The Interplay
Figure 1.1 depicts this interplay between speaker and audience. Suppose that you
plan to speak about the benefits of a vegetarian diet. In preparing the speech,
you’ll remember that some listeners think vegetarianism is healthful; others think
it is a passing fad; others come from cultures in which eating meat is prohibited,
so that vegetarianism is not a matter of choice; and still others associate vegetarianism
with eccentrics who don’t really understand nutrition. As you speak, you’ll
be watching for feedback, responses from the audience that signal how they are
reacting to what you say. Most responses will be nonverbal, such as frowns or