Democratic Vernaculars is a comprehensive, culturally inclusive, and thematically unified history of the communicative, audience-centered rhetorical vernacular that occupies the “middle range” of English, bounded on the one side by expressive structure (grammar and linguistics) and on the other by aesthetics (literature). Broadening the history of rhetoric by considering a vast collection of vernacular resources such as elementary grammars and readers, popular guidebooks, textbooks, and rhetorical treatises, this book advances the history of the rhetorical theory and pedagogy since the 17th century by examining ways in which diverse vectors of the rhetorical vernacular coalesced to produce an English language sufficiently idiomatic for practical social exchange while being, at the same time, suitable for higher literary, scholarly, and cultural pursuits. Democratic Vernaculars is essential reading for scholars in rhetoric and the histories of language and education, and can serve as a text for upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses in rhetoric.

The Art of Speech by Luther Tracy Townsend: Unlock the power of effective communication with "The Art of Speech" by Luther Tracy Townsend. This insightful guide offers practical techniques and strategies for improving your speaking skills, whether for public speaking, presentations, or everyday conversations. Key Aspects of the Book "The Art of Speech": Effective Communication: Townsend provides insights into the principles of effective communication, including clarity, persuasion, and engagement. Speech Techniques: The book offers practical techniques for improving speech delivery, vocal quality, and body language. Confidence Building: "The Art of Speech" focuses on building confidence in speaking, helping readers overcome speech-related anxieties and challenges. Luther Tracy Townsend was a renowned public speaking expert and educator known for his contributions to communication studies. "The Art of Speech" reflects his dedication to helping individuals become more confident and persuasive speakers.

This volume contains studies presented at the 4th International Workshop on the History of Speech Communication Research (HSCR 2021). The series of workshops was initiated in Dresden in 2015. The current workshop took place in Prague at the Institute of Phonetics, Charles University, amid the ever-changing pandemic circumstances – for the first time in a hybrid form. There are nine contributions, written by 12 authors from six countries. The contributions analyze the contextual background of particular personalities or investigate how specific research practices developed over time. Moreover, each contribution demonstrates a significant connection between various aspects of speech communication research and the wider social context. A special theme of this workshop was the link in linguistic signs between the form (sound) and the meaning (sense). The phonetic endeavour was often claimed to concern only the form, while meaning was delegated to someone else. This is not only one-sided, but also difficult to integrate into the large body of scientific knowledge, as the opening keynote emphasized.