An Analysis of Barack Obama’s Style of Public Speaking

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main body
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Perhaps, in recent human history, no public speaker has generated such immense interest in his speaking style as the present Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama. This essay will attempt an analysis of Barack Obama’s speaking style drawn from an observation of his numerous appearances before the public in the run-up to the forthcoming Presidential elections.

Main body

In this era of 24 hours media coverage and multiple cameras covering every geometric angle, a public speaker must not only be well versed with his speech but should also be able to present a comprehensive persona. Obama’s approach to the speaking venue which ranges from a podium to a basketball court or a community hall gives the first indication of the sort of person he is. He walks in with an easy loping gait which indicates self-confidence and an “I am one of you’ attitude. His dress is carefully chosen for the occasion, not too formal or too flippant. These are important cues for a public speaker because without yet having spoken a word, the audience starts identifying with the speaker.

Obama’s campaign slogan ‘Change we can believe in’ provides a strong emotive cause with which supporters, fence-sitters, and even opponents identify. During the course of his speech, Obama alludes to this slogan a number of times to drive home the point that he is the ‘agent of change’. His style of delivery is not a monotone, but an engaging, riveting performance of tonal changes with just the right amount of hand gesticulations and shifting of body positions. None of these ‘shifts’ display any sort of nervousness. Obama obviously prepares well for his speeches because he never seems to falter. The flow of delivery is consistent. The speeches that Obama delivers are coherent and the ideas that he puts forth are logical. The earnestness, with which Obama speaks, conveys his conviction and honesty of purpose. These are important emotions to convey to an audience and potential voters. According to Rees-Mogg “His speaking style has been influenced by the great black preachers, such as Martin Luther King, but his speeches have an intellectual as well as rhetorical content”(2008, 1).

Conclusion

It is important for a public speaker to gauge the mood of the audience and mold his speech accordingly. Obama achieves this admirably. It has been noticed that at times, Obama strays away from the prepared script and speaks his mind. This ability to ‘go extempore’ is by far his most positive strength. It is on race issues that Obama delivered what can be considered as the finest speech since Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech. In that speech, Obama clearly explains his position on the race issue and honestly spoke about it without rancor, rhetoric, or resorting to extreme positions. Through that speech, Obama revealed his breadth of vision, his ability to inspire people, and his maturity of thought which led the New York Times to endorse him with this paean “He has shown a cool head and sound judgment. We believe he has the will and the ability to forge the broad political consensus that is essential to finding solutions to this nation’s problems” (Editorial, 1). Throughout his speeches, Obama has shown the ability to mesmerize the audience, and his personal charisma, youthfulness, and energy bring back the memories of John F Kennedy which is sure to impinge on the election results. Thus it can be said that Obama’s superb style of public speaking has to a large extent helped consolidate his bid for the US Presidency.

Works Cited

Editorial. 2008. “Barack Obama for President”. New York Times online. Web.

Rees-Mogg, William. “Is Barack Obama the next JFK?”. Times online website. 2008. Web.

Carmichael, Stokely. 1966. “Black Power”. Transcription by Eidenmuller, Michael E. 2007. Web.

King Martin Luther. 1967. “To Atone for our Sins and Errors in Vietnam”. 2008. Web.

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An Analysis of Barack Obama’s Style of Public Speaking

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