Menurut Ramadhan dalam (http://tarmizi.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/talking-stick/) talking Stick (tongkat berbicara) adalah
metode yang pada mulanya digunakan oleh penduduk asli Amerika untuk mengajak
semua orang berbicara atau menyampaikan pendapat dalam suatu forum (pertemuan
antarsuku), sebagaimana
dikemukakan Carol Locust berikut
ini.
The talking stick has been used for
centuries by many Indian tribes as a means of just and impartial hearing. The
talking stick was commonly used in council circles to decide who had the right
to speak. When matters of great concern would come before the council, the
leading elder would hold the talking stick, and begin the discussion. When he
would finish what he had to say, he would hold out the talking stick, and
whoever would speak after him would take it. In this manner, the stick would be
passed from one individual to another until all who wanted to speak had done
so. The stick was then passed back to the elder for safe keeping.