The rhetoric crisis: Deepfakes, how we talk - and what follows from it

Berlin - When manipulated video clips of several European heads of government circulated last year, the damage was not only political. Deepfakes could be quickly exposed - but the doubt remained. Not about individual statements, but about the credibility of public speech. At a time when words can be reproduced, distorted, and ironized at any time, something fundamental is coming under pressure: trust in language as a means of communication. When language loses its footing

Whether it's a chancellor's address, a campaign speech, or a viral clip, public communication today is subject to a double suspicion. On the one hand, it is perceived as strategic, calculating, or manipulative. On the other hand, many see it as interchangeable--replaceable by AI-generated texts, voices, and faces. The result is a creeping erosion of truth and trust, as several international media analyses have recently noted.

The Roman Stoic Seneca once said: "It is not words alone that convince, but thoughts." A sentence that seems surprisingly relevant today. For what is lacking is not so much information as persuasiveness - not so much content as a common basis on which words can still unfold their meaning.

Rhetoric under suspicion - a democratic challenge Sociologist Prof. Dr. Jan Herdens observes a paradoxical development: "We are experiencing both linguistic escalation and a deep mistrust of anything that seems too perfect." Public speech is increasingly seen as a tactical maneuver rather than a dialogue. This damages trust in institutions - and in arguments themselves.

The consequence: not only political statements, but also the form of argumentation is coming under general suspicion. Emotionality is considered manipulative, rationality elitist. What remains is skepticism - toward every form of persuasion.

Ethos, authenticity - and the problem of the present Aristotle already knew that it is not arguments alone that convince, but the character of the speaker. He called this principle "ethos" - the perceived credibility of the speaker. Today, this measure is applied to politicians, influencers, and increasingly also to AI avatars.

The problem is that authenticity can be simulated. Voice, facial expressions, tone of voice - everything can be reproduced. What used to be an expression of personality is now part of a technical toolkit. This shifts the question from "How good is the speech?" to "Is what is being said even real?" Emotion as a relationship - a perspective from practice

Communication trainer Jessica Wahl experiences this uncertainty every day in workshops and coaching sessions. "Language is more than technique. It is relationship," she says. According to Wahl, many speech strategies focus on buzzwords, reach, and SEO logic - and thus miss the point.

"What comes from the heart touches the heart," says Wahl. Speaking convincingly does not mean delivering perfect arguments, but rather creating resonance. Or, to put it in classic terms: to teach, to move, and to delight. Especially in a digital public sphere characterized by acceleration and irony, this human dimension is often underestimated. What remains when everything seems to have been said?

Rhetoric is not a relic of antiquity and not merely a technique. It is a social practice that requires trust - and at the same time can generate trust. In a world where human and artificial voices seem to coexist on an equal footing, their future is determined not by volume, but by credibility. And ultimately by the question of what we as humans want and what we need for our coexistence.

The central question is therefore not only what is said, but how and from what perspective. Because language is more than a means of transporting information. It is the fabric that enables community, fosters understanding, and keeps democracy alive.

Whether this foundation can be renewed will not be determined solely by whether we penetrate technological developments with our human spirit. The decisive factor will be whether we are willing to reexamine our own speech and find the courage to develop a form of expression that not only sounds new, but is truly human in the truest sense of the word.

Hagen PR
Berlin
https://www.jessicawahl.de

The Institute for Personal Performance Coaching has been supporting specialists, managers, and personalities in challenging professional contexts for 20 years. Jessica Wahl, Senior Performance Coach, breathing, voice, and speech therapist, and J?rg Tewes, Senior Performance Coach, certified actor, are internationally renowned as leading experts in rhetoric, communication, and career coaching.

The coaching takes place in a unique setting in the heart of Berlin-Kreuzberg: the institute is located in a beautiful church that offers an atmosphere of calm, concentration, and clarity--a conscious counterpoint to the pulsating dynamics of the big city.

The coaching approach focuses on attitude, presence, and sustainable performance--all under real-life conditions and with a clear goal: to empower people not only professionally, but also personally. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of soft skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to present oneself authentically. This optimally prepares clients for the complex demands of the modern working world, which require both technical knowledge and strong interpersonal skills. https://www.jessicawahl.de

This release was published on openPR.