Introduction to Human Communication - Vocabulary Flashcards

Flashcards cover core vocabulary across concepts in communication theory, nonverbal communication, culture, relationships, health, and organizational contexts as presented in the notes.

Symbol

An arbitrary representation of something else; there is no direct connection between the symbol and what it represents, and symbols can have multiple meanings.

Sign

A consequence or indicator of something specific with a causal connection to what it refers to; not arbitrarily labeled.

Meaning

What a symbol represents; the content or sense attached to a symbol.

Social construction of meaning

The process by which meanings become associated with symbols through social interaction and collective use over time.

Medium

The means or channel through which a message is conveyed; the channel can influence the meaning of the message.

Frames

Contexts or basic forms of knowledge that provide a definition of a scenario and shape interpretation.

Communication frame

A boundary around a conversation that focuses attention on certain aspects and away from others.

Representation

Describes facts or information as they are; presents information in a factual, descriptive way.

Presentation

One person’s particular version of the facts or events; how someone presents information can shape interpretation.

Communication as interaction

An exchange of information between two or more individuals.

Communication as transaction

The construction of shared meanings and understandings through ongoing interaction.

Constitutive approach to communication

The view that communication can create or bring into existence something new (e.g., agreements, contracts, identities, relationships).

Subject–object problem

The issue that scientists studying humans study themselves as part of the subject, introducing bias and reflexivity.

Extra meanings

Meanings that go beyond the content of the messages themselves due to context, relationships, and interpretation.

Social scientific approach

A research stance aiming to describe and predict communication with objective methods and patterns.

Social desirability effect

Participants tell researchers what they think will be viewed favorably rather than what is true.

Interpretivist approach

An approach that views the world as subjective and emphasizes describing and understanding communication activity rather than predicting it.

Critical approach

An approach that seeks to uncover power imbalances and inequities transacted through communication; multiple truths may exist.

Identities

Symbolic creations based on the performance of personal roles; how people see themselves and want others to view them.

Schemata

Mental structures used to organize knowledge; guide interpretation by clustering related concepts.

Selective exposure

The tendency to identify with or seek information that supports one’s beliefs, values, and attitudes.

Selective perception

The tendency to perceive information in ways that reinforce one’s beliefs and attitudes.

Selective retention

The tendency to remember information that aligns with one’s beliefs and attitudes.

Front-region

A social interaction frame where the public is watching, requiring people to present their 'front' or professional selves.

Back-region

A frame where interactions are not under public scrutiny, allowing people to retract or alter public faces.

Self-description

Describing information about oneself that is obvious to others through appearance and behavior.

Self-disclosure

Revealing personal information to others that others could not know unless shared.

Communication privacy management theory (CPM)

A theory about how people create and negotiate privacy boundaries, including boundary permeability.

Burke’s Pentad

A framework with five elements—Act, Scene, Agent, Agency, Purpose—used to analyze motives and motivations in communication.

Prototype

The best-case example used as a guidepost for measuring or evaluating other people or situations.

Personal constructs

bipolar dimensions (e.g., attractive-unattractive) used to measure and evaluate things.

Denotative meaning

The general, direct meaning of a word; its explicit definition.

Connotative meaning

Secondary or implied meanings, the extra thoughts and associations connected to a word.

Polysemy

The condition where a single word or symbol has multiple meanings.

Loaded terms

Words chosen for their evaluative connotations to bias interpretation.

Verbal communication

Language-based communication; symbols arranged according to syntax to convey meaning.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to form well-formed sentences.

Kinesics

The study of body and facial movement in communication, including subtypes like emblems and illustrators.

Emblems

Nonverbal gestures with a direct verbal meaning (e.g., thumbs up for 'good').

Illustrators

Nonverbal cues that accompany speech and illustrate or visualize verbal content.

Affect displays

Nonverbal expressions of emotion shown through facial expressions or body language.

Regulators

Nonverbal cues that manage the flow of interaction (turn-taking, pacing).

Adaptors

Unconscious self-soothing or tension-relieving behaviors (e.g., scratching, fidgeting) during interaction.

Chronemics

The study of how time affects communication, including waiting and tempo of interaction.

Haptics

The study of touch and its meanings across contexts (professional, social, intimate).

Proxemics

The study of how space and distance convey meaning in communication.

Eye contact

The extent and type of gaze between people; culturally variable in meaning and regulation of interaction.

Vocalics (paralanguage)

Nonverbal vocal cues such as pitch, rate, volume, and silence that accompany speech.

High-context culture

A culture that relies heavily on contextual cues, relationships, and nonverbal communication; indirect style.

Low-context culture

A culture that relies on explicit verbal messages; direct and explicit style.

Individualism

Cultural value prioritizing independence and personal goals over group goals.

Collectivism

Cultural value prioritizing group harmony and the needs of the group over individual goals.

Monochronic time (M-time)

Time viewed as linear and punctual; tasks are done sequentially.

Polychronic time (P-time)

Time viewed as flexible and multi-task; many activities and conversations occur simultaneously.

Intercultural competence

The ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries; includes empathy, flexibility, and openness.

Cultural empathy

The ability to understand and appreciate another culture’s perspectives and feelings.

Flexibility

Willingness to adapt behavior or interpretations in intercultural contexts.

Social initiative

Proactive efforts to engage with others across cultural boundaries.

Emotional stability

Maintaining composure and calm in intercultural interactions.

Open-mindedness

A nonjudgmental attitude toward unfamiliar cultures and practices.

Relational dialectics

The study of ongoing tensions in relationships (e.g., connectedness-separateness, openness-privacy, certainty-uncertainty).

Boundaries (CPM context)

Boundaries within relationships that govern what private information is shared and with whom.

RCCUs (Relational Continuity Constructional Units)

Ways of demonstrating that a relationship persists during absence: Prospective, Introspective, and Retrospective units.

Facework

Strategies to manage the other’s and one’s own face in interaction (positive/negative face wants).

Positive face wants

The desire to be liked, approved of, and viewed positively by others.

Negative face wants

The desire not to be imposed upon or to be treated as inferior.

Bald on record

Directly imposing with little regard for face needs when the imposition is small or the relationship allows it.

Positive politeness

Strategies that emphasize the other’s positive face (flattery, compliments, offers).

Negative politeness

Strategies that acknowledge potential face threats (apologizing, hedging, showing hesitation).

Off-record

Hints or indirect requests that rely on inference rather than explicit wording.

Front-region self-presentation

Public self-presentation in contexts where one’s actions are observed.

Back-region self-presentation

Private self-presentation where one is not under public scrutiny.

Self-narrative

Telling stories about oneself to shape others’ understanding and to maintain a sense of continuity.

Self-disclosure ownership

Control over private information once it has been shared and its access by others.

Goban (note: not used; kept for consistency)

(No definition available; placeholder—excluded from usage.)

Burke’s Pentad (reiteration)

Five elements (Act, Scene, Agent, Agency, Purpose) used to analyze rhetorical motivation.

Prototype vs. personal constructs distinction

Prototype is the best-case example used as a comparison; personal constructs are bipolar dimensions used to evaluate things.

Denotative meaning

Direct, explicit meaning of a word or symbol.

Connotative meaning

Implied, associated, or secondary meanings of a word or symbol.

Polysemy

The phenomenon of a word or symbol having multiple meanings.

Schemata vs. scripts

Schemata are mental structures for organizing knowledge; scripts are procedural expectations for actions in a sequence.

Front region vs Back region (reprise)

Public vs private performance contexts in social interaction.

Cultural frame switching

The ability to switch between different cultural identities in communication based on context.

Relational autonomy vs interdependence

Tension between individual independence and relational ties in communication and identity.

Mediated communication

Communication that takes place through digital or technological channels rather than in person.

Parasocial relationships

One-sided relationships with media figures or personalities that feel real to the viewer.

Uses and gratifications theory

A theory about why people use media to satisfy specific needs (e.g., entertainment, social connection, information).

Giddens’ structuration theory

Theory that social life is produced and reproduced through human agency within social structures; structure and agency mutually shape each other.