Page 181 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

148 Part 2 Between Audience and Speaker

We want to point out, however, that religious beliefs do not always predict
actual attitudes. For example, despite offi cial opposition by many churches to
using human embryos for stem cell research, a Harris poll of more than 1,000
Americans revealed that “slightly more than 60% of Catholics and half of born-
again Christians surveyed agreed that scientists should be allowed to use stem
cells in their medical research.” 19
Perhaps the most important advice we can give about religious beliefs is to be
tolerant and respectful of those who do not share your own views. A speech class
is a captive audience. A speech that attacks one set of religious beliefs or seeks to
proselytize class members is not appropriate for most colleges and universities.
Thus you should always assume that there may be audience members who will
be deeply offended by religious topics. This doesn’t mean that the discussion of
religion has no place in a public speaking class. We have heard more than a few
good speeches that were successful in explaining common misconceptions about
a specifi c religion or religious sect, describing the similarities between religions,
and discussing the origins of certain religious practices. In every instance, how-
ever, these speeches were intended to inform audience members—not convince
them of the “truth” of a particular religion.

Language
Finally, audience members may differ in terms of how they use language in the
reference group with which they most identify. Even people with a common na-
tive tongue often create a variation of their language that identifi es them as a
member of a specifi c reference group. Every generation of young people, for
example, creates a shared vocabulary and syntax that distinguishes it from pre-
ceding generations. In the early 1950s college students referred to an object they
liked as “real George.” Generations that came later replaced George with hip,
cool, bitchin’, and even hella’ bitchin’ in Northern California.
People of Mexican descent in the United States may refer to themselves as
Mexican American, Chicano/Chicana, or Latino/Latina, depending on when
they were born and where they were raised. And people of African descent may
refer to themselves as Blacks or African Americans for similar reasons.
Language groups are not necessarily based on age or ethnicity, however. Spe-
cial usage and vocabularies also can develop around an activity or interest. Surf-
ers and sailboarders, snowboarders and skiers all have a vocabulary peculiar
to their sport, as well as a way of using this vocabulary that is distinctive. The
same can be said about computer hackers, photographers, serious backpackers,
and white-water enthusiasts. What’s more, these groups use their vocabulary not
only to identify their own kind but also to differentiate themselves from others.
As the world becomes smaller and linguistic diversity grows even within the
borders of the United States, it is important that speakers learn to adapt to their
audience’s linguistic background. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 20 years
ago only 1 in 10 Americans primarily spoke a language other than English, but
20
today that number has reached 17.6 percent, nearly 1 in 5. You may want to
learn a few phrases in another language if you are speaking to an audience that
doesn’t share your primary language. Taking the time and making the commit-
ment to learn another language signals to members of the language community
that you are truly interested in them.