Business Communication Unit 1 Study Guide

A complete list of vocabulary terms and definitions from Chapters 1 through 4 of Unit 1 Business Communication.

Communication

The process of understanding and sharing meaning.

Source

The essential component of communication that creates and sends the message.

Message

The information or meaning sent in communication.

Channel

The way or pathway through which a message travels.

Receiver

The essential component of communication that receives and interprets the message.

Feedback

The receiver's response to a message.

Environment

The physical and psychological atmosphere in which communication occurs.

Context

The setting and expectations surrounding communication.

Interference

Anything that changes or blocks the intended meaning of a message.

Transactional Model

A communication model where participants send and receive messages, sometimes simultaneously, with an emphasis on exchange.

Constructivist Model

A communication model where participants negotiate meaning and seek common ground, emphasizing shared understanding.

Intrapersonal Communication

Communication with yourself (self-talk) that helps reflect on thoughts and perspectives before communicating with others.

Golden Rule

The ethical principle to treat others as you would want to be treated.

Language

A system of symbols, words, and/or gestures used to communicate meaning, with meaning shaped by context.

Symbol

A word or sign in the Semantic Triangle.

Thought/Concept

The mental idea associated with a symbol in the Semantic Triangle.

Referent

The actual physical or real thing being referred to in the Semantic Triangle.

Primary Message

Intentional verbal and nonverbal content in communication.

Secondary Message

Unintentional verbal and nonverbal content in communication.

Auxiliary Message

Intentional and unintentional ways the primary message is communicated.

Attention Statement

The first part of a message, designed to capture attention.

Introduction

The part of a message that states the purpose or claim.

Body

The part of a message that develops supporting details.

Conclusion

The part of a message that summarizes the content.

Residual Message

The main takeaway to remember from a message.

Syntactic Rules

Rules governing language that dictate word order.

Semantic Rules

Rules governing language that dictate word meaning and interpretation.

Contextual Rules

Rules governing language that dictate word choice and meaning according to situation and social custom.

Paradigms

Individual or collective worldviews that frame how people understand language and interpret the world.

Cliché

An overused expression that can obstruct communication.

Jargon

Profession-specific terms that can obstruct clear communication.

Slang

Informal substitutes for standard words.

Sexist/Racist Language

Language disparaging groups by gender, race, or ethnicity.

Euphemism

A milder substitute for an unpleasant term.

Doublespeak

Language that deliberately obscures meaning.

Polarizing Language

Language that frames people or ideas as extreme opposites.

Visual Communication

An emphasis strategy using images or charts to reinforce key ideas.

Signposts

Cues or words that signal transitions within communication.

Internal Summaries

An emphasis strategy used to recap prior points during a message.

Foreshadowing

An emphasis strategy used to preview upcoming points in a message.

Repetition

An emphasis strategy used to reinforce key ideas.

Awareness

Being conscious of events and stimuli, which affects what you notice and how you interpret and communicate information.

Attitudes

Learned predispositions toward an object or idea.

Beliefs

Convictions or expressions of confidence.

Values

Ideals guiding behavior.

Looking Glass Self

The idea that self-understanding is influenced by how we believe other people perceive us.

Selective Exposure

The process determining what stimuli we acknowledge or ignore.

Selective Attention

Focusing on one specific stimulus among competing stimuli.

Selective Retention

The process of choosing what information or stimuli to remember.

Proximity

A Gestalt principle of organization involving grouping items by closeness.

Continuity

A Gestalt principle of organization involving linking things in sequence.

Similarity

A Gestalt principle of organization involving grouping items by shared properties.

Uniformity/Homogeneity

A Gestalt principle of organization involving noting likenesses across items.

Figure and Ground

A Gestalt principle of organization involving noticing an item against its surroundings.

Symmetry

A Gestalt principle of organization involving balancing elements.

Closure

A Gestalt principle of organization involving filling in missing parts using prior knowledge.

Demographic Traits

Shared characteristics such as age, gender, education, and employment status used to consider audience needs, goals, and motivations.

Reciprocity

A principle promoting fairness in communication based on mutual exchange.

Mutuality

A principle promoting fairness in communication by seeking common ground.

Nonjudgmentalism

A principle promoting fairness in communication by considering different viewpoints.

Honesty

Telling the truth as you know it to promote fairness in communication.

Respect

Recognizing others' rights and treating them courteously in communication.

Logos

A rhetorical element based on logic and reasoning.

Ethos

A rhetorical element based on credibility and trust.

Pathos

A rhetorical element based on emotional appeal.

Clarity

A cognate skill reflecting logos defined as making content understandable.

Conciseness

A cognate skill reflecting logos defined as being brief.

Arrangement

A cognate skill reflecting logos defined as logical order.

Credibility

A cognate skill reflecting ethos defined as trustworthiness.

Expectation

A cognate skill reflecting ethos defined as meeting audience expectations.

Reference

A cognate skill reflecting ethos defined as supporting information and sources.

Tone

A cognate skill reflecting pathos defined as attitude.

Emphasis

A cognate skill reflecting pathos defined as highlighting key ideas.

Engagement

A cognate skill reflecting pathos defined as maintaining interest.

Colloquial Style

Written communication style that is informal, conversational, and sometimes uses slang or regional expressions.

Casual Style

Written communication style using everyday language in familiar groups.

Formal Style

Written communication style using professional, precise language attentive to roles and context.

Abstract Nouns

Nouns representing ideas or qualities that cannot be physically sensed, such as honesty.

Concrete Nouns

Nouns representing perceptible physical things, such as a desk or computer, which create clear mental pictures.

Plagiarism

Presenting another person’s words, ideas, or work as your own without proper credit.

Libel

Written defamation consisting of a false statement that damages someone’s reputation.