Age or Education? Sage or Expert? Teaching Credibility as a Culture Specific Public Speaking Component

• In Event: Teaching Culture in Public Speaking

Abstract

Credibility in the United States can be achieved through titles, accomplishments, and expertise. In different cultural settings, however, these qualifications are pushed aside for other characteristics, for instance the simple reality of the speaker’s age. Each cultural group has a different definition and perception of who is considered credible, how credibility is defined, and how one demonstrates credibility. This paper is about culture specific nature of concepts of credibility and competence (Griffin, 2012; Griffin, Coopman, & Lull, 2009; Jaffe, 2013, 1995) in the context of public speaking. More specifically, the study explores differences between the pedagogical tools employed to teach these concepts at universities in the U.S. and Turkey. Public speaking theories in the U.S. depend upon the belief that strong delivery demands speaker credibility, ethos, which is audience centered. This study focuses on how to utilize teaching methodologies to develop credibility in different cultural contexts and for diverse audiences.
References:
Griffin, C. (2012). Invitation to Public Speaking. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
Griffin, Coopman, & Lull (2009). Public Speaking: Arizona State University Special Edition. Mason, OH: Cengage.
Jaffe, C. (1995). Public Speaking: A Cultural Perspective. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
Jaffe, C. (2013). Public Speaking: Concepts and Skills for a Diverse Society. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.

Author

• Nurhayat Bilge, Florida International U