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Public Speaking Chapter Three. Speaking Freely and Ethically. Speaking Ethically. Ethics are the beliefs, values, and moral principles by which we determine what is right or wrong. Some ethical values appear to be universal. For example, the code for how you should treat others.
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Public SpeakingChapter Three Speaking Freely and Ethically
Speaking Ethically • Ethics are the beliefs, values, and moral principles by which we determine what is right or wrong. • Some ethical values appear to be universal. • For example, the code for how you should treat others. • Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam all have similar teachings that basically say that you should treat others as you would want yourself to be treated.
Speaking Ethically • Ethical consideration should guide every step of your speaking. • In every step of your speech-making process, you should think about the beliefs, values, and moral principles of your audience. • You should also always be thinking of your own beliefs and values.
Speaking Freely • The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees free speech. • During WWI, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that free speech could be restricted if it presented a “clear and present danger” to the nation. • This decision by the Supreme Court led to the founding of the American Civil Liberties Union – the first organization formed to protect free speech.
Speaking Freely • Slander is free speech that harms someone. • in 1964, the Supreme Court ruled that in order for a person to collect damages (money) for slander, he or she would have to prove that the slanderous statement was made to actually do harm (with “actual malice”)
Speaking Freely • A speech act is a behavior, such as burning a flag, that is viewed by law as nonverbal communication and is subject to the same protections and limitations as free speech. • the Patriot Act, passed one month after the September 11th terrorist attacks, gave government agencies more power to investigate, including listening to phone conversations. • The act has been wildly criticized as against freedom of speech.
Ethical Speech Guidelines • Ethical speech is speech that is responsible, honest, and tolerant. • Most people generally agree that ethical speech: • has a clear and reasonable goal • uses sound evidence and reasoning • is sensitive to and tolerant of differences • is honest • does not plagiarize
Have a Clear, Responsible Goal • The goal of public speech should be clear to the audience. • if you keep your true agenda hidden, you violate your listeners’ rights. • An ethical goal should also be socially responsible. • a socially responsible goal is one that gives listeners choices • an unethical, irresponsible goal tries to coerce or trick people into believing something • Hitler’s speeches were widely known to be physiologically coercive
Use Sound Evidence and Reasoning • Ethical speakers use critical-thinking skills such as analysis an evaluation to draw conclusions and formulate arguments. • Unethical speakers substitute false claims and manipulate audience’s emotions instead of using logical arguments. • As a speaker, you should always share with an audience all information that might help them to reach their own decision – even evidence that goes against your argument(s). • You can make your own argument stronger by anticipating and answering the counter-arguments.
Be Sensitive and Tolerant of Differences • Being audience-centered means that you are aware (as aware as you possibly can be) of others peoples’ feelings, needs, interests, and backgrounds. This is called accommodation. • A speaker who is sensitive to differences also avoids language that might be interpreted as biased or offensive. (This is not as easy as it sounds!)
Be Honest • It is unethical to knowingly give false or misleading information to an audience. • Examples: In 2003, George W. Bush and members of his staff told the public that Iraq was getting nuclear fuel from Africa – even though they knew that this was a false statement (they had official intelligence proving it wrong). • Bill Clinton told the American public in 1998 that he did not have an inappropriate relationship with Monica Lewinsky – which he later had to go back and admit was a lie. • Most people would have been able to forgive the relationship, but not the lie about it.
Be Honest • Using hypothetical illustrations can help to clarify or enhance speeches. • Hypothetical illustrations talk about things that never actually occurred, but could happen. • Speaker can use these ethically – ONLY if he or she makes it clear to the audience that it is hypothetical and not real.
Plagiarism • To plagiarize is to present someone else’s words or ideas as though they were one’s own. • Plagiaphrasing is using phrases in your speech that came from another source without giving proper credit.
Plagiarism • If you use any of the following in your speech, you must give credit to the source: • direct quotes – even if they are brief phrases • opinions, assertions, or ideas of others – even if you paraphrase them instead of quoting them • statistics • any nonoriginal visual materials – graphs, charts, tables, pictures, etc.
Plagiarism • An oral citation is the oral presentation about a source (author, title, year…) • A written citation is the written presentation of information about a source, usually formatted according to a convention style guide
Listening Ethically • Audience members also share the responsibility for ethical communication. • Communicate Expectations and Feedback: • know what information and ideas you want out of a speech • expect a coherent and organized delivery • communicate your objectives through appropriate nonverbal feedback • nod in agreement • look puzzled if you do not understand
Listening Ethically • Be Sensitive to and Tolerant of Differences • It is equally important to exercise social and cultural awareness and tolerance as a member of an audience. • Understanding cultural norms can be complex and challenging, but they are part of the context in which you listen and evaluate the speaker. • Making an effort to understand the needs, goals, and interests of both the speaker and other audience members can help you to react and judge appropriately as a listener.
Listen Critically • Courtesy and tolerance are not the same as approval or agreement – it is the audience member’s job to listen critically. • Is the speaker presenting both sides of the issue? • Is the speaker disclosing all of the inforamtion that he or she has access to? • Is the speaker trying to hide something? • Is the speaker being honest about the purpose of the speech?
Listening Critically • If you conclude that the speaker’s message or motives are unethical, discuss your opinion with others, and seek out or create a forum through which you can express your discontent. • In this case, talk to a teacher, professor, etc.