Final answer:
True, effective speaking and writing necessitate understanding the audience. This involves recognizing their culture, expectations, and knowledge level, as well as the intent of the message. Rhetorical awareness ensures language and presentation are suitably tailored.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Effective speaking and effective writing both require a sense of who the audience is" is true. It is crucial for both speakers and writers to recognize their audience's culture, beliefs, lived experiences, and expectations to choose an appropriate vocabulary, level of detail, and tone. This understanding informs how information is presented, whether it's aligning with the formal expectations of academic English writing or incorporating appropriate visual and auditory aids in a speech to enhance audience understanding and retention. Additionally, the effectiveness of communication is also influenced by the speaker or writer's anticipation of audience knowledge about the problem or topic at hand, requiring adjustments in the presentation and depth of background information provided.
Moreover, when writing or speaking, considering the intent of the message is equally important, as it guides the author in shaping the content to either inform, persuade, or fulfil another purpose, potentially shaping how they present themselves or the information. Rhetorical awareness of author, message, and audience is essential for effective communication, and the language used should be suitable for the writer's purpose and audience expectations.