The following explication of technical terms and taxonomies is meant to be a useful overview, not a definitive account or even an especially authoritative adumbration. Only some of the major headings are on offer as well as a sample of subheadings. These divisions and definitions should only be taken as starting points: there are many available modifications of them in our technical literature. This Companion regularly flags disputes that circulated around such terms in antiquity. Readers who only consulted this appendix without reading those discussions in the body of the text would be in possession of an impoverished and somewhat distorted appreciation of these issues. Nevertheless, an outline of a relatively canonical version of some of the chief areas of concern will be of service if one is going to follow detailed discussions about such issues and to appreciate the eventual emergence of areas of broad agreement.

The major categories of oration

deliberative (sumbouleutikon, deliberatiuum) The oratory of public persuasion and speeches that argue before a duly assembled and authorized body either in favor of or against some course of action to be taken in the future.

judicial (dikanikon, iudicale) The oratory of prosecution and defense in a court convened to make a ruling on a matter of law relative to some past event.

demonstrative (epideiktikon, demonstratiuum) The oratory of display. A gathering hears the praise or blame of a person, place, or even thing.