The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and DO NOT represent the official position of Louisiana Tech University or the State of Louisiana. Everything that is spoken has assumptions, an implied point of view, context, etc. Most speakers are conservative with words, therefore there are usually fewer language clues to the speaker's true meaning than there would be with written communication. However, there is a direct personal communication that is not present in print.
Critical listeners can adopt the perspective of the speaker in order to understand what is said.
You don't have to accept another person's point of view, just understand it. You will occasionally find yourself listening to a person you don' t agree with. Strive to understand their point of view and it will help you solidify your own position. Look for body language and voice inflection clues to the speaker's meaning and context. Identify assumptions and biases that mold the speaker's meaning.