ABOUT THE GREEK PHILOSPHER
Aristotle, the renowned Greek philosopher and teacher of Alexander the Great, laid the groundwork for understanding communication with his linear model, designed primarily for public speaking. Proposed before 300 B.C., this model emphasizes the importance of the speaker and the speech, making it a speaker-oriented approach where the audience plays a passive role.
THE CORE ELEMENTS OF ARISTOTLE MODEL
Aristotle’s model can be divided into five key elements:
- Speaker: The individual delivering the message.
- Speech: The content or message being conveyed.
- Occasion: The context or situation in which the speech is delivered.
- Audience: The recipients of the message.
- Effect: The impact or outcome of the speech on the audience.
The speaker tailors their speech based on the target audience and the occasion, ensuring it resonates effectively.
PREPARING AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION ARISTOTLE MODEL
To deliver a compelling speech, speakers should:
- Carefully select their words.
- Analyze their audience.
- Assume the right body language.
- Ensure proper eye contact.
- Modulate their voice appropriately.
For instance, a politician (speaker) giving a speech to gain votes from civilians (audience) during an election (occasion) must craft their message to appeal to the voters’ needs and emotions.
THE RHETORIC TRIANGLE
Aristotle also introduced the Rhetoric Triangle, a method to organize and distinguish the three elements of rhetoric: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. These elements are crucial for effective communication and persuasion.
- Ethos: Credibility and authority of the speaker. For example, a politician known for good deeds will be more credible and listened to by the public.
- Pathos: Emotional appeal to the audience. For instance, addressing a pressing local issue like domestic violence will resonate more with the audience than unrelated promises.
- Logos: Logical appeal through facts and statistics. Presenting factual data in an awareness program can effectively convince the audience of the importance of the issue.
CONCLUSION
Aristotle’s model remains a fundamental framework for understanding public speaking and communication. By focusing on the speaker, speech, occasion, audience, and effect, and utilizing the Rhetoric Triangle’s elements of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos, speakers can craft messages that resonate and persuade effectively.
