Ch 1 Vocabulary Terms
Communication-is the process of creating and exchanging meaning through symbolic interaction
Context-is the situation in which communication occurs.
Appropriateness- is what is suitable for a specific situation.
Role-is a part played in a specific situation.
Norm-is a stated or implied expectation.
Standard-is an established level of requirement or excellence.
Competent Communicator- is someone who incorporates knowledge, attitude, and skill into his
or her communication to communicate effectively and appropriately.
Task Skills- are the communication skills needed to do a job, complete a task, or reach a goal
effectively.
Relationship Skills-are the communication skills needed to nurture and maintain goodwill with
people.
Organization-is a number of people with specific responsibilities who are united for some
purpose.
Culture-is the set of life patterns passed down from one generation to the next in a group of
people.
Organization Culture-is how an organization thinks, what it finds important, and how it conducts
business.
Culture Shock-is the confusion or anxiety that sometimes results when people come into contact
with a culture different from their own.
Social Responsibility- is an obligation or willingness to work toward the well being of others.
Conflict-is the struggle between two or more parties who sense interference in achieving goals.
Chapter 2 Vocabulary Terms
Transactional- is a process that involves an exchange.
Sender-receiver- is the person who sends a message to someone.
Receiver-Sender- is the person who receives, or believes he or she has received, a message.
Message- is the information that is exchanged between communicators.
Channel- is the space in which the message is transmitted.
Noise-is anything that interferes with a message and is usually temporary.
Barrier- is any obstacle that blocks communication.
Feedback- is one person’s observable response to another’s message.
Data- is made up of those things that catch a communicator’s attention, such as objects, people,
sounds, thoughts, memories, and the message sent by others.
Sensory Perception- is the complex physical process of taking in data through your senses.
Encoding- is the mental process of assigning meaning and language to data.
Transmitting- is the physical process of sending verbal and nonverbal messages.
Acquiring- is the physical process receiver-senders use to take in the sender’s message.
Decoding- is the mental process receiver-senders use to create meaning from language.
Interpersonal Communication- is the communication that occurs in your own mind.
Self-Talk- is the inner speech or mental conversations that we carry on with ourselves.
Interpersonal Communication- is communication between two people.
Small Group Communication- is communication within formal and informal groups or teams.
One-to-group communication- involves a speaker who seeks to inform, persuade, or motivate
an audience.
Mass Communication- is the electronic or print transmission of messages to the general public.
Mass Media- are outlets of communication, such as radio, television, film, or print.
Chapter 3 Vocabulary Terms
Perception- the process you use to assign meaning to data about yourself or the world around
you.
Selective Perception-is the mental process of choosing which data or stimuli focusing on from all
that are available to you at any given time.
Personal Perception-is your own understanding of reality.
Perception Check-is a question that helps you determine the accuracy and validity of your
perceptions.
Feed-Forward-is to offer an explanation that you want to make or a reason or explanation for a
question, request, or offer.
Self Concept- also known as self perception is the view you have of yourself.
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy- is a prediction or expectation of an event that shapes your behavior,
making the outcome more likely to occur.
Self Disclosure- is the deliberate revelation of significant information about yourself that is not
readily apparent to others.
Chapter 4 Vocabulary Terms
Oral Language- is language that is spoken and heard rather than written and read.
Vocabulary- is all the word symbols that make up a particular code or language.
Structure- the third characteristic, is the way the different parts of language are arranged.
Grammar- the fourth characteristic of language, is the basic understanding and rules that regulate the use
of language.
Diction- is the degree of clarity and distinctness in a person’s speech.
Pronunciation- is the standard set for the overall sound of a word.
Articulation- is the act of clearly and distinctly uttering the constant sounds of a word.
Enunciation- is the act of clearly and distinctly uttering the vowel sound of a word.
Dialect- is a unique combination of speech sounds that identify speech with a particular group of people.
Formal Language- is language that conforms to a highly structured set of rules; that is, there are strict
standards dictating its use.
Technical Language- is language associated with a particular profession, activity, or field of study.
Jargon- is another name for technical language.
Standard Language- is the language used by the majority of knowledgeable communicators within a
specific language.
Informal Language- is the type of language most often used in casual situations and close interpersonal
relationships.
Colloquialism- is a term associated with a specific regional culture.
Slang- is a second type of informal language. It can be described as temporary language because It
typically is used for only a brief period of time by a limited group of people.
Ungrammatical Language- is language that does not use expected standards of grammar or mechanics.
Social Ritual- is a communication situation that is frequently repeated in daily social interactions.
Denotation- is a word’s objective description or meaning.
Connotation- is the emotions or feelings with which a word is associated.
Filler- is a word or phrase use to cover up hesitancy in speech. Some common fillers are “uh,” “um,”
“like,” “so,” “you know,” and “totally.”
Tag- is a statement or question added to the end of a statement to invite approval or cooperation from
others.
Chapter 5 Vocabulary Terms
Nonverbal Communication- is a system of symbolic behaviors that includes all forms of
communication except words.
Ambiguous- means open to interpretation and often confusing.
Pitch- is the highness or lowness of sound on a musical scale.
Range- relates to the variations possible for a speaker to reach- from the highest pitch possible
to the lowest pitch possible.
Inflection- is the rising and falling of pitch that adds variety to speaking.
Tone- is a specific vocal quality.
Rate- refers to how fast or how slow an individual speaks.
Tempo- refers to the rhythmic quality of a person’s speech.
Kinesics- refers to the use of the body in communication.
Artifacts- are articles of adornment you use to decorate yourself or your surroundings.
Chapter 6 Vocabulary Terms
Active Listening-the listener participates fully in the communication process. When you listen
attentively, provide feedback, and strive to understand and remember messages, you are being
an active listener.
Passive Listening- the listener does not fully participate in interactions. Passive listeners think
they can absorb information even when they do not contribute to the interaction.
Impatient Listening- short burst of active listening are interrupted by noise and other
distractions. Impatient listeners usually intend to pay attention-and may even be successful for
short periods of time-but then they allow their mind to wander in some way.
Critical Listening- is listening to comprehend ideas and information in order to achieve a specific
goal. Sometimes referred to as “comprehensive listening.”
Deliberative Listening-is listening to understand, analyze, and evaluate messages so you can
accept or reject a point of view, make a decision, or take action. Sometimes referred to as
“evaluative listening.”
Emphatic Listening-is listening to understand, participate in or enhance a relationship.
Appreciative Listening-is listening to enjoy, or appreciate, a speaker’s message or a performance
on an artistic level. It is listening for fun-to laugh, cry, use your imagination, or extend creativity.
Listening-is a physical and psychological process that involves acquiring, assigning meaning, and
responding to symbolic messages from others.
Hearing-the physical process of receiving sound.
Attending-is the act of choosing- consciously or subconsciously- to focus your attention on
verbal or nonverbal stimuli.
Understanding- is a complex mental process that involves decoding the symbolic messages
received from others and then interpreting and assigning a personal meaning to that message.
Interpreting- is a process in which you personalize the sender’s message to determine meaning
for you.
Responding- is the listener’s internal emotional and intellectual reaction to a message.