A Bi-Montlily Publication of theSpeech Association of America

FEBRUARY 1969Vol. V, No. 1

Sciences • Public Address • Education • Communication . Theatre • Radio^'TV-Fiim • Arts

Of Relevance, Relatedness,

and Reorientation

Excerpts from the 1 968Presidential Address

Douglas EhningterI a s s n m . ' . Mae l am ( C h a i r m a n , t ha t in

r e i n . s t i t u t i n g the' p res ie ten t i a l aet.tre'ss as a

r e g u l a r p a r t .1! , iur na l i . i na l e . .n\ e'lition

p r e i g r a m s . it w a s y,.iir inte 'nti , . i i t h a t at

s .>me t ime ' el i i r ing the' , l a \ s we' a r e a s s e m -

b l e d the' pre'siek'iit slunilel u i u k ' r t a k . ' t,) r e -

p . i r t t,i t h . ' i n . ' m l i e r s h i p !iis .ihs.Tx a t i . ins

o n c e ' r i i i n g t lu ' pre's. 'iit s tate ' ane! l u t i i r e

p r . i s p e e t s ,if the' (ie'ld .il spe 'ecl i .

W h a t , t tu ' i i . sha l l I say .if t t ie s t a t e ,if

. lur fielel as w . ' a p p r . i a . ' h the' ekise' .it th is

y e a r 1968?

Fi rs t , 1 sh.inlel tirst lik. ' to r . 'p . i r t t l iat

e \ e ' r \ w t ier . ' I ! i a \ , ' g , )ne e lu r ing t h e pas t

y e a r I h a \ e ' s.'iis.'e! in all a r e a s .if . lur lickl a

h i g h elegree ' .it i n t . ' l l . ' c t na ! !il. ' anel \ i n . . r .

c . i m b i n e e l wi t t i a se r i . . n sn , ' s s ,it se'!i.i!ar!y

p u r p . i s e . N.it w i t h i n m \ n K ' m , . r \ . u h ieh

iie)v\ ex tene l s b a c k t l i r . . i igh m. i r . ' t h a n

t t i i r t \ - f i \ c \ e ' a r s ,it , iur pr . i l . ' s s i . ina l l i ist . iry.

has the're' lie'e'ii a t i m . ' w li.'ii im . r . ' .ir m . i r e

e x c i t i n g iet.'as h a \ c tj. ' . 'n alir.uie! .ir w li.'ii

n i . ) r e b.i . iks an . l i n . i n . i g r a p h s ,il all s.irts

h a v e a p p e a r e . l ,ir h a v e b e e n in p r e j i a r a -

ti.iii. .Velmilt. 'elK, .iiir pi i l i l i . 'a t i . i i is \ a r y

c. insie lcral iK in . | i i a l i t \ . an . l w , ' c . m t i n u e

t,i p r , i . kK ' . ' i n a n \ m. i r . ' t e \ t b . . , . k s anel a n -

th.ileigie'S t h a n . i r ig ina l se'li .ikuK w. i rks .

But a n i n e r . ' a s i n g p e r e . ' i i t a g e .it t tu ' se iii-

.s t ruct i , i i ia l l \ . iriciiteel m a t e r i a l s are' .it ge 'n-

u i n e m e r i t anel , .in t h e wh.ile- I sh.i.ilel s a \ \

r e p r e s e n t a c . i n s i . k ' r a b k ' aeKaiU'e' . n e r t h e

g e n e r a l lev. ' l ..f siieli | : inli l ieati , ins in . 'ar l i . ' r

year.s.

Sec .mel . as onv s i i rN, ' \ s t l ie li.'l.l ,)t

.speech e . i m m n n i , ' a t i , . i i t . u lay an nnp i . ' e ' . ' -

e le i i t ed c . incer i i w i t h l . 'S . ' a ich anel r.'-

s e a r c h - r e l a t e e l ae t ix i t i . ' s is . ' \ , ' r \ w h.'re' a p -

p a r e n t . A l . i ng w i t h ,iiir sist . ' r eliseipline's

w e h a v e kicate'el w ith a m a z i n g r ap i . l i t \ t h . '

p i p e l i n e s t r . im wti ie t i t t ie larg. ' ss ,il W a s t i -

i i ig t . )n f l . ius , an . l w e luiw a r e b e ' g i i m i n g t.i

find eiur w a \ t.i t lu ' r . 's .nire. 'S .it t !u ' pr iva te '

f . iunc ta t i . ins . M.ir . ' i m p . i r t a n t t h a n th i s ae -

ejui red exper t i se ' in g r a i i t s i i i a n s h i p . lu iw-

e v e r , is t l ie !\vcl l l ia t .nir re 'searel i ,it all

t y p e s — h i s t . i r i c a l , c r i t i ca l , a n d l ie 'ha \ -

i o r a l — i s s teael i ty i m p v . n ing in ejuat i ty aiiet

s . i p b i s t i c a t i . m , s.i t h a t e'e'rtain stiielie's

w h i c h tu .) .ir t l i r . ' . ' ek'caek'S ag.i s , ' . 'ni , ' , ! t,i

CtinfiniK'd. pii^r 1

SAA AWARDS

PRESENTED

The' t.inrtli aiinnal S.\.\ C.kk' i i An-

ni\ersar\ Prize' Tuiiel Awards tor sch.ilar!)

piiblieati.ms wer." pre\sentcel at the c .nnen-

ti.m Innche.in in (^hieag.i ,111 Decemtier 29.

'The re'cipicnts were selecteel by an .Aw arels

( ' . immittce e',imp..s,'.l .it Pr.it,'ss.irs Oscar

C. Rr.ickett. 'Ili.imas M. Selu'i.k'l an,! f'n-

geiie F. Wtiit.', w li.i serveei as Ctiairman.

Pr.ife'ss.ir Br,iekett ann.inne'e,! ttie .Aw arels

as feill.iws:

$.500 BOOK AU\' \RDS:

Karl R. Wallaee, Universitv ,)t Massa-

e l u i s e t t s . t,.r I'lancix Bacon oil the Na-

ture oj Man. Univers i tv .it llliiuiis Pr. 'ss.

1 9 6 7 . '

D .m C^' iger. Un ive r s i tv .it Ca ! i t . i r n i a at

BeM'kel.'y, t.ir The nraiuatie hnpiilse in

Modern Poetics, F,Hiisiaiia Stat . ' t. niver-

sity Pre-ss, 1967.

$100 A W A R D S :

NF Jai iu 's ' l in ing . Universi tv .if Massa-

ehi iset ts . t.ir " 'The' ^,lrk Page'unt W'ag-

.111, S)}eeth Monograph.s. .\.\XI\(March 1967), 1-20.I'raiiklyii .S. l laiman, N.irthw esterii Uni-

versitv, f.ir "Tl ie tUiet.irie .if the Streets:

S.iiiie Fe'gal anel Ethical C.insielera-

ti.iiis," '/'//(' {hiarlerhi ]onrnal ol

Speech, F t i t (April 1967), 9 9 - 1 14.

\ ineent M. Be'V ilac.iiia. t niversitv .il

Massae lu i se t t s . l.ir " B a e . i n i a n lntlnenee'S

ill t he Deve'l . ipm.' i i t ,il Sc i t t i s l i Rliet,iri-

eal 'Th.'.irv." Proceedings oj the .Ameri-can Philosophical Socictii, 111 (.\iigusl1967), 2t2-2t8; "J'ames Bt-attio's Theory.it Rliet.irie, Speech \loi\ographs,\ \ \ \ \ (Jnne 1967), 109-124: "Ak'xan-

el,'r (i.'rare! s Fe'ctnres .111 R!i.'t.iric: Fel-

inlnirgli l'ni\e'rsit> Fibrary MS. De. 5.

61. Sj)ccch Monographs. . \ \ X I \ (.\u-

gnst 1967), 384-388!The 1969 Av\arels C . i m m i t t . ' . ' w ill e.in-

si.ler b.i.iks anel article's bv S,\A m e m b e r s

l inbl ishe. l einriiig 1968.

CHICAGO, 1968De'spite verv unlav.irabk' w.'ather. the

"ll . i i ig K,ing I'll! e'pielcmic. ane! what

appears l.t have been 'd limited pr.ilcsl

h.ivc.itt, n.'arlv 2000 members gatlu'reel in

Chieag.i l.ir the 54tli annual SAA e.iii-

'.enti.in, Deecmber 27-30. In elu.' time,

th.' ,.ttie'ial pr...'.'.'.tings .it ttu' .\,!ministra-

('oiiliiiiicd. page 2

The Search

for Excellence

Marie H. Nichols. SAA President

It is m a i n \ . 'ars s i n e . .111 a e'.ild w i n t e r

e!av. I h . iar . te . t a t r a in t,i ( ! t i icag. i . tieaeleet

t.ir a w. ' ek-e ' iu ! ..t ta lk w i t h Pr.it . 'ss.ir l'jr-

iK'st \ \ r a g . ' ..I N,irthv\ . ' s t . ' rn . nciw ele'-

e. 'as. ' . l . .\t t t u ' t i m e . 1 w a s v i c - e t i a i r m a i i .it

t!ie t i i t , ' r , 's t C r , i n p in Rl ie t . i r ic ane! Piitilie-

.'Vdelr.'ss. anet Pr.ife^ss.ir W r a g . - v\ as c t ia i r -

m a n . At a n S . \ : \ C . m v . ' n t i . m , jnst pas t , we'

tia,! be,'11 r , i i i iu!ly .k ' t . ' a t . ' . t in an a t t e m p t

t.i intr.ie!n, ' . ' t tu ' p r i n e i p k ' ,.t . ' . .ntr , . i in t . .

e'.inv . 'nti . i i i p r . i g r a m i n g . \ \ . ' . ' . ink! li.itti

stilt ti. 'ar i t u ' s t r a i n s ..t an a n i n n u ' i i t : " 1

w.iiile! r a t l u ' r li . 'ar Pr,il . 'ss,ir X. v\ h.i has

inaek ' 11.1 pr.'v idiis p r . ' p a r a t i , . i i . iha i i li . 'ar

s,1111,',me v\ tui tias p r , ' pa r , ' , ! . tint w ti,i tias

l u i t h i n g t,. s a \ . W i t h a par t i , ' i i l a r rele'r. ' i i t

in m i l l . ! — a n . ! t t i . ' r . ' w a s a p a r t i c n t a r r . ' l . ' i -

e'lit—it s. ' . ' iu. ' . l lik.' a pr. ' t tv s.i!i.! a r g u -

m e n t . W .' m i g h t , ' \ c l , i . ! , ' s , inu ' .it .niv vvis-

e'st e' .inns. 'l .irs w !i.i w . i n k t n.it p r e p a r e

Marie tH. Nictnols

th. ' ir e'.inv .'iiti,.11 r . 'marks in aelvaiie

a in rat , ' . v\ e hael b.'.'U de leutee l . ane

ttu ' n.'w V ie . ' - . ' ha i rman. I was t.. hav, '

han. l in p r . ' p a r i n g the' e'.inv . 'nt i . in

grani .il t lu ' RP. \ Int.'r.^st C r . m p f.i

n. ' \ l . ' . i ineiiFuHi. Al l lu ' Hm. ' . \ kiu'w

I ha.! e'.insiek'ralilv imir. ' tr. ' . ' . l . im th

tia.l kiuiw Icelge an.! eliseipline in t lu '

t.'r .ll e'.inv.'liti,111 p r . i g r a m i n g ; he i ie .

t r ip t.i s.'.' Pr..l. 'ss,ir W rag. ' . \ \ \ ' sp

('cnlinucd. p

\t!. astr.'.'

])r,i-

t lu '

tha t

an I

m a t -

t lu '

nt a

Spectra, February 1969

I'Jtnin^fr. cont. from \)(i^(' I

us sound and inia^iiuitive, now appeariiKTOclibly iiaKe in purpose or design.

Third, as one attends our nicetinj;sand reads our literature lie cannot help butrecognize that our traditional limits andperimeters as a discipline have long sincebeen dissolved and we are moving boklK'into areas of inquiry and teaeliing wliichhardly were thought of twenty-livi' orthirty years ago. Psycholinguisties, experi-mental aesthetics, cross-cultural communi-eation, and eomparative rhetoric are oiiKa lew ol the course titles which wouldsound strange indeed to teachers ol anearlier generation.

As part o( this expansion into nev\-areas of learning, our college currieida, onboth the graduate and undergraduatelevels^ are growing in breadth and areundergoing significant internal adjnst-meiits. Individual departments are movingin a variety ol direetions. All of these re-forms, however, though differing in spe-cifics, liavc in common the characleri.slicol striking a new balance between the tie-velopment of skills, on the one hand, andthe teaching of substance or content, onthe other; between enhancing the stu-dent s own competencies as an oral com-municator and e.xploring with him thenature and ramifications of the communi-cation process. As a result, viewed in thelarge, it seems to me incontestable that weare mueh less performance oriented todaythan we have been at any time in our im-mediate past, and that in the future thismore healthy balanee between skills andcontent promises to be preserved.

I'Ourth, although obviously we stillface very serious problems in recruitment—problems complicated at least for thepresent by the uncertain draft status olgraduate students—I am hap[)y to reportthat one of the most gratifying aspects olthis worrisome office has been the oppor-tunity it lias alTordod to broaden my ac-quaintance with tlu' \()ung men andwomen who are just entering our field.Certainly, they are an impressive lot—somuch better prepared and so much moreknowledgeable than the graduate studentsof my generation; so impatient withshallow-ness in scholarship and ineptitudein research, and, as they unhesitatinglymake clear, so impatient with what theyregard as unwarranted conservatism onthe part of the "establishment.' One can-not ha\(' sat through the week-long NewOrleans C;onference on Heseareh and De-velopment last I'ebruary without gainingthe impression that the luture of our fieldis in good hands.

I'iltli, and perhaps most important olall, everywhere 1 have gone this year Ihave (()ii;i(l pvrfiistent qiicstiojiiiig al)oijtthe nature ol our Held—about what we areand v\ hat we ought to beeoine. Are we l)y

nature one discipline or many.'' Does theoral act, as such, lurnisli a unifying foeusfor all of our interests and activitiesVShould we properly be called Speech, orCommunication, or Speech Oimmunica-tion—and that with or without the hy-phen? Should our de[)artnients be orga-nized so as to encourage breadth or topromote speeiali/ation? Do we properlybelong in (,'olleges of T'ine Arts, in Schoolsof Journalism and C>)mmunication, or inDivisions ol Language and Literature?Shall we or shall we not prescribe curriculaand set up standards lor certifying teach-ers? What should he our stauci' socialKand politically? Should we, through ourprofessional organizations, ainiounce aposition on public issues? Should we pro-test, impose sanetions, and promote legis-lation, or should we maintain the tra-ditional scholarly posture ot objectivedetachment? What are our obligations inthose situations where freedom ol speechor of assembly appears to have been re-stricted? llow can our iulieritetl goals andmet hods ol instruction be adapted to cjir-reut needs anti problems?

As one listens to this persistent (|ues-tioning and observes the earnestness withwhich answers are sought, he cannot butconclude that the field of speech in thisyear 19(>S is in a period of very fundamen-tal transition—a period when old assump-tions are being reappraised, old perimetersare crnmbling, and old values are givingway to new\

Ik'canse we are in a period ol transi-tion—a period when horizons are e.xpand-ing and values are in question—it is notsurjirLsing that new challetiges press inupon us and that old ones take on a freshsense of urgency. Times ol change are in-evitably times ol ehallenge—times whenwe see more clearK the many things wehave left undone and realize more liilly theiniportanee ol striking out in new diree-tions.

But il upon the basis ol my observa-tions while an oflicer ol this Association, Iwere to assign priorities to the field as awhole—were to name those things whichas a profession it seems to me most impor-tant we turn our attention to as we moveinto 1969 and the years ahead; thosethings upon which the future health andprosperity oi the field of speeeli communi-cation most directly depend—I wouldname three.

I' irst, it seems to me, we must in allareas and at all levels meet and surmountthe ehallenge of giving our research andinstruction a maximum ol soeial relevance.

Because speech as an aeademic sub-ject first flowered and has always tound itsmost congenial hal)itat in the predomi-nately Protestant Anglo-Saxon MiddleWe.st, \\v have traditionally been aWASl'ish profession. Indeed, even todaya demographie analysis of SAA member-

shi|) untloubtedly would show proportion-atel\' lewer representatives ol miiiorit\grou|js—fewer C'atholies, Jews, and f^atiiis,and certainK far fewer Hlaeks—than areto he lonnd in our population as a w hole.

As a result ol this narrow class struc-ture, more olteii than not our prolessionalconcerns have been those ol a particularsocial or ethnic group. In our textbooksand classes, and e\en to a eertain I'xtent inthe problems we have chosen to research,we lia\e reHeeted this group's needs and\alnes. We havi' stressed "public at theexpense ol private or inter[)ersonal com-munication; we ha\e emphasized the im-portance ol speech training as a lactor insocial and economic success; we have[jiaced among the leading topoi of ourrhetorics the upi^er middle class \ahies ofinitiati\e, selt-reliancc, and freedom ol op-portunitN. In short, we have assumed thatit is both the desire and the duty ol everyman to sueeeed in business or a profession,to love his neighbor as his brother, and tohonor the democratic institutions of dis-cussion and the ballot box as the only ac-ceptable methods of elfecting change. Inthose few instanees in which we havereached out to embrace minorits' groupswithin our instruction we ha\c been littleinterested in adapting our assumptif>iisand values to theirs and more concernedwith bringing them w ithin onr own orbit —with correcting what we ha\e regardedas a foreign or de\ianl dialect, a substan-dard grammar, or a wrong-headed notionconcerning the role that eommunicationshould play in a peaceful society.

Today, somewhat belatedl\\ we arediseovc-ring that our traditional w-a>' ofviewing things no longer w ill do—that theneeds and values to whieh historical!) Weha\(' ministered no longer are acceptableto growing segments ol onr population;that the attitudes and skills we have incul-cated into our students hinder rather thanhelp them when they attempt to coninui-nicate across class or race lines to iiioivid-nals who are in some way different fromthemselves; that mueh ol our research,concerned as it is with resurrecting ,speak-ers and theories of remote periods andplaces, seems trivial or irrelevant ii' tilelace ol the immense social problems wliichconlront us.

These problems, we recognize, nearKalwa\s have a communicatioti component—ncurh always in part arise or at least arecomplicated by the failure on the part olone |)art\ to make its views clear to theother; by its inability to say the right thing,in the right way, at the right time. More-ovi'r, we recognize that when conininnica-tion is blocked or breaks down—when itlails to carr\ the message or light the light—the ehanees are that talk will be replacedby violence,- that words and argnments willgive way to brick-bats and bullets.

Conliniicd. ;"'gi'5

Spectra, February 1969

Eh,ii,^li''i • eonl. jruin pi'.^e I

hi shor t , today as , i e \ c r belore- t each -

ers of S|5eech arc- facc-d b \ a cha lk - , lge—a

chalk-, ige- to gi\c- oiir u c r k at all k-\c-ls a,id

in all are-as a ,ie\\ measure- (,l social re lc-

\ ance - ; to se-arcli out w h a t u c- as prole-ssed

expe 'r ts in t h e proec-ssc-s ol c i , , , imuniea t ion

c a n do to lacilitate- i indcrs tancl i , ig a u i o n g

me»n anel betwc-c-n laet io, is ; to replace- eli-

\ i s i \ e , i c s s a n d war w i th consubs ta , i t i a l i t \

a n d p e a c e ; to stiicK ,iot oiiK' how to make-

ieleas safe lor pe-ojik-, but how to make-

p e o p l e s a l e lor ide-as.

M \ se'cond rc-con, , i icndat io, i , is that

w e re>spc>,,d to the- p r o b l e m ol rclatcehiess

by bu ik l i , ig betwee-n the- \ar i ( ,us divisio,is

a , id s u b d i v i s i c i s (,l our fic-ld ne-u brielgc-s

of L,,,ek'rsta,ielii,g a,id appre-eiat ion.

A m o , , g t h e forces w h i c h h a \ e p ro -

pe lk 'd , us tow arel s epa ra t i sm , p e r h a p s t h e

m o s t imj io r tan t is the- elra ,nat ic c-xplosion

of k n o w l e d g e u hic'li has occurre-d in all cli-

visio,is ol oiir lie-kl, partie 'ularK s ince tlu-

ck)se of W (,rld W a r il. .As a re-siilt ol this

exp lo s ion it has l,e-co,,ii- the- e-xception

r a t h e r t h a n the- rule- lor an \ ' ine l i \ idua l to

w o r k in m o r e tha , i o n e ol the-se dixis ions ,

anel, iiidee'd, c-\c-,i to , , iaster m o r e tluui a

f rac t ion ot his d i o s e n fiekl. Moreo\e-r , as

inte-re-sts lia\e- narrowc-d and spcc-ializa-

t i c i has incrc-asetl, thc-re has been ;i,i

unelersta, ,elabl(- t c , i d e n c \ lor p c r s c i s in thc-

\ a r i o u s specialitic-s to ,iic,\c- eli,se-r to seliol-

ars in ne^igl,b(,ri,ig eliscipli,ic-s a,id ti, loose-n

the-ir ties wi th eolk'agiie-s ii, o the r branche\s

ol spe-e-ch c c n m n n i c a t i o i i . I l ius the spe -

cial is t in d r a m a t i c t heo r ) m o \ c s t oward

the- s t ude , i t ol l i teratme- a n d criticisiii , thc-

spe-ciilati \ c rhetor ic ia i i t oward the- phi los-

o p h e r , a,id t h e e-ommunie a t ion the-orist to-

w a r d t h e psxchologis t , while- the- spc-e-e-li

p a t h o l o g i s t i,ie're-asi,igl\ finds lii,,isell at

he)rnc in a nu-dieal c-,i\ ir(,iimc-nt.

The- m o N c m c n t s in these elirectioiis

a r e e\iele,ice-d ,iot o,,l\ ' b \ t h e a p p e a r a , i c e

of rie-w joiiriials in w h i c h tw(, or m o r e dis-

c ip l ines are' brielged, but alsi, b \ a,i inspec-

tie,,i ol our ciirriciila. l''or w h i l e oii t h e

ui iek ' igradnate- k-\c-l o,ir ofleri,igs in ar-

gurne i i t a t io i i , ac t ing , \c)ice' t r a in ing , and

t h e like c o n t i n u e to be iiiiie|ue, o n c e t h e

g r a d u a t e k - \ e ' l i s r e a e h e e l , i , i t i t l e , i f , i o t

a l w a \ s iii C O , i t e , i t , o i i r c o u r s e - s o l t e i i a r e i i i -

d i s t i n g u i s h a b k - from c o u r s e s in j o u r n a l -

i s m , soc io logy , a n d l a ig l i sh .

B u t \ \ha te - \e ' r i n t e r n a l lorcc-s lia\e-

b e e n o p e r a t i n g to drise- i,ur lie-kl a p a r t

h a v e foil,,el a fer t i le soil for g r o w t h wi t l , i , i

the ' ,ie'w , , i e ' ga -u , i i \ e r s i t \ ' where-, be'cai,sc-

e;f con ipk -x i t \ c,l s t ruc ture- a, id slu-c-r p h \ s i -

c a l s ize, pe'rso,,s i,, the- \a r i ( , , i s ari-as (,l

spe-ecli c ( , , , i , , | | , , nca t ion f r ec | uen t l \ arc-

p l a c e d in dille-re-i,t ; ie l ,n inis t ra t i \e- u n i t s , as

w e l l as separate-el p l iy s i ca lK .

A d d to the-sc loiee-s t h e e s t a b l i s h e d in-

d e p e - , i d e , , c c of o,,r three- m a j o r i ,a t io,ui l

a s s o c i a t i o n s a n d t h e f u r t h e r s p l i n t e r i , i g

w i t h w h i e h i-acli of t h e m now is thre-a tc ic-d .

a i id it se-e,iis i iureal is t ie ' t o me- t o p r e t e , i d

tha t i,i t h e \ c a r s inime-eliatcK a h e a d t h e

trc-nci t o w a r d se-parat is ,n c a n c-fTecti\cl\ b e

halt(-d. I ,iilic-d d i -par t , iu - , i t s m a \ for a

pc-ri(,d ol ti,iic- c c i t i n n e t o c-xist i,i oiir

s,,,allc-r a n d mie ld le - s i zed ii ,st i t i i t i( , , ,s

where- t h e c( , , i iposi t io , i ol the- stall or tlic-

nat,irc- ol the- stiide-nt bocK make-s the-,n

e-spc-cialK dc-sirabk-. . \ , id , u , i d i n , b t e d l \ ,

lor s o n i c yea r s to co , , i e de- laying or r e a r -

g u a r d a c t i o n s wil l b e lo i igh t in s o m e ol

o u r l a rge r un i \ e r s i t i e - s . O n e \ e r y ha , i d ,

howe-\e'r, t h e c-\ i d e n c e s t r o n g l y s u g g e s t s

tha t no more- t h a i , t e m p o r a r \ s u e c e s s can

b e ac l i ic \c 'd .

Cionside-riiig t h e picture- in the- large-,

there-lore-, I wculcl he)pe- tha t as a lie-Id, i,i-

steae:! ol b ( -moa , i i i ,g w hat se,,iie- ma\ - r e g a r d

as a h a p p i e r past eir i , ,d ic t i , ig o n e anothe-r

lor e,p])e,rtu,iities leist anel , i i i s t akes , n a d e ,

we- addre-ss einrse-Ke-s to w o r k i n g emt an ac -

e o , n , , i o d a t i o , i to t h e s i t \ , a t io , i as it ,,<)w

c-xists—c-xpressc-d i,i t e r m s ol t h e figiirc

w liicli I i,se-d in i i i t roe luc ing this d i s c u s s i o n ,

tha t we- re-place- the- olel bridge-s of e lepar t -

, , ie i , ta l u i i i t \ w itii ,ie-w o,u-s eil intc-rde-part-

nic-,ital c"e)opc-, at ion anel n n c k - r s t a n d i n g .

Vm\ su re ly , there- is imn-h lor all eil us te,

gai , i by ke'c-ping s i ieh b r i d g e s e,pe-ii, a n d

tlie-re- is i i i ueh we- c a n de, t o p r o , n o t e th i s

c-nd. We- eaii je,in te,gc-ther in p re ig rams i,i

w h i d i spc-c ialists I rom the- v a r i o u s a r ea s

a n d s i i b a r e a s ce,, i tribute- ol thc-ir e-xpc-rt

know Ic-dgc- a n d skills to t ra in b r o a d l y b a s e d

gene-ral is ts lor te-aching pe,sitie,ns in the- e'le--

,,ie-,,tary a, id sc-ee,i,dary sehoe,ls. We- ca, i

e'cojic-ratc- i,i ,'c-sc-ardi \c-ntn,'e-s i,i sue l ,

lie-Ids as e-xpcrime-,,tal ae\sthcties, kmgiiage-

a i i a h s i s , aiiel s p e e c h ek-\ clc ,pme,i t , w here-

t h e spe-eial ized k n e n v l e d g e e)f h u m a n i s t a n d

be-ha\ iorist , or t h e a t r e s c h o l a r a n d s t a t i s t i -

c-ia,i, e)l e-xpcrime-ntal ])he,iie-tieia,i a n d

spe-e-eh [,atliole,gist arc- callc-d le,r. We- can

iini , ress u p o n e,iir s tnck-nts the- laet t ha t

lear , i i , ig a b o u t ce) , i i ,mii , icat io , i ii, its full-

e-st r a n g e e-,itails a ce , , i s idcra t io , i ol its d i -

mc-nsious aes thc- t iea l ly , sc ien t i f ica l ly , a n d

pragmat i t - a l l> , W e ca,i insure- In me-aiis e,l

a p p r o p r i a t e c o r e c o u r s e s for beith u n d e r -

g r a d u a t e s a , id graeliiate 's t h a t t h e \ ' conn - te,

appre-c ia te the- ee,,ice-rils w h i c h tfieir a r e a

e,l ce>ncc,itratie,,i lia\e- i,i e-o,n,iion w i t h

the- othe-rs a n d how, at be, t to ,n, all facets e,t

e)iir Held a n d all r e s e a r c h me-thoels iisc-d to

e x p l o r e t h o s e facets a r c re ' la tcd. We' e-aii ek'-

\e le)p as pa r t ol o u r nat ie inal a n d r e g i o n a l

e i rgan iza t ious ; id\ ise,r \ ce,uncils on w h i c h

p e r s c i s l ro ,n a r e a s anel discipline-s c o n t i g -

, ious to o u r o\v,i k e e p us i , ife,rmed ol tre-uds

anel e l c - \ e l o p m e n t s . We- c a t , , b \ c e , , i t i , u n - d

i i i \ c - s t i g a t i o n i n t o t h e - n a t u r e - o l t r a i l s , i i i s -

sixe- processes and the graeliial e'\c,l\ e-tiu',,t

ol a e'e,mprdicnsi\ e the'c,r\ e,l couimuiiica-

tie,n CO,lie better to nuderstand how we arc

rc-late-el and why we h a \ e eirifteel apart.

,\iiel, finalK, anel perhaps most important

e)l all. we- can b\ we,rel and act she,w that

we- appre-eiatc- the ec,ntributie,,is w liieh arc-

be-i,ig made- 1)\ jn-rsoiis w he, pursue s]5c-

eialitie-s anel em|)le,\ re-search niethe,ds that

arc dilfcrcit fre,m e)ur ow,i, f,, the [last,

e'ertai,il\, tlie-re has been entirely too much

te-,idc-nc\ to write- the othe-r le-lle,w s we,rk

e,lf as u,iseientific, liiiscliolarly, or in-

humane.

I he thirel a,,el last ol my r e c c n m e n d a -

tions to the- field ol spee'di communicat ion

as it me,\es into the \ ea r 1969 e'o,ieer,is

our Asse,e'iatie,,, itsell a,id how it might

more effe'cti\cl\- c c i t r i bu t e to the cultural

rcorie,,tatio,i which is the tlie-me of this

eon\e,, t io,i program.

The,se e,l you who shared in the de--

bates ol the- Legislative ,\sse,nbl\ on l-ri-

da\ are- aw are, 1 k,ie,w , e,f the' specific- prob-

le-ms in\e,l\e-el in atte,iipti,,g te, ce,nduet

the da\-to-ela\ affairs eif the- .Association

under our presci t ee,nstitutio,i and by-

laws: the ambiguities ce,,iccrni,ig the rights

a,Kl obligations e,l hiterest Groups, the ab-

sence of clear line-s e)f authority between

the Assembly and C^ouncil and the C:ou,ieil

a,id Executive C^ommittee', the cumber-

sonic- and inefticie,it preigram plan,ii,ig

proce-diire, the gra\ areas e)l responsibility

betw e»e,i the- clceteei office-rs a,ief the profe-s-

sional oftiee stafl, a cfiecks a,id balancessyste-m in w hicli the C^enincil, a body which

meets feir a fe-w hours e,nK' c i c c a year, is

the li,ial authe,rit\ on ,iic,st le-gislati\e,

c-xeeiiti\c- a,ul ji,dieial cii,cstie,,is.

Rathc-r than detaili,ig s,,eh te-e'h,iieal

a,id iirocediiral ,iiatters here, howe-\er, I

should like- to sum up the problem of e)ur

ge,\er,iment as 1 and \ o n r other officers se'e

it u,,der twe, more general heads. I'"irst, our

pre^se'nt cetnstitntion and by-laws were de-

\ ise-d for an ,>\ssociaticin tar s,,ialle'r in size,

simpler i,i function, anef nieire restricteel in

ser\ ice-s than the" Assoeiation that exists to-

eki\ : an Association without a i iermanent

national oHie-e stafl or fourteen persons;

without exte-,isi\c contract uncfe^rtakings

w ith the- lede-ral gc,ver,ime,it; \\ ithovit such

major a,id se-,ni-aiite,,ie)mc,i,s acfiiii,,istra-

t i \ c agcicies as the Re-search Be,ard, the

Kdue-ational Peilicies Boarci, and the Pnbli-

eatie),is C^ommittee; with a bnefget e)nl\ a

fractieni of the size e)f eiur budget toda \ ;

w ith a ,uirrowe>r and le ss \e,ituresc,,ue piib-

licatie,iis program; and with offie-ers who

se-r\e'd ,iie,re- as occasional cc're-,iionial lune'-

tionaries than as persems whei le,r a pe'rie,el

e,l thie'e >cars ,iiake a maje,r ce,mmitment

ol time- and c-nc-rg\ to the affairs of the

SAA.

But, seconeJ and even more i,iipor-

ta,i t l \ , without i,i a,iy wa\- ck-tracti,ig from

the able and imaginat i \e we,rk e,f Wilbur

Gilman, Madge kramer, and the other

Iramc-rs e,f enir present de,cimu-,,ts, it

,,i,,st be- ree-e,giiize-d that i,i creating the

liitere-st Gre)iip striictiirc, in \cst i , ig the

k-gislatixc e,r pc,lic\ maki,,g pow e-r e,f the

,\ssoeiation i,i a large a,id Huctuating beefy

re-|)rcseiiting di\e-rsc spe-cialitie-s anel points

('i)nlinii,',t. paii,- 7

Spectra, February 1969

I'.hniiificr. i-<inl. from p . / y r .5

f)f \ i c w — i n i l e x e l o p i n g , in sli . irt . xx hat xx eh a x e c. i ine t.i refer t.i as t h e " e a i u i p x .)r" u m b r e l l a " e o n i e p t — t h e C i l m a i i e.iii-s t i t u t i . i i i s .n igh t to a d a p t t h e .Ass.ieiati.in ss t r u c t u r e t.i t h e field of s p e e e h as it ex i s t edin t h e \ e a r 1950. t o g e t h e r xxith t h e h. ipesa n d ambi t i . i i i s xx e t h e n had t.i r e t a inw i t l i in .uir lold s e g m e n t s xx liieli h a x . ' s ini ' . 'd e c l a r e d {»- a r e iioxx t h r e a t e n i n g t.i . l e c l a r et h e i r i n d e p | . n d e i i i e . M.ir.'.ix . 'r. In diffu-s i n g poxx er XX iil.'lx an . l m a k i n g a m e n d -m e n t difficult, th is i . i n s t i t u t i . i n , in elfeet ,t r o z e th is s t r u c t u r e — i i n p . i s e d it i ip .m t h e. \ s , soc ia t ion in s u c h a wax tha t . ixer t h ey e a r s t h e m e e t i n g .if new lU'eds a n d t h eg r a s p i n g of nexx . i | ) p o r t u n i t i e s has b e e . i m ei n c r e a s i n g l y dif l icult . As a resu l t , t .idaxr a t h e r t h a n oecupx ing a posi t i . in .if l e a d e r -s h i p — i n s t e a t l .il b e i n g a b l e t.i i n l l n e n e e ina s ig i i i l i ean t xx a\ t h e d i r ec t i . i n s ou r r e -s e a r c h a n d in s t rne t i . i n sh . i u ld t a k e in o r d e rt o clfcct t h e r c o r i c n t a t i . i n xx e s e e k — t h e.Associat ion is at bes t in a p . i s i t ion .if f.il-loxNcrship a n d at w. i rs t is l a g g i n g sadlx b e -h i n d dexe l . ipmei i t . s xx itliin t h e field.

\ \ c h a x e n.it, f.ir e x a m p l e , m o x e d t.im e e t t h e n e e d s .il t h o s e m e m b e r s .il o u r.Associati . in xxli.i l o n g h a x e askt 'd f.ir ar e a l i s t i c po l iey .111 s t a n d a r d s a n d eer t i f iea-t i o i i ; w e h a x e l a g g e d for \ e a r s on t h e m a t -t e r of n a m e e h a n g e ; xx e h a x e n.it s e r x e da d e q u a t e l y t h e i n t e r e s t s of p e r s o n s xx h. isec o n c e r n x\ i th c o m m u n i c a t i o n e x t e n d s b c -x D n d t h e l imi t s of t h e ora l ae t ; xx e h a x en e g l e c t e d t h e ilex e l . i p n i e n t of serx ieesa n d p r o g r a m s for t h e iuiii.ir c o l l e g e ; w eh a x e lai lei l t.i n i a in t a i i i usefu l l ines .il e . im-m r i n i c a t i . i n ani . ) i ig .iiir pro l i le i a t i n g In-t e r e s t C r o u p s — a laet . i r xx liieh in itself hasp r o m . i t e d s e p a r a t i s m a n d t e n d e d t.i m a k eus a h . i i i e y c o m b .if i i i d ix idua l i n t e r e s t s a n da m b i t i o n s r a t h e r t h a n a ph i l o soph i ea l l xu n i f i e d d i s c i p l i n e ; w e h a x e let .nir re la t i . insXX i t h o u r s is ter seholar lx a s s o e i a t i o n s in t h efickl .il s p e e e h d e t e r i . i r a t . ' a n d a t r . i p h x .

xxith t h e ma jo r d iv i s ions .if t l u ' a t r ca u t l s p e e c h a n d h e a r i n g l.iiig s i n e e i le-p a r t e d , an. l xxith i n c r e a s i n g s igns .il res-t i x c n e s s in t h e a r e a of beliax ioral a n d lin-g u i s t i c s t u d i e s , br .UKlcast ing, an . l . ' xen .ifp l l i l o s . i ph iea l r lu ' t . i r ic , it is n.it i ne . i nee ix -a b l e tha t u n l e s s xx e aet p r o m p t l y a n d in af)old a n d i m a g i n a t i x e xx a> t.i l e s t r u c t i i r eo u r .Associati.iii, iu f u t u r e \ ears it max b e -c o m e l i t t le m o r e t h a n a e h a i i e e eo l l e e t i onof t h a t l i a n d b i l .if i n t e r e s t s a n d spee i a l i t i e sxvbich h a v e l a e k e d e i t h e r t h e s t r e n g t h .irt h e initiatix e t.i s t r i k e ou t .111 t he i r .ixx 11.

" ' f.ir t h e s e r e a s o n s tha t 1 a m par -ticulai- ly p l e a s e d to be a b l e to rc|) . ir t tha tt h e Leg i s l a t i xe AssenibK has ai:)\ir.)x ed ap l a n w h e r e b y a e . i n i n i i t t e e .)f t h e C . iune i l ,d r a w ing xx ideU u p o n adx iee so l i c i t ed fromp e r s o n s in all pa r t s cf t h e c o u n t r y , wi l l d u r -i n g t h e c . iursc of t h e next xea r f r a m e ap r o p . i s a l tor 1,,, ^ g . i v e r n i n g i n s t r n m e n t sfor t h e Assoe ia t i .m. 'These p r o p o s a l s xxill

I- itiiinrc. c(iiUiuut'(l jrunt ])<Uic ii

Estimated Income 1968-69 with Estimated 1969-70 Income

(Actual 1 967-68 Income Given for Comparison)

Kcgular Mend)crsliipStu.lent Mend)ershipSustaining Mend)ershipLibrarx Siibseripti.insInstitutional Mcnibershi|:iMiseellane.ius Publicati.m Sales

(incl. Director) & Speetra)Back Issue Sales

(The Johnson Cos.)Placement Scrxice.\dx ertising

(JiKirlcrlij JdiiriKd oj SpeechSjic'cch I'cuchfrnircrlorij

C . i i i x i ' i i t i . i n

Fr.igrani KxhibitsReceipts

InterestH.naltvCIDDSpecial Pr.iieetsMiseellaiieotis Income

rOlWL CROSS ISCOMI'.

Auditctl Ineonie19()7-(i8

S 7S.(i()2.3..343.

l(i,9(iS.(i().79t).

3.077.13.49-1.

3.923.

18.009.

l.S.:527.3.3ol.6,43(i.

12.588.9,473.;5,362..3.1 14.

l.'lSHi.2.()9(i.

(iS7.

$277,043.

Bridget1968-(i9

$ 85.()()().4,000.

IS, 000.63.000.

3,000.17,(iOO.

(i.OOO.

19.()t)().

13.300.3,500.6,500.

13,000.13,000.4,000.3,500.

14,000.2,500.1,000.

$294,100.

HeeommendedBudget1969-70

$ 91,000.6,000.

21,000.66,600.

6.000.18,600.

6,300.

19,000.

14,.300.

6,500.7,500,

14,000.13,000.2,000.4.000.

13,000.3,500.1,100.

$313,700.

Subseri])ti.in .\geney. 5.1 i3Less Diseonnts

.Adxcrtising 1,8S6roTAi. sE'r t\coMi:

7,061. 7,()()(). 7,500.

$269,982. $287,100. $308,200.

be submitted t.i a C.mstituti.inal C.iiifer-eiiee .)t fih\ dcmocraticallx elected .As-soeiat i . i i i m e m b e r s w h o xvill m e e t at t l n 't i m e .)l tlu> N(-xx ^ . i rk e o n x e n t i . m next(Chris tmas. If a p p r . i x e d In this ( ' . i n l e r e n e e .earlx in 1970 t h e d . i c u m c n t s xxill b e ei re i i -l a t ed at i i . i i ig ( h e e n t i r e m e m b e r s h i p t.i b ex.)te(l up.Il l by ma i l bal l . i t , a n d if in thislinal st(>p I hey r e e e i x c m a j o r i t y a p p r o x a lXX ill go in to elfeet on | i i l \ I, 1970.

1 ask l.ir >.iur c.ioi:)(."ratioii at all s t a g e s.il this p roces s a n d e n e o u r a g e \ ( )u to m a k ex .mr xiexxs kiuixxii to t h e m e m b e r s of t h ee . i m m i t t e e a n d .if t h e ( ' . i n s t i t u t i o n a l ("on-fe renee . 1 u r g e y.iii to d i scuss t h e n e e d sa n d . ip | ) . i r tu i i i t ies .if t h e .Xss.iciation xxithc. i l lcagi ies a n d I r i ends , a n d t.i e x a m i n exxith a \ iexx t.i m.nli l ic a t i . iu or a m e n d m e n tt h e d . i cu ine i i t s t h a t a r e h a m e d . I 'ers . in-al lx, I e a n t h i n k .il n o g r e a t e r serx iee tha taiix .il us e a n | ) e r l . i rm b . i th lor o u r .Assoeia-t ion a n d lor .iiir l icld. a n d no g r e a t e r x\ayin xxhieh xx e e a u c o n t r i b u t e t.i t h e s.ieiala n d c u l t u r a l r co r i e i i t a t i . i n xxhieh xxc s.)e a r n e s t l \ s eek .

In s i i m m a r x , t h e n , 1 h a x e u r g e d r e l e -xaiiei ' , i i ' l a t e d n e s s , a n d r e . i r i e n t a t i . m . Ih a x e a r g u e d t h a t .uir field is in a p e r i o d .ift r ans i t i on a n d t h a t x\c m u s t t n o x e c n c r g e t -iealU t.i m e e t t h e c h a l l e n g e s xxhieh thiss t a t e .if a l la i r s p r e s e n t s . I h a x e fai th in o u r

abi l i ty t o d o ,s.i a n d in t h e h i t u r e of .speechas a n a c a d e m i c d i s c i p l i n e . It has b e e n ap r i v i l e g e to s e r x c as y o u r p r e s i d e n t ;uul toc . i n t r i b u t e in so far as I c o u l d to t h e ])r.ig-ress ol t h e w. i rk in xx hi( h xx e all bcl iex e.

SAA at NCTErli.imas I,, f'crnaiulez, Moniuoufh

Colli\i;c. organized and chaired on behalfof S.\A a meet ing at the National Oninci l.>l Teachers ot l'"nglish Novend^cr c.inxen-ti.iii in Milxxaukee entitled, "Oral Inter-pretation in the Teaching ol Ijiglish.\\ alUu e .\. B a o n . \(irlhiri:slcrn ( nircr-v(7//. presentcil a paper. The .Act of Liter-ature and till' .Alt .il Interpretation, andTrances I.. McC'uriK, I nivcrsilii of .\/;.v-soiiri. sp.ike .111 the topie, "Oral Interpreta-tion; .\n .\ppr.iacli to Literature. l^isens-saiits ineluded lAch i i K. Wdrk. \h)ii-nioiilh '/i.i,'/i S(7i(«)/ and Jerenix \ l e \ a -mara, Muninoiilh i'lillviic.

H.ibert \ \ . \ .igelsaiig. WashingtonState I nixersitx. shoulil haxe fieeii in-eluded in the roster .)l S.A.A nienibcrs xx hoparticipated in the .August c.inxention ofthe Canadian Speeeh .Ass.ieiation.