“What do you think eloquence is?” John asked, raising his eyes from The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie.
“It‘s when someone says something really well.” Jane replied, pausing slightly as she sucked the Frappuccino through the straw.
“So it doesn’t matter what you say, as long as you sound smooth?” John prodded, wondering if she was ever going to share any of the drink he had purchased.
“No. Eloquence comes from speaking about something valuable.” About a third of the frosty goodness was already gone.
“So, eloquence matches the ‘word to the deed and deed to word’ to quote a most eloquent bard?”
“Exactly! I think…”
“Why do you think so many speakers are, well… not that eloquent?” John placed the open book on the table, avoiding the icy wet semicircle where the cup had been.
“Hmm… I dunno. I guess they just don’t know which words to choose and which words to lose. You know how sometimes you hear a story, and the really detailed parts are irrelevant, while the really important are glossed over. Successful stories seem to suggest what’s important with clear and concrete language leaving the rest of the details up to the audience’s imagination.”
John wanted to do more than image drinking the Frappuccino…
“Do you think the audience helps, or hurts, how a speaker sounds?”
“Well,” Jane gestured, nearly spilling the sloshing remnants, “if they are disruptive then they definitely hurt the speaker, but I am not sure how the audience can help a speaker sound better.”
“Nobody sounds good trying to talk over others, but great speakers seem to be able to turn their audience’s discontent to their intent. Perhaps part of being eloquent is speaking with the audience, not at them. Sharing in what they already believe, and expressing it in a unique way that makes it even truer for them.”
“Yeah, those are notable moments. That’s when I wish I had a pen and paper to write down what was said.” Jane plopped the cup down and dug into her bag. “I should be taking some notes right now.”
“Let’s see…” Jane spoke as she wrote.
Make what’s important clear and concrete. Express the audience’s truth, uniquely.
“Didn’t we say something else leads to eloquence?” John asked, casually reaching toward the cup.
“Oh yeah, match the word to the deed. But I am not completely sure I know what this means.” Jane snatched the cup, smiling at John.
“A deed is something you do. For most of us speaking in public is indeed daring; however, when what you say, and how you say it, matches your understanding and your audience’s expectations then eloquence emanates from your soul to the whole.”
“Most eloquent John. You’re almost as good as this Frappuccino was.”
Jane’s slurping signaled the end of the Frappuccino. John picked up the book, lowering his eyes.