There is nothing more mysterious than the reciprocal interplay of two people sharing their thoughts. The beauty of speech and gesture captures the imagination of poets, philosophers and artists. Our human nature depends on our ability to use language. In that process there are moments when communication between people results in greater understanding and a new vision.
Communication has many facets, from the speech and gesture that constitutes face-to-face communication, to the abbreviated text available through digital devices. The taken-for-granted nature of communication is called into question when one realizes how diverse and complex the activity is. Our highly mediated environment makes that complexity more obvious by creating the potential for conundrums and confusions. For example, text messages omit a significant part of the context by eliminating intonation and gesture. It can be challenging enough to understand the message when communicating face-to-face. Reduce speech to flat text and one is left to imagine the way in which something is being “said”, increasing the potential for confusion.
Though complexity has always been part of our human experience, a highly mediated environment can make such complexity both more obvious and more problematic. The norms and conventions of communication, how we talk with whom, about what, and when, structures how we live in community. When a society introduces new technologies such as the printing press, broadcast, or digital devices, those norms and conventions will inevitably be altered.
Hamilton's commitment to strong writing and speaking skills dates back more than a century and a half, when the young College first forged a distinctive program in rhetoric and elocution. Students learned to speak with power, polish and persuasive ability, and that tradition continues today with Hamilton's innovative, writing-intensive curriculum.
The College hosts an annual public speaking competition. The six speaking awards are among the most prestigious student honors on campus and include $6,000 in prizes. Topics and formats vary — persuasive speeches, informative speeches and essays may be considered. Hamilton is also a member of Lambda Pi Eta, a national honor society dedicated to encouraging and recognizing excellence in communication studies. Membership is based on scholastic performance and commitment to the field.
The emerging culture of the Internet combines elements of a modern, print-oriented mentality with a much older oral tradition. Postmodern theories of self and society tell us a great deal about the practice of rhetoric in ancient Greece and Rome — and the reverse is just as true. Perhaps more than any other field of study, communication combines past and present to illuminate both.
Hamilton's commitment to strong writing and speaking skills dates back more than a century and a half, when the young College first forged a distinctive program in rhetoric and elocution. Students learned to speak with power, polish and persuasive ability, and that tradition continues today with Hamilton's innovative, writing-intensive curriculum.
The College hosts an annual public speaking competition. The six speaking awards are among the most prestigious student honors on campus and include $6,000 in prizes. Topics and formats vary — persuasive speeches, informative speeches and essays may be considered. Hamilton is also a member of Lambda Pi Eta, a national honor society dedicated to encouraging and recognizing excellence in communication studies. Membership is based on scholastic performance and commitment to the field.
The emerging culture of the Internet combines elements of a modern, print-oriented mentality with a much older oral tradition. Postmodern theories of self and society tell us a great deal about the practice of rhetoric in ancient Greece and Rome — and the reverse is just as true. Perhaps more than any other field of study, communication combines past and present to illuminate both.
Hamilton's commitment to strong writing and speaking skills dates back more than a century and a half, when the young College first forged a distinctive program in rhetoric and elocution. Students learned to speak with power, polish and persuasive ability, and that tradition continues today with Hamilton's innovative, writing-intensive curriculum.
The College hosts an annual public speaking competition. The six speaking awards are among the most prestigious student honors on campus and include $6,000 in prizes. Topics and formats vary — persuasive speeches, informative speeches and essays may be considered. Hamilton is also a member of Lambda Pi Eta, a national honor society dedicated to encouraging and recognizing excellence in communication studies. Membership is based on scholastic performance and commitment to the field.
The emerging culture of the Internet combines elements of a modern, print-oriented mentality with a much older oral tradition. Postmodern theories of self and society tell us a great deal about the practice of rhetoric in ancient Greece and Rome — and the reverse is just as true. Perhaps more than any other field of study, communication combines past and present to illuminate both.
