Traditionally, public speaking, also known as oratory or oration, has been defined as the act of delivering a speech in front of a live audience. Currently, it encompasses any kind of public speaking (formal and informal) in front of an audience, including pre-recorded speeches given across long distances via technological methods.
Confucius, one of many academics connected with public speaking, once said that if a speech is deemed to be excellent, it will have an effect on the lives of those who hear it, regardless of whether they directly listen to it or not. His belief was that the words and deeds of someone in a position of authority may have an impact on the world.
Public speaking may be used for a variety of reasons, but it is most often employed as a combination of education, persuading, and entertainment. Each of them necessitates the use of methods and procedures that are somewhat different.
Public speaking emerged as a field of knowledge in ancient Greece and Rome, where it was defined as a key component of rhetoric by renowned philosophers of the day. Modern public speaking has been altered by newly accessible technology such as videoconferencing, multimedia presentations, and other unconventional formats, yet the fundamentals of the art have remained unchanged.