PUBLIC SPEAKING IN MAMMOTH CULTURE.

Culture is the integrated system of learned beliefs, concepts, values, attitudes and

behavior that a particular group of people accepts and passes over to generations. Culture consist

of external elements that are visible for instance clothing, food, art and language. On the other

hand it also entails of fixed discernments that in one way or the other influence and determine

how we perceive the world in the dimensions of ideologies, values as well as dogmas and the

manner in which we carry out daily activities. Culture has a great impact on public speech.

Indeed if one wants to be competent in communication they ought to take an approach on

culture. In this paper I conducted an interview to an individual of a different culture about the

type of public speaking they perform in their culture.

Culture provides core-resources to public speaking. According to the interviewee, his

culture offered not only an action but also the meaning to his obligations and taboos. His concept

of right and wrong, evaluations for what is important as well as the ideas he believes to be right

or wrong is determined by his culture. Therefore, culture can be used as a tool in changing the

society through public speaking. Further, conferring to Clella in the United States for instance

there are some foundational cultural resources for public speaking. Such includes positive

attitudes that are geared towards open forums and negative attitudes towards conquering

conflicts. Likewise they have values that keeps individualism over conformism (Clella, 2007).

Culture leads to formation of meaning between two participants. Dialogue is most

effective between individuals of same culture and if the culture differs then definitely it leads to a

formal communication which is less effective form of communication. This was evident from the

interview that I conducted since the participant was from a different culture, they felt more of

having a formal communication and consequently would not provide the ultimate information. In
the same way, culture affects public speaking and no wonder such interviews on televisions

media rarely make use of formal dialogue. It is for this reason that they prefer an informal form

of communication that in return leads to effective acquisition of information (Catlin, 2015).

Culture is responsible for expectations from public speaking as well as listening (Everett,

2011). Mammoth of cultures vary in the value they accord to feelings and explicitness on their

anticipations on how, who and what of the public speech. For instance some may value privacy

and try as much as possible to defend their ideas as well as emotions rather than expressing them

comprehensively in public speaking. To some cultures further, silence is a sign of wisdom and

therefore power is attached to silence. As per my interview, the very culture emphasis on silence

even among friends since someone from another can be overwhelmed by the thought of speaking

in public.

To sum up, culture influences who to speak up as well as how to speak. In some cultures

me who are of old age, adult and those considered to be wise and full of knowledge are allowed

to speak in public. According to these cultures, for women and children to speak in public is an

abomination. Culture consequently might be used as methodology to silence the poor, ethnic

minority, people with different political ideologies and less privileged to speak up I public

speaking grounds. Moreover, culture gives the style that is how public speaking should be done.

Referring to some cultures, emphasis is put on clear, precise language in public speaking rather

than using vague or indirect statement to put forth your concerns. Public speaking therefore is

affected by cultural diversities in all dimensions. In order to be effective in addressing the public

it is very paramount to be equipped with the cultural ideologies of society in that particular

society since public speaking is always about the community.

References
Everett, D. L. (2011). Cognitive fire. London: Profile.

Jaffe, C. I., & Houck, D. W. (2007). Public speaking: Concepts and skills for a diverse society

Vijayashanker, P., & Catlin, K. (2015). Present: A techie's guide to public speaking. United

States: publisher not identified.