SCOM 123 Final Terms JMU

Communication

the process of generating meaning by sending and receiving verbal and nonverbal symbols and signs that are influenced by multiple contexts

Rhetoric

speaking well and persuasively

Invention

the use of evidence and arguments to think about things in new ways and is the most studied of the five canons

Arrangements

The organization of ideas in a message or speech to effectively persuade or inform

Style

The choice of language and tone used to convey a message appropriately and effectively

Delivery

The physical and vocal presentation of a message, including gestures, voice, and facial expressions

Memory

The speaker's ability to recall information and present it without relying heavily on notes

Intrapersonal Communication

Communication that occurs within an individual's own mind (e.g., self-talk, reflection)

Interpersonal Communication

Direct, face-to-face communication between two people

Group Communication

Interaction among three or more people who share a common goal

Public Communication

One person speaks to an audience (often larger and more formal)

Mass Communication

Messages sent to large, widespread audiences via media channels (e.g., TV, internet, newspapers)

Participants

The individuals involved in sending and receiving messages

Message

The information or content being communicated

Encoding

The process of turning thoughts into communication (words, gestures, symbols)

Decoding

Interpreting and making sense of the received message

Channel

The medium through which a message is transmitted (e.g., voice, text, video)

Transmission Model of Communication

A linear model where a sender transmits a message through a channel to a receiver

Interaction Model of Communication

Adds feedback and context to the transmission model, showing communication as a two-way process

Transaction Model of Communication

A dynamic, simultaneous exchange where both parties send and receive messages and affect each other

Noise

Anything that interferes with the sending or receiving of a message

Environmental Noise

External sounds or conditions that distract from communication (e.g., loud music, traffic)

Semantic Noise

Confusion arising from ambiguous or misunderstood words or phrases

Feedback

messages sent in response to other messages

Physical Context

The physical environment where communication takes place

Psychological Context

The mental and emotional state of the participants

Social Context

The norms, rules, and relationships that shape communication

Relational Context

The nature of the relationship between communicators (e.g., friends, coworkers)

Cultural Context

Cultural backgrounds and values that influence communication behaviors

Integrative Learning

Connecting knowledge from different areas and applying it in real-world communication

Civic Engagement

Active participation in community or public issues through communication and dialogue

Physical Needs

Communication to maintain physical well-being (e.g., asking for help, medical info)

Instrumental Needs

Practical, everyday needs met through communication (e.g., ordering food, making appointments)

Relational Needs

Establishing and maintaining personal relationships

Identity Needs

Communication that shapes how we see ourselves and how others see us

Communication Ethics

Principles guiding right and wrong in communication (e.g., honesty, respect, fairness)

Communication Competence

The ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in various contexts

Perception

The process of noticing, organizing, and interpreting information from our senses to understand the world around us

Selecting

Choosing which sensory information to focus on among the many stimuli we receive

Salience

The quality of being noticeable or important; we tend to focus on stimuli that are unusual, relevant, or emotionally striking

Organizing

Arranging selected information into patterns that make sense to us

Interpreting

Assigning meaning to the organized information based on personal experiences and knowledge

Schemata

Mental structures or templates we use to organize and interpret information based on past experiences and cultural background

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to attribute our successes to internal factors (like ability or effort) and our failures to external factors (like bad luck or other people).

Sight

Visual perception—seeing shapes, colors, and movement, which influence how we interpret people and events.

Sound

Auditory perception—hearing tone, volume, and words, which impact how we understand spoken communication.

Touch

Tactile perception—sensing texture, temperature, and pressure, which can convey emotion (e.g., a handshake or hug).

Taste

Gustatory perception—used less in communication but still important in cultural and social interactions (e.g., shared meals).

Smell

Olfactory perception—can trigger memories and emotions, sometimes influencing attraction or aversion in social settings.

Personality

The unique combination of traits and characteristics (e.g., introversion, openness) that influence how a person perceives and communicates with others.

Extraversion

Refers to a person's interest in interacting with others. People with high extraversion are sociable and often called 'extroverts.' People with low extraversion, often called 'introverts,' are less sociable.

Agreeableness

Refers to a person's level of trustworthiness and friendliness. People with high agreeableness are cooperative and likable. People with low agreeableness are suspicious of others and sometimes aggressive.

Conscientiousness

Refers to a person's level of self-organization and motivation. People with high conscientiousness are methodical, motivated, and dependable.

Neuroticism

Refers to a person's level of negative thoughts regarding himself or herself. People high in neuroticism are insecure, experience emotional distress, and may be perceived as unstable.

Openness

Refers to a person's willingness to consider new ideas and perspectives. People high in openness are creative and are perceived as open minded.

Self-Concept

The overall idea you have about who you are—based on beliefs, roles, and self-assessments (e.g., 'I'm a good friend' or 'I'm not athletic').

Looking Glass Self

The idea that we form our self-concept based on how we believe others see and judge us.

Social Comparison Theory

The process of evaluating ourselves by comparing to others, which can affect our self-esteem (e.g., comparing grades or appearance).

Self-Esteem

How you feel about your self-concept; your level of confidence and self-worth.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

When your expectations or beliefs about yourself or others cause you to act in ways that make those beliefs come true (e.g., believing you'll fail a test, so you don't study—and then you fail).

Stereotypes

Oversimplified and generalized beliefs about a group of people (e.g., 'all teenagers are irresponsible'), which can lead to unfair judgments.

Prejudice

A negative attitude toward a person or group based on stereotypes and assumptions, not on actual experience.

Perception Checking

A communication strategy to verify your interpretation of someone's behavior by asking questions and sharing observations (e.g., 'You've been quiet today—are you upset, or just tired?').

Symbol

A word, sound, or visual image that represents something else by agreement or convention (e.g., the word 'dog' represents the animal).

Codes

Agreed-upon systems for representing ideas, such as language or gestures.

Displacement

The ability of language to communicate about things that are not present—past, future, or hypothetical ideas.

Triangle of Meaning

A model showing the relationship between a word (symbol), the thought (concept), and the actual object (referent); it emphasizes that meanings are in people, not words.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Connotation

The emotional or cultural meaning attached to a word, which can vary by context or person.

Grammar

The system of rules governing how words are combined into sentences in a language.

Verbal Expressions

Spoken or written words used to convey thoughts, ideas, and emotions.

Directives

Language used to influence behavior (e.g., requests, commands).

Neologisms

Newly coined words or expressions (e.g., "selfie").

Slang

Informal language used by specific social groups, often changing quickly over time.

Supportive Messages

Verbal expressions that help others feel valued, understood, or cared for.

Unsupportive Messages

Verbal expressions that hurt, dismiss, or devalue others.

Global Labels

Broad, judgmental terms that attack someone's character (e.g., "You're lazy").

Sarcasm

Saying the opposite of what you mean, often to mock or insult.

Dragging up the Past

Bringing up past mistakes in current arguments, which can block resolution.

Negative Comparisons

Unfavorably comparing someone to another person to criticize or belittle.

Judgmental "you" Messages

Statements that blame or accuse, often starting with "you" (e.g., "You never listen").

Threats

Statements that imply punishment or harm to force compliance (e.g., "If you don't do this, I'll...").

Jargon

Specialized vocabulary used by a profession or group that may be confusing to outsiders.

Affective Language

Language used to express emotion rather than convey factual information.

Simile

A figure of speech comparing two things using "like" or "as" (e.g., "as brave as a lion").

Metaphor

A figure of speech in which one thing is described as being another (e.g., "time is a thief").

Personification

Giving human traits to nonhuman things (e.g., "The wind whispered through the trees").

Individual Differences

Variations in language use based on personal background, experiences, or traits.

Ignorance

Lack of knowledge about appropriate or effective language use.

Lack of Skill

Inability to use language well due to underdeveloped communication abilities.

Lapse of Control

Speaking without thinking due to emotional outbursts or impulsiveness.

Negative Intent

Purposefully using language to hurt, insult, or dominate others.

Social Swearing

Swearing used to bond with others or create a relaxed atmosphere.

Annoyance Swearing

Swearing used to express anger, frustration, or irritation.

Inferences

Assumptions or guesses based on limited evidence.

Facts

Statements that can be proven true or false through observation or evidence.

Judgements

Subjective opinions or evaluations based on personal standards.

Inference-Observation Confusion

Mistaking assumptions or interpretations (inferences) for factual observations.

Cultural Bias

The tendency to interpret and judge communication based on one's own cultural norms and values.

Paralanguage

The vocal elements of communication that aren't words, such as tone, pitch, volume, rate, and pauses, which help convey emotion and intent (e.g., sarcasm or enthusiasm).