Final answer:
The true statement about speaker credibility is that the same speaker may be perceived with high credibility by one audience and low by another, due to varying audience beliefs, values, and knowledge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The true statement about speaker credibility is that the same speaker can have high credibility for one audience and low credibility for another audience.
Speaker credibility is a multifaceted concept that not only involves the expertise and trustworthiness of the speaker but also the perception of the audience. A speaker's ethos or credibility can be significantly influenced by delivery, but it is not the only aspect; it is affected by the speaker's style, familiarity with the topic, and the evidence they provide to support their arguments. Additionally, a speaker's credibility can vary across different audiences due to the diversity in beliefs, values, and knowledge levels. What resonates with one group may not hold the same weight with another, making audience analysis an essential part of preparing a speech.
True credibility encompasses not just the perceived integrity and competence of the speaker as seen by the audience during the speech, but also their overall reputation. However, this reputation must be consistently demonstrated through all elements of the speech, including the content and delivery, which collectively influence the audience's judgment of credibility.