2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

Learning from Great Speakers

Research Project

Project/Area Number	22K13170
Research Institution	Nanzan University
Principal Investigator	MILES Richard 南山大学, 国際教養学部, 准教授 (90751602)
Project Period (FY)	2022-04-01 – 2026-03-31
Keywords	Rhetoric / Public speaking / Rhetorical techniques / Activists / English eduction
Outline of Annual Research Achievements	Stage 1 of the research project was carried out this year. This involved analyzing the use of rhetorical techniques in public speeches, employing Rowland's (2019) twelve categories of language strategies. The focus of the first study was on Japanese activists (Naoko Ishii, Shiori Ito, Seena Katayama, and Shiina Tsuyuki) delivering speeches in English. A qualitative analysis of their speeches (after being transcribed yielded several important findings. Firstly, all four speakers (two experienced and two novice speakers) utilized rhetorical techniques (RTs) frequently throughout their speeches. Secondly, interactive RTs were utilized more by the two experienced speakers. Thirdly, simpler RTs, such as parallel structure and repetition, were utilized more frequently. Fourthly, all four speakers utilized a combination of RTs to begin their speeches, typically including rhetorical questions to solicit audience involvement. Finally, irony was the least utilized RT. The findings from this study were published in an international academic journal, and the article is now being considered for publication as a book chapter. The findings were also disseminated at two major international conferences. This initial study will serve as a platform for future studies on other public speakers, which will ultimately feed into the creation of the Learning from Great Speakers (LGS) website to facilitate greater English instruction for High-level English-speaking students (HES).
Current Status of Research Progress	Current Status of Research Progress 2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned. Reason The project is progressing rather smoothly and as planned in the initial proposal. The first study was well received (both the published article and the two conference presentations).
Strategy for Future Research Activity	A follow-up study to the above study has already commenced, analyzing additional activists delivering public speeches to determine how they also employ RTs. An additional study on the prominence of rhetoric in English language presentation skills textbooks for Japanese university students has begun as well.
Causes of Carryover	Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the CLaSIC 2022 conference I was planning to attend in Singapore was moved online, meaning a reduction in my expenditures for the last fiscal year. The leftover funding will be used in the coming year to fund more field research and data collection.