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Delsarte System of Oratory

Chapter 218: Medallion of Inflection (Compare Delaumosne, page 119.)
By Delaumosne
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About This Book

A systematic manual presents a comprehensive codification of expressive technique for public speaking and performance, beginning with a biographical sketch and preface and then treating voice—its anatomy, vowel formation, intensity, tempo, respiration, and inflection—followed by an extended theory of gesture covering general principles, the laws of gesture, detailed movement of head, eyes, torso, limbs, and a semeiotic analysis, and concluding with articulate language, prosody, the oratorical value of words and phrases, and practical exercises and gesture series for common sentiments; appendices collect lectures, lessons, and contemporary articles illustrating application and pedagogy.

Medallion of Inflection
(Compare Delaumosne, page 119.)

Explanation.--The vertical line 1 (from top to bottom) expresses affirmation, confirmation; 2, the horizontal line, expresses negation. The oblique lines, 3 and 4, from within outward and from without inward, express rejection. 4, an oblique line from within outward rejects things which we despise. 3, a line from within outward, rejects things which oppress us and of which we wish to get rid. 5, the quadrant of a circle, whose form recalls that of a hammock, expresses well-being, contentment, confidence and happiness. 6, a similar quadrant of a circle, an eccentric curvilinear, expresses secrecy, silence, domination, persuasion, stability, imposition, inclosure. The reëntering external curvilinear quadrant of a circle, 7, expresses graceful, delicate things. Produced in two ways, from above downward, it expresses physical delicacy; from below upward, moral and intellectual delicacy. The external quadrant of a circle, 8, expresses exuberance and plenitude, amplitude and generosity. The circular line surrounding and embracing is characteristic of glorification and exaltation.

Examples.

  1. You may believe
  2. That none, oh Lord
  3. Had such glory
  4. Or such happiness.


Thy voice, brother, cannot be heard.


After such a marvel one might believe a thousand others without raising his eyebrows.


The other was a perfect master of the art of cheating.

Remark.--These inflections being produced, it is essential to know the centre from which they emanate. The amplitude of the circle described must be in harmony with the object in question. Thus a circle may be produced with the entire arm, and glorification is the thing in question.

The half quarter of a circle characteristic of exuberance combined with the half quarter circle characteristic of delicacy, expreses grace. It is delicacy mixed with abundance; tenuity supported by generosity.

Note.--The figures 3, 4, 5, 6, refer to the corresponding figures in the Medallion of Inflection.

The hand placed horizontally, the back uppermost pirouetting on the wrist alternately in pronation and supination, thus passing from force to feebleness and from feebleness to force, characterizes irritability. [Compare Delaumosne, pages 114-118.]