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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Words from speeches #18637 02/08/01 02:48 PM 02/08/01 02:48 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 135 W Wordsmith OP member Wordsmith   OP member W Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 135 The eloquence of words combined with the art of oratory has given birth to speeches that have changed the course of history. These are the words that have inspired men and women to excel, moved their hearts, led them to action, provided comfort in times of trouble, guided them, and influenced by example. This week's words are taken from some of the famous speeches from history. Of course, when reading or listening to many modern-day speakers, we have to be careful not to pay too much attention to empty words, for words don't mean a thing unless accompanied by deeds that match them. With professional speechwriters in tow, it is easy to sing lofty words while acting contrarily. Re: Words from speeches #18638 02/08/01 03:30 PM 02/08/01 03:30 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 Sparteye Pooh-Bah Sparteye   Pooh-Bah Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 "With professional speechwriters in tow, it is easy to sing lofty words while acting contrarily" This reminds me of an anecdote in one of the Oliver Sachs books, in which he recounts a scene in a hospital day room, in which people with a variety of cognitive disabilities were watching a politician make a speech on TV. Upon the politician's utterance of particular statement, not intended to be funny, the entire group burst out laughing. Following up, Dr Sachs concluded that the patients - a mixture of people who could perceive the literal language being uttered but not the accompanying affectations of the speaker, and people who could perceive the affectations but not the meaning of the words - had been able to see the absurdity and fakery of the speech when uncluttered by distracting information. Those who understood the words followed the illogic of the speech without distraction from the emotive delivery, while those who understood the facial expressions were not persuaded by the blather. We should put these people to work! Re: Words from speeches #18639 02/24/01 02:20 PM 02/24/01 02:20 PM Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,439 New England, USA W wow Carpal Tunnel wow   Carpal Tunnel W Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,439 New England, USA " ... it is easy to sing lofty words while acting contrarily" And that's what differentiates the really good investigative reporters from those who merely report. wow Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------   Information and announcements   Q&A about words   Wordplay and fun   Words and languages in schools   Miscellany   Weekly Themes   Looking for (writers, speakers, ...) (Old) Weekly themes. (have been consolidated into a single forum above) ------   Words from medicine   Beheading words   Meta-words   Words from classical mythology   Animal Safari   Words with unusual etymologies   Eponyms or words derived from people's names.   Loanwords from German   English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode View Profile Send Private Message View Homepage Follow User Show Forum Posts View Profile Send Private Message Follow User Show Forum Posts View Profile Send Private Message Follow User Show Forum Posts Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,883 Posts224,830 Members9,056 Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011 Newest Members Nikki1221, Veezkneez, LOC, Luna, wordie 9056 Registered Users Who's Online Now 0 registered members (), 229 guests, and 3 spiders. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 47 LukeJavan8 23 A C Bowden 12 LOC 1 Wordsmith 1 Top Posters(All Time) wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 tsuwm 10,538 LukeJavan8 9,157 wofahulicodoc 7,964 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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