The Gift of the Gab: How Eloquence Works - Softcover

Crystal, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0300226403 ISBN 13: 9780300226409

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2017

Synopsis

A many-faceted exploration of spoken eloquence: how it works, how it has evolved, and how to tap its remarkable power

We all know eloquence when we hear it. But what exactly is it? And how might we gain more of it for ourselves? This entertaining and, yes, eloquent book illuminates the power of language from a linguistic point of view and provides fascinating insights into the way we use words. David Crystal, a world-renowned expert on the history and usage of the English language, probes the intricate workings of eloquence. His lively analysis encompasses everyday situations (wedding speeches, business presentations, storytelling) as well as the oratory of great public gatherings.
 
Crystal focuses on the here and now of eloquent speaking—from pitch, pace, and prosody to jokes, appropriateness, and how to wield a microphone. He explains what is going on moment by moment and examines each facet of eloquence. He also investigates topics such as the way current technologies help or hinder our verbal powers, the psychological effects of verbal excellence, and why certain places or peoples are thought to be more eloquent than others. In the core analysis of the book, Crystal offers an extended and close dissection of Barack Obama’s electrifying “Yes we can” speech of 2008, in which the president demonstrated full mastery of virtually every element of eloquence—from the simple use of parallelism and an awareness of what not to say, to his brilliant conclusion constructed around two powerful words: dreams and answers.

About this title

Book Description:

In this entertaining and original book, David Crystal explores spoken eloquence and how it works in everyday situations as well as in great political oratory. He offers an array of useful insights for all those who wish to tap the power of eloquent speech.

From the Author:

Praise for David Crystal’s A Little Book of Language:

“ A Little Book of Language may be for children (of all ages, as the saying goes), yet it's by no means childish or juvenile. In other words, buy it for your son or daughter, but read it yourself.”—Michael Dirda,  Washington Post

“ A Little Book of Language is a paean to language in all its guises. Crystal has clearly thought long and hard about his subject. . . . [H]e is always revealing and thought-provoking.”—David B. Williams,  Seattle Times

“An enlightening and entertaining celebration of language and linguistics.”—P. D. Smith,  Guardian

“In his light and amusing A Little Book of Language, David Crystal treats the world's 6,000 tongues—which are disappearing at an alarming rate—as a natural resource no less precious than our oceans and forests.”— Daily Beast

“[An] exhilarating romp through the mysteries and vagaries of language. . . . This is the perfect primer for anyone interested in the subject.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 

About this edition

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0300226403
• ISBN 13: 9780300226409
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256