradition. The classical style of rhetoric gave way to the elocutionary approach, which emphasised delivery and style by observing the speaker’s body motions, including gestures, vocal tone, facial expressions, and pronunciation.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, school curricula have incorporated public speaking as a required skill. Students were permitted to compete in a number of contests that tested their speaking abilities. Different types of public speaking, such as Extempore, Just a Minute, etc., entered the scene. Universities also formed communication departments and offered numerous public speaking exercises as courses in soft skills to help students improve in their professional jobs.

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5 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT PUBLIC SPEAKING

After speaking continuously for nearly three days, Ajay Shesh established a Guinness World Record in the category of Longest Speech Marathon.

In 95 A.D., Quintilian, a Roman, published “Institutio Oratoria,” which is still in use today.

The 1963 address by President Kennedy at the Berlin Wall was one of the finest examples of oratory.

The “I Have a Dream” speech of Martin Luther, a Black Civil Rights Activist, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1997.

Three out of every four individuals in a group will declare they are frightened of public speaking.

SPEAK UP AND SUCCEED DAY DATES