Chapter 8: communications vocab

Advice

Messages that tell other people what they should do.

Apology

An expression of regret or sorrow for having done what you did or for what happened.

Back-channeling cues

Responses a listener makes to a speaker (while the speaker is speaking) but that do not ask for the speaking role, for example, interjection such as “I understand” or “ You said what?”

Backhanded compliment

An insult masquerading as a compliment.

Compliment

A message of praise, flattery, or congratulations.

Conversation

Two-person communication, usually following five stages: Opening, Feedforward, Business, Feedback, and Closing.

Conversational Maxims

Principles that participants in conversation, follow to ensure that the goal of the conversation is achieved.

Conversational turns

The process of passing the speaker and listener roles back-and-forth during conversation.

Cooperation

An interpersonal process by which individuals work together for a common end. The pooling of effort to produce a mutually desired outcome.

Dialogue

A form of communication in which each person is both speaker and listener. Communication characterized by involvement, concern, and respect for the other person. Opposite of monologue.

Disinhibition effect

The tendency to disclose more in certain situations than in others. Usually used to refer to the tendency to be more uninhibited in online messaging.

Excuse

An explanation designed to lessen the negative consequences of something done or said.

Expressiveness

A quality of interpersonal effectiveness that consist of genuine involvement in speaking and listening, conveyed verbally and non-verbally.

Gossip

Oral or written communication about someone not present, some third-party, usually about matters that are private to this third-party.

Interruptions

Verbal and nonverbal attempts to take over the role of the speaker.

Manner maxim

A principle of conversation that holds that speakers cooperate with listeners by being clear and by organizing their thoughts into meaningful and coherent patterns.

Meta-advice

Advice about advice; For example, suggesting that once seek more expert advice.

Monologue

A form of communication in which one person speaks and the other listens. There’s no real interaction among participants. Opposite of dialogue.

Phatic communication

Communication that is primarily social. Communication designed to open the channels of communication rather than to communicate something about the external world. “Hello” and “How are you?” in everyday interaction are examples.

Politeness

Civility, consideration, refinement, respect, and regard for others are expressed verbally and non-verbally. Interaction that follows the socially accepted rules for interpersonal interaction.

Quality Maxim

A principle of conversation that holds that speakers cooperate with listeners by saying what they think is true and by not saying what they think is false.

Quantity Maxim

A principle of conversation that holds that speakers cooperate with listeners by being only as informative as necessary to communicate their intended meanings.

Reciprocity

The tendency to respond in ways similar to the other person, to get back what you’re given.

Relation maxim

A principle of conversation that holds that speakers cooperate with listeners by talking about what is relevant and by not talking about what isn’t relevant.

Self-disclosure

The process of revealing something about yourself to another. Usually refers to information that you’d normally keep hidden.

Small talk

Non-controversial talk that is usually short in duration and often serves as a polite way of introducing one’s self or a topic.