Concise speech is a summary of thoughts using a small number of words. Today we will talk about the origin of this concept and its significance in antiquity and in the modern world.
What does the phrase “laconic speech” mean?
In the modern sense, laconicism is a short but competent presentation of thoughts. Here are some examples.
“In the south of the Peloponnese, not far from Arcadia and Messenia, in ancient Greece, there was a historical region called Laconia. Within its borders was the city of Sparta - a settlement with interesting traditions. The word "Lacedaemon" was used as the official name of the policy.
Such a story can be heard from a wordy person who prefers to use the names of adjectives and introductory words.
And here is an example of concise speech:
“Laconia is a region in the south of the Peloponnese in ancient Greece. Within its borders was the policy of Sparta (Lacedaemon). ”
Thus, concise speech is the ability to summarize thoughts, to separate the important from the secondary. Laconicism is especially appreciated today. Conciseness is the quality of a successful person.
Etymology of the word "conciseness"
The root of the word comes from the name of the historical region in Ancient Greece - Laconia. Even Socrates noted that the Spartans were notable for their simplicity of judgment, which surprised the Greeks of other policies.
In ancient Greece, oratory was especially developed . Rhetoric was considered the "queen of sciences." The Greeks understood the possibilities of beautiful speech and the degree of its impact on all spheres of life. Eloquent distinguished Greeks such as Hyperides, Isocrates, Aeschines were distinguished by eloquence. The most famous speaker of ancient Greece was Demosthenes.
Eloquence and the ability to express their thoughts beautifully were appreciated in all corners of ancient ecumenical society. And only in Sparta everything was different. Why did it happen? We will talk about this later.
What is "concise speech" in Ancient Greece?
In the 12th century BC e. Ancient Sparta arose. The first ruler of the policy was Lacedaemon. He managed to subjugate the territory in the central part of the Peloponnese. The ruler named his lands Laconia, and the state capital - Sparta, in honor of his wife. In the 10th c. BC e. these territories were conquered by the Dorians - ancient Greek tribes.
Ancient Sparta was a typical example of an aristocratic policy. The main occupation of local citizens was the war. The basis of the Spartan army was the hoplites - heavily armed infantry.
The upbringing of boys in Ancient Sparta was completely subordinate to military needs. It was distinguished by severity and focus on physical development.
Another feature of this society was laconicism. In Ancient Sparta, laconic speech is the ability to express thoughts concisely and readily. This feature of the Spartans is mentioned in the works of many ancient authors. For example, Socrates mentions that Philip II, having entered the lands of Laconia, left a message. It was said that the Macedonian king managed to conquer all of Hellas, about the strength of his troops and about the intention to capture Sparta by force. The response to this message was succinct: "If."
Conciseness in history
Among prominent world politicians, Winston Churchill, a British statesman, was a bright supporter of laconicism.
In his understanding, laconic speech is a way to most accurately convey your thoughts to others. Winston Churchill became famous as a wise politician. In addition, he became a Nobel Prize winner in literature. When he was 93 years old, employees of a British university asked to tell the politician about their lives to students. Students and teachers expected a long speech, because this person really had something to tell about. But Winston Churchill, rising to the podium, uttered only one phrase: "Never, never, never give up," and hastily retired from the hall.