Culture and Speaking/Listening Styles

Open Speaking Style

Adopt a conversational approach. Be self-disclosing; reveal personal experiences. Show the audience how you feel, and invite them to show how they feel too. Signal your receptiveness to other points of view. Don't restrict yourself to one single way or thinking. Act and be interested in what the audience may think and feel. Develop the perception that you are affable, sincere, trusting, and self-disclosing. You have nothing to hide—and neither does your audience.

Asian American Listening Style

Are likely to avoid eye contact with speakers and to exhibit little overt expression in their facial or bodily movements. These listening behaviors do not indicate boredom, disinterest, or fatigue; rather, they communicate respect for the speaker.

Feminine Communication Style (3 of 3)

Feminine speakers appeal to the feelings and personal experiences of audience members. They use personal stories and their own observations to support their position. Feminine speakers have a less formal speaking style and often use everyday phrases. Qualifiers, intensifiers, tag questions, rhetorical questions, and apologies are also common. Feminine speakers use nonverbal immediacy behaviors to communicate closeness with, attention to, and interest in the audience. Typical immediacy behaviors include leaning toward the audience, smiling and nodding, gesturing, and making lots fo eye contact.

Feminine Communication Style (2 of 3)

Feminine speakers are inclusive and build bridges between themselves and the audience. Feminine speakers tend to se inductive, associative (configural) logic to frame their arguments. Feminine speakers are attentive, responsive, and open to the audience.

Feminine Communication Style (1 of 3)

Feminine speakers try to connect with their audience through direct human contact and demonstrations of equality. For them, people and relationships are most important. Feminine speakers relate to the audience as individuals and respect other points of view. Feminine speakers stress collaboration over conflict. They emphasize areas of agreement between themselves and the audience.

Common Masculine Style Speakers

General Colin L. Powell, Bay Buchanan, Stephanie Miller, and Laura Schlessinger (the book talks about Laura)

Euroamericans and African Americans Listening Style

Good listeners concentrate fully on a speaker, with their bodies subtly communicating receptivity to the speaker's message. They may lean forward slightly, with their eyes fixed on the speaker. They may not in agreement from time to time. Their expressions are likely to be alert and amiable.

Latino and Middle Eastern Listening Style

Likely to show listening behaviors similar to those exhibited by Euroamerican and African American audiences; they are likely to be overtly expressive in their nonverbal actions, nodding and smiling often. They make make every effort to show pleasure and agreement even when they may not like or agree with what they hear.

Masculine Communication Style (3 of 3)

Masculine speakers commonly use a loud, declamatory voice and power words. Masculine speakers use gestures and body movements to stress power and status. Gestures are few in number but are large and intense. Immediacy behaviors are not typical of masculine communicators.

Masculine Communication Style (1 of 3)

Masculine speakers try to show superior strength and independence. For them, control and authority are most important. Masculine speakers stress status differences (not equality) between themselves and the audience. Masculine speakers establish their expertise and credentials clearly to place themselves in a position to advise and influence the audience. Masculine speakers occupy center stage—the focus of the audience's respect, attention, and admiration.

Masculine Communication Style (2 of 3)

Masculine speakers use objective facts, hard data, and expert testimony to support their position. Masculine speakers favor long, detailed explanations and stories. Masculine speakers are forceful, direct assertive, and aggressive. Tentative statements and qualifiers do not characterize their speeches.

Men Listening Style

Men may show more overt signs of displeasure and agitation when they disagree with a speaker, and they may be more willing to interrupt and challenge the speakers arguments.

African American Listening Style

Often uses cue responding.

Humorous Speaking Style

Recall humorous personal experiences. Locate interesting, funny anecdotes and quotes. Borrow phrases from well-known people. Add an accent or drawl to borrowed phrases or one-liners. In other words, be dramatic when you express yourself. Exaggerate your facial expressions: Roll you eyes, raise your eyebrows, and soon. practice being verbally and nonverbally immediate.

Common Feminine Style Speakers

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Former President Bill Clinton (the book stresses Clinton's style), President Jimmy Carter, John Travolta, Leeza Gibbons, Sandra Bullock, Janet JAckson, and Susan Molinari.

Animated Speaking Style

Show your emotions. Show energy, enthusiasm, and excitement. Use exaggerated nonverbal behaviors: Gesture broadly and walk purposefully. Smile, nod, and raise or lower your eyebrows to show how you feel. Be facially expressive. Look alive!

Native American Listening Style

They are more retrained listeners. Show deference and attentiveness by avoiding sustained and direct eye contact with speakers.

Dramatic Speaking Style

Use colorful words and metaphors. Exaggerate for emphasis; overstate or understate your point. Tell stories, use humor, use rhythmic repetition. Joke and play with your audience. Use strong, magnified gestures. Maintain eye contact with your audience—just a little longer than is comfortable. Vary your vocal quality (rate, volume, and pitch. Use pause time strategically: Set up dramatic statements or conclusions by building tension.

Women Listening Style

Women's facial cues are normally more expressive than men's women also initiate and reciprocate smiles more than do men. Women rely more on eye contact to show that they are interested and involved in what a speaker is saying.