Key Terms and Definitions in Communication Studies

Civic Engagement

Active participation in public life and community affairs.

Rhetoric

The craft of public speaking.

Source

A person with an idea to express who creates and sends a message to receivers.

Message

The information conveyed by the speaker.

Encode

The process of converting thoughts into words and symbols.

Verbal Symbol

Words used to represent ideas.

Nonverbal Symbol

Gestures, facial expressions, and other forms of communication that do not use words.

Channel

The medium through which a message is transmitted.

Receiver

The person who processes a message to perceive its meaning.

Decode

The process of interpreting and making sense of a message.

Noise (Interference)

Any distraction that disrupts communication.

Transaction

The simultaneous sending and receiving of messages in communication.

Feedback

The response of the receiver that indicates whether the message was understood.

Shared Meaning

A common understanding with little confusion among speakers and listeners.

Gender Identity

A person's personal sense of their gender.

Nonbinary

A gender identity that does not fit within the traditional binary of male or female.

Ethnicity

A social construct that categorizes people based on shared cultural traits.

Cultural Background

The influences and experiences from one's cultural environment.

Critical Thinking

The ability to analyze and evaluate information effectively.

Freedom of Expression

The right to express one's thoughts and opinions freely.

Ethics

Moral principles that govern a person's behavior.

Classical Canons of Rhetoric

The five stages of creating a speech: invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery.

Invention

The process of developing arguments and ideas.

Arrangement

Organizing the speech in a coherent manner.

Style

A speaker's choice of language to express ideas.

Memory

The practice of memorizing the speech.

Delivery

The manner in which a speech is presented.

Audience Analysis

The process of learning about the audience's interests and backgrounds.

Topic

The subject of the speech.

Rhetorical Purpose

The intended goal of a speech, such as to inform or persuade.

Thesis Statement

A single sentence that summarizes the main point or claim of the speech.

Main Point

The primary ideas or arguments of the speech.

Supporting Material

Evidence and examples that back up the main points.

Brainstorming

A technique for generating ideas.

Research

The process of gathering information on a topic.

Citation

A reference to a source of information.

Outline

A structured plan for a speech.

Body

The main section of the speech where the content is presented.

Subpoint

A secondary idea that supports a main point.

Subordination

The principle of making one idea secondary to another in an outline.

Introduction

The opening section of a speech that captures the audience's attention.

Conclusion

The closing section of a speech that summarizes the main points.

Transition

Words or phrases that connect different parts of a speech.

Word Choice (Diction)

The selection of words in a speech.

Presentation Aid

Materials used to enhance understanding and retention of the message.

Extemporaneous Delivery

A speaking style that involves rehearsed but not memorized delivery.

Mediated Presentation

A speech that uses technology to reach the audience.

Speech Anxiety (Stage Fright)

The nervousness experienced before giving a speech.

Imagined Interaction

A mental rehearsal of communication scenarios.

Visualization

The process of picturing a successful speech to reduce anxiety.

Relaxation Strategy

Techniques to reduce tension before speaking.

Ethical Absolutism

The belief that certain actions are always right or wrong, regardless of context.

Situational Ethics

The belief that ethical behavior can vary based on the situation.

Culturally Relative

The idea that values and ethics are determined by cultural context.

Ethical Speech

Speech that adheres to ethical standards.

Legally Protected Speech

Speech that is safeguarded by law, such as freedom of speech.

Half-Truth

A statement that contains some element of truth but is misleading.

False Inference

A conclusion drawn from evidence that is not supported.

Taking Evidence Out of Context

Misrepresenting information by not considering the surrounding circumstances.

Omission

Leaving out relevant information.

Plagiarism

The presentation of another person's words or ideas as one's own.

Paraphrasing

Rewording someone else's ideas while maintaining the original meaning.

Common Knowledge

Information that is widely accepted and known by the public.

Fallacious Reasoning

Flawed logic or reasoning.

Hasty Generalization

Making a conclusion based on insufficient evidence.

Post Hoc Fallacy

An error in reasoning that incorrectly states that one event causes another.

Ad Hominem (Personal Attack) Fallacy

Attacking the person making an argument rather than the argument itself.

Ad Populum (Bandwagon) Fallacy

Arguing that something is true because it is popular.

Ethical Audience

An audience that critically evaluates the ethical implications of a message.

Hearing

The physiological process of perceiving sound.

Listening

The active process of making meaning from sound.

Processing

Thinking about the meaning of the verbal and nonverbal components of a message.

Retention

The ability to remember what one has heard.

Action-Oriented Listening

Listening that focuses on taking action based on the message.

Content-Oriented Listening

Listening that emphasizes understanding the message in depth.

People-Oriented Listening

Listening that focuses on understanding and supporting the speaker.

Time-Oriented Listening

Listening that prioritizes time efficiency in communication.

Unprocessed Note Taking

Writing down information without filtering or understanding it.

Nonlistening

Failing to engage in the listening process.

Interruptive Listening

Listening that involves interrupting the speaker, often to take control of the conversation.

Agenda-Driven Listening

Listening that focuses on achieving a specific goal rather than understanding the speaker.

Argumentative Listening

Listening with the intent to critique or oppose the speaker's viewpoint.

Nervous Listening

Listening that involves anxiety or discomfort during communication.

Interactive Listening

Engaging with the speaker through feedback and questions.

External Noise

Environmental distractions that interfere with listening.

Internal Noise

Psychological distractions that interfere with the listening process.

Audience Surveillance

The process of monitoring audience reactions and feedback.

Defeated Listening

Listening that results in a feeling of helplessness or frustration.

Superficial Listening

Listening that only involves surface-level understanding without deep engagement.

Speech Critique

An assessment of a speech's effectiveness and quality.

Constructive Criticism

Feedback that is helpful and aimed at improving performance.

Situational Characteristics

The context of a speech, including the audience, setting, and time.

Audience Size

The number of people in the audience, which can affect delivery and engagement.

Presentation Time

The duration allotted for the speech.

Body Clock (Chronemics)

The study of how time affects communication.

Location (Forum)

The physical space where the speech takes place.

Stationary Audience

An audience that remains in one place during a presentation.

Mobile Audience

An audience that is moving or may not be fully attentive.

Demographics

Statistical data about the audience, including age, gender, and cultural background.

Age

The demographic characteristic based on how old the audience members are.