Unit 1 - Communication Skills Flashcards

Flashcards covering the fundamentals of communication, including verbal and non-verbal types, pronunciation, communication styles, grammar basics, and refusal skills.

Communication

Derived from the Latin word communicare (meaning "to share"), it is the sharing of information between two or more individuals or groups to reach a common understanding.

Giving Information

The part of the communication cycle involving speaking and writing.

Receiving Information

The part of the communication cycle involving reading and listening.

Perspectives in Communication

Ideas, views, or fixed ways of thinking that can affect how we transmit or interpret messages.

Verbal Communication

The process of sharing information using words through oral or written forms.

Oral/Spoken Communication

Forms of communication such as face-to-face conversations, phone calls, classroom teaching, or public speeches.

Written Communication

Forms of communication such as letters, SMS, emails, books, and newspapers.

The 3Ps of Public Speaking

1. Prepare (topic and audience), 2. Practice (in front of a mirror or friends), and 3. Perform (stay confident and speak clearly).

Non-Verbal Communication

Sending messages without words using expressions, gestures, and body postures; it accounts for over $90\%$ of daily communication.

Paralanguage

A component of non-verbal communication that refers to how we speak, including tone, speed, and volume.

Visual Communication

Sharing information purely through images, signs, or symbols (e.g., traffic lights) that does not require language to be understood.

Phonetics

The study of sounds we make when we speak.

Vowels (Sounds)

While there are $5$ vowel letters, the English language uses $12$ distinct vowel sounds (e.g., "bit").

Diphthongs

Combination sounds of two vowels, such as the sound in the word "house".

Consonants

Sounds used in speech that are neither vowels nor diphthongs (e.g., "pot").

Passive/Submissive Style

A communication style characterized by avoiding conflict, losing self-respect, and failing to stand up for oneself.

Aggressive Style

A communication style focused on winning at all costs, shouting, and disrespecting other viewpoints.

Passive-Aggressive Style

A communication style where anger is shown indirectly, such as talking ill of others in their absence or undermining tasks.

Assertive Style

The most effective communication style, involving expressing views clearly and honestly while respecting both yourself and others.

AEIOU Model

A technique for saying "no" politely: Ask questions, Engage with polite statements, Include reasons, Offer other options, and Thank the person.

Conjunctions

Connecting words such as "And" (equal ideas), "But" (differing ideas), "Or" (choice), and "So/As/Because" (cause and effect).

MINTS Rule

A capitalization rule for Months, the word "I", Names, Titles (e.g., Dr.), and the Starting letter of sentences.

Direct Object

The part of a sentence that answers the question "what?" regarding the action.

Indirect Object

The part of a sentence that answers the question "to/for whom?" regarding the action.

Active Voice

A sentence structure where the subject performs the action (e.g., "Sanjay broke the glass.").

Passive Voice

A sentence structure where the subject receives the action (e.g., "The glass was broken by Sanjay.").

Close-ended Questions

Questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no", framed by putting helper verbs (Do, Can, Is, Were) before the subject.

Open-ended Questions

Questions requiring detailed answers, framed using the "$5$ Ws and $1$ H": What, Why, Who, When, Where, and How.

Possessive Adjectives

Words showing relationships or ownership, including my, your, his, her, its, our, and their.

Habit

A practice that is hard to give up.

Routine

An ordered sequence of daily tasks.

Adverbs of Frequency

Words like always, sometimes, rarely, or never that describe how often habits occur.