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abstract symbol  A symbol which represents an idea. (ch 1) (10)
accommodation  An approach that works toward getting the dominant group to reinvent, or at least change, the rules so that they incorporate the life experiences of the nondominant group. Something that occurs in groups when people on one side of an issue give in to the other side. (ch 3, 11) (83, 399)
accommodation strategies  When people are not part of a dominant culture, those processes people use to get the dominant group to reinvent or change the rules through the use of nonassertive, assertive, or aggressive accommodation. (ch 3) (83)
action listening style  That kind of listening in which the listener wants precise, error-free presentations and is likely to be impatient with disorganization. (ch 4) (102)
active listener  A listener who makes a mental outline of important points and thinks up questions or challenges to those points. (ch 4) (113)
adaptors  Nonverbal ways of adjusting to a communication situation. (ch 6) (182)
ad hominem  A fallacy that occurs when an argument diverts attention away from the question being argued by focusing instead on those arguing it. (ch 17) (624)
affection  A feeling of warm, emotional attachment we have for people we appreciate and care for. (ch 7) (219)
agenda  A list of all the items that will be discussed during a meeting. (ch 11) (390)
aggression  A physical or verbal show of force. (ch 8) (273)
aggressive talk  Talk that attacks a person's self-concept with the intent of inflicting psychological pain. (ch 8) (272)
analogy  In reasoning, comparing two similar cases and concluding that if something is true for one, it must also be true for the other. (ch 17) (625)
anecdote  A short, interesting story based on an experience. (ch 16) (588)
appeal to authority  A fallacy that occurs whenever an idea is justified by citing some source of expertise as a reason for holding that idea. (ch 17) (624)
appeal to ignorance  A fallacy that occurs when an argument is based on an opponent's inability to disprove a conclusion as proof of the conclusion's correctness. (ch 17) (624)
appraisal interview  A type of information interview in which a supervisor makes a valuation by estimating and judging the quality or worth of an employee's performance and then interviews the employee in connection with the appraisal. (ch 9) (303)
articulation  The ability to pronounce the letters in a word correctly. (ch 15) (545)
assertiveness  Taking the responsibility of expressing needs, thoughts, and feelings in a direct, clear manner. (ch 8) (286)
assessment  The evaluation of what took place during communication. (ch 4) (112)
assimilation  When nondominants use assimilation, they drop cultural differences and distinctive characteristics that would identify them with the nondominant group. (ch 3) (81)
assimilation strategies  When people are not part of a dominant culture, those processes people use to get the dominant group to reinvent or change the rules through the use of nonassertive, assertive, or aggressive assimilation. (ch 3) (81)
assumption  A taking for granted or supposition that something is a fact. (ch 3) (86)
asynchronous communication  Communication in which people are not directly connected with each other at the same time. (ch 10, Appendix) (354, 663)
attentiveness  Focusing on the moment. (ch 15) (533)
attitudes  Deeply felt beliefs that govern how one behaves. Also, a group of beliefs that cause us to respond in some way to a particular object or situation. (ch 7, 17) (217, 614)
attractiveness  Having the power or quality of drawing, pleasing, or winning. (ch 6) (184)
audience analysis  Finding out what one's audience members know about a subject, what they might be interested in, and what their attitudes and beliefs are. (ch 12) (434)
authoritarian leader  One who holds great control over a group. (ch 11) (382)
avoidance  A refusal to deal with conflict or painful issues. (ch 8,11) (278, 399)
balance  One of eight ways couples have for dealing with or responding to dialectical tension that involves a useful approach because it is a compromise that promotes dialogue about both opposing dialectical extremes. (ch 7) (245)
begging the question  A fallacy that occurs when an argument, instead of offering proof for its conclusion, simply reasserts the conclusion in another form. (ch 17) (624)
beliefs  One's own convictions; what one thinks is right and wrong, true and false. Also, they are classified as statements of knowledge, opinion, and faith. (ch 7, 17) (217, 613)
bid  A question, gesture, look, touch, or other single expression that says "I want to feel connected to you." (ch 7) (223)
bifurcation  A fallacy that occurs when one presumes that a distinction is exclusive and exhaustive, but other alternatives exist. (ch 17) (624)
body (of speech)  The main part of the speech. (ch 14) (493)
body adornment  Any addition to the physical body designed to beautify or decorate. (ch 6) (188)
body movement (kinesics)  Describes a phenomenon responsible for much of our nonverbal communication. (ch 6) (181)
brainstorming  A technique of free association; in groups, when all members spontaneously contribute ideas in a group without judgments being made. The goal of brainstorming is for the group to be as creative as possible. (ch10) (362)
bulletin boards  An online group discussion originally designed for swapping files and posting notices. (ch 10) (354)
causal reasoning  A logical appeal that pertains to, constitutes, involves, or expresses a cause and therefore uses the word because, which is either implicitly or explicitly stated. (ch 17) (625)
cause-and-effect order  Organization of a speech around why something is happening (cause) and what impact it is having (effect). (ch 14) (496)
central idea  The main idea or thesis of a speech. It establishes the main thrust of the speech. (ch 4, 12) (114, 431)
channel  The route traveled by a message; the means it uses to reach the sender-receivers. (ch 1) (11)
chronemics  The study of time. (ch 6) (195)
clarity  That property of style by means of which a thought is so presented that it is immediately understood, depending on the precision and simplicity of the language. (ch 5) (156)
closed-format  Interviews that are highly structured. (ch 9) (307)
closed questions  Interview questions that are worded in ways that restrict their answers (e.g., questions that can be answered with a yes or a no). (ch 9) (308)
coculture  Because the word subculture has the connotation of a culture beneath, lower, or under, we have chosen, instead, to use the word coculture to represent nonwhites, women, people with disabilities, homosexuals, and those in the lower social classes who have specific patterns of behavior that set them off from other groups within a culture. (ch 1, 3) (22, 65)
coercive power  In an organization, the ability of a leader to punish followers (e.g., by criticizing them, refusing to pay attention to them, using power to demote them, refusing to raise their pay, or firing them). (ch 11) (376)
cognitive dissonance  A psychological theory, applied to communication, which states that people seek information that will support their beliefs and ignore information that does not. (ch 4) (104)
cohesiveness  The feeling of attraction that group members have toward one another. It is the group's ability to stick together, to work together as a group, and to help one another as group members. (ch 10) (359)
collaboration  When people in conflict try to work together to meet the other person's needs as well as their own. (ch 11) (399)
color  A visual attribute of bodies or substances distinct from their spatial characteristics. (ch 16) (581)
commitment  A strong desire by both parties for the relationship to continue. In groups, it is the willingness of members to work together to complete the group's task. (ch 8, 10) (271, 359)
communication  Any process in which people share information, ideas, and feelings. (ch 1) (7)
comparative advantage order  A method of arranging a speech that enables the speaker to compare the advantages of one solution over another. (ch 17) (635)
comparison  Pointing out the similarities between two or more things. (ch 13, 16) (471, 579)
compatibility  Similar attitudes, personality, and a liking for the same activities. (ch 7) (217)
competition  Something that occurs in groups when one side cares more about winning than it does about other members' feelings. (ch 11) (399)
complaint  Expression of dissatisfaction with the behavior, attitude, belief, or characteristic of a partner or of someone else. (ch 8) (277)
composition  The makeup of a thing. (ch 16) (582)
compromise  When each side in a conflict has to give up something in order to get what it wants. (ch 11) (399)
computer database  A collection of items of information organized for easy access via a computer. (ch 13) (457)
computer-generated graphics  Refers to any images created or manipulated via computer-art, drawings, representations of objects, pictures, and the like. (ch 15) (551)
conclusion (of speech)  In a speech, the closing remarks that tie a speech together and give listeners the feeling that the speech is complete. (ch 14) (509)
concrete symbol  A symbol that represents an object. (ch 1) (10)
conflict  Expressed struggle between at least two individuals who perceive incompatible goals or interference from others in achieving their goals. (ch 11) (397)
conflict resolution  Negotiation to find a solution to the conflict. (ch 8) (287)
connotative meaning  The feelings or associations that each individual has about a particular word. (ch 5) (141)
consensus  The point at which all members of a group agree. (ch 10) (368)
content listening style  That kind of listening in which the listener prefers complex and challenging information. (ch 4) (102)
context  High context occurs when most of the meaning of the message is either implied by the physical setting or is presumed to be part of the individual's beliefs, values, and norms. It is considered low context when most of the information is in the code or message. (ch 3) (77)
contrast  Pointing out the differences between two or more things. (ch 13, 16) (472, 579)
control  People who attempt to exert control believe that they are always right and that no other opinion (or even fact) is worth listening to. They argue for their point of view, insist their position be accepted, and raise their voices to get people to accept what they believe. (ch 6) (171) Also, control is being able to make choices. (ch 7) (220) Also, people who believe they are always right and that no other opinion (or even fact) is worth listening to. (ch 8) (279)
control messages  Messages designed to get children to behave in ways that are acceptable to the mother. (ch 7) (247)
controlling listener  These types of listeners don't want to listen at all, and they always look for a way to talk about themselves and their experiences. (ch 4) (105)
convergence  An aspect of rate (the speed at which one speaks) demonstrated by how one person will accommodate or adapt to another's rate. (ch 6) (180)
conversational quality  When speakers talk to audiences in much the same way they talk when they are having a conversation with another person. (ch 15) (535)
costs and rewards  Problems and pleasures of a relationship. (ch 8) (283)
costumes  That type of clothing that is a form of highly individualized dress. (ch 6) (188)
cover letter  Letters that provide a "cover" to a résumé. (ch 9) (323)
credibility  The believability of a speaker based on the speaker's expertise, dynamism, trustworthiness, and ethics. (ch 4, 17) (118, 637)
critical listening  Evaluating and questioning what has been heard. (ch 4) (117)
criticism  A negative evaluation of a person for something he or she has done or the way he or she is. (ch 8) (276)
critics-analyzers  Group members who look at the good and bad points in the information the group has gathered. These members see the points that need more elaboration, and they discover information that has been left out. (ch 11) (395)
cultural identity  The degree to which you identify with your culture. (ch 3) (65)
culture  The ever-changing, values, traditions, social and political relationships, and worldview created and shared by a group of people bound together by a combination of factors (which can include a common history, geographic location, language, social class, and/or religion). (ch 1, 3) (22, 66)
database  A collection of information that can be read on a computer screen. (ch 13) (457)
deductive reasoning  Reasoning from the general to the specific. (ch 17) (621)
defensive communication  When one partner tries to defend himself or herself against the remarks or behavior of the other. (ch 8) (278)
definition  A brief explanation of what a word or phrase means. (ch 13, 16) (473, 576)
delegating  That style of situational leadership in which leaders hang back and let members plan and execute the job. (ch 11) (387)
deletions  The blotting out, erasing, or canceling of information that makes people's perceptions less than perfect because their physical senses are limited. (ch 2) (50)
democratic leader  One who lets all points of view be heard and lets group members participate in the decision-making process. (ch 11) (383)
demographic analysis  Reveals data about the characteristics of a group of people, including such things as age, sex, education, occupation, race/nationality/ethnic origin, geographic location, and group affiliation. (ch 12) (437)
denial  One of eight ways couples have for dealing with or responding to dialectical tension that involves responding to one element of a dialectic while ignoring the other. (ch 7) (245)
denotative meaning  The dictionary definition of a particular word. (ch 5) (141)
describe  To describe is to provide a mental image of something experienced, such as a scene, a person, or a sensation. (ch 16) (580)
diagram  May range from a simple organizational chart to a complex rendering of a three-dimensional object. It is particularly valuable in showing how something works. (ch 15) (548)
dialect  The habitual language of a community. (ch 5) (153)
directness  Being natural and straightforward. (ch 15) (535)
disciplinary interview  A type of information interview that concerns a sensitive area, where the employee is notified, and the interview involves hearing the employee's side of the story and, depending on the outcome, instituting disciplinary action. (ch 9) (303)
discrimination  The overt actions one takes to exclude, avoid, or distance oneself from other groups. (ch 3) (80)
disorientation  One of eight ways couples have for dealing with or responding to dialectical tension that involves a nonfunctional response that involves couples who have become overwhelmed by the contradictions dialectics present. (ch 7) (245)
displays of feelings  Face and body movements that show how intensely we are feeling. (ch 6) (182)
distortions  The twisting or bending of information out of shape that makes people's perceptions less than perfect because they only observe a small part of their external environment. (ch 2) (51)
dominant culture  Includes white people from a European background. (ch 3) (81)
doublespeak  A term that refers to euphemisms created by an institution, such as government, to cover up the truth. (ch 5) (147)
dynamism  For speakers, a great deal of enthusiasm and energy for their subject. (ch 17) (638)
dysfunctional (individual) roles  Any role played by a group member that can be characterized as aggressor, blocker, recognition-seeker, self-confessor, playboy or playgirl, dominator, help-seeker, or special-interest pleader. (ch 11) (396)
elective characteristics  The nonverbal, physical characteristics over which you have control such as clothing, makeup, tattoos, and body piercing. (ch 6) (185)
electronic résumé  A résumé specifically designed to apply for jobs online that produce interviews. (ch 9) (322)
emblems  Body movements that have a direct translation into words. (ch 6) (181)
emotional appeal  An appeal that focuses on listeners' needs, wants, desires, and wishes. (ch 17) (625)
emotional intelligence  The ability to understand and get along with others. (ch 7) (212)
empathic listening  Listening for feelings, in contrast to listening for main points or listening to criticize ideas. (ch 4) (121)
empathy  The ability to recognize and identify with someone's feelings. (ch 7, 8) (214, 280)
employment interview  An interview used by an employer to determine whether someone is suitable for a job. (ch 9) (316)
encouragers  Those group members who praise and commend contributions and group achievements. (ch 11) (395)
enunciation  How one pronounces and articulates words. (ch 15) (545)
ethical communication  Communication that is honest, fair, and considerate of others' rights. (ch 1) (23)
ethics  A matter of conforming to acceptable and fair standards of conduct. (ch 17) (641)
ethnocentrism  The belief that one's own cultural group's behaviors, norms, ways of thinking and ways of being are superior to all other cultural groups. (ch 3) (79)
etymology  The study of the origin and development of words. (ch 16) (577)
euphemisms  Inoffensive words or phrases which are substituted for words that might be perceived as unpleasant. (ch 5) (146)
evaluative statements  Statements involving a judgment. (ch 8) (279)
example  A short illustration that clarifies a point. (ch 13, 16) (473, 578)
exit interview  A type of information interview that occurs at the termination of an employee's employment, and is designed to resolve any outstanding concerns of employers and employees. (ch 9) (303)
expert power  The influence and power that an expert has because he or she knows more than anyone else. (ch 11) (377)
expertise  Having the experience or knowledge of an expert. (ch 17) (637)
explaining  The process of making something clear. (ch 16) (584)
extemporaneous speaking  Speaking from notes. (ch 15) (538)
external noise  Interference with the message that comes from the environment and keeps the message from being heard or understood. (ch 1) (12)
eye messages  As an aspect of nonverbal communication, they include all information conveyed by the eyes alone. (ch 6) (183)
fact  Something that can be verified in a number of ways, which might include experiments, direct observation, or books by authorities. (ch 4) (119)
factual information  Interviews that focus on facts such as who, what, where, and when. (ch 9) (306)
fallacy  An improper conclusion drawn from the premise. (ch 17) (624)
false analogy  A fallacy that occurs when a comparison between an obscure or difficult set of facts and one that is already known and understood, and to which it bears a significant resemblance, is erroneous and distorts the facts of the case being argued. (ch 17) (624)
false cause  A fallacy that occurs when events are causally connected but in fact no such causal connection has been established. (ch 17) (624)
family  Two or more individuals who are joined together at a particular point in time through the biological or sociological means of genetics, marriage, or adoption. (ch 7) (239)
feedback  The response of the receiver-senders to each other. (ch 1) (11)
femininity versus masculinity  That way of contrasting a group of cultures to another group of cultures that involves the division of roles between women and men. (ch 3) (76)
feng shui  The ancient Chinese art of improving every aspect of your life by enhancing your environment according to the principles of harmony and energy flow. (ch 6) (173)
file  A complete, named, collection of information. (ch 9) (323)
file format  Coded in ASCII (pronounced ASK-ee), in plain text, rich text and hypertext, a file format exists so that information can be stored and retrieved electronically. (ch 9) (323)
fit  It occurs when you describe something by the way parts belong together or by the relationship among parts. (ch 16) (582)
flip chart  A series of pictures, words, diagrams, and so forth. It is made up of several pages that speakers "flip" through. (ch 15) (549)
follow-up questions  Interview questions that are based on the answers given by interviewees and useful when interviewers want interviewees to go into a subject in greater depth. (ch 9) (308)
FOXP2 gene  The gene directly linked to developing the fine motor skills needed for the development of language and speech. (ch 5) (136)
full-sentence outline  A complete map of what a speech will look like. (ch 14) (513)
function  How things perform or how they can be used. (ch 16) (580)
functional leadership  When leadership varies with the task of the group and moves from one individual to another as the group finds it suitable. (ch 11) (380)
gatekeepers  Those in control of what information becomes available over the media (e.g., organizations, owners, editors, news directors, and reporters). (Appendix) (667)
general purpose  The intention of the speaker to inform or persuade. (ch 12) (427)
generalizations  The process of drawing principles or conclusions from particular evidence or facts that makes people's perceptions less than perfect because once people have observed something a few times, they conclude that what has proven true in the past will prove true in the future as well. (ch 2) (51)
graphs  Statistical material presented in a visual form that helps viewers see similarities, differences, relationships, or trends. (ch 15) (550)
groupthink  A group dysfunction in which the preservation of harmony becomes more important than the critical examination of ideas. (ch 10) (359)
harmonizers-compromisers  Group members who help to resolve conflict in the group, settle arguments and disagreements through mediation, and attempt to discover solutions acceptable to everyone. (ch 11) (395)
hasty generalization  A fallacy that occurs when an isolated or exceptional case is used as the basis for a general conclusion that is unwarranted. (ch 17) (624)
hidden agendas  Unannounced goals, subjects, or issues of individual group members or subgroups that differ from the group's public or stated agenda. (ch 11) (391)
hierarchy of needs  The relative order of the physical and psychological needs of all human beings. (ch 17) (626)
high context versus low context  That way of contrasting a group of cultures to another group of cultures that involves the degree to which most of the information is carried in the context (high) or most of the information is in the code or message (low). (ch 3) (77)
hypothetical example  An example that is made up to illustrate a point. (ch 13) (475)
illustrators  Gestures or other nonverbal signals which accent, emphasize, or reinforce words. (ch 6) (181)
immediacy  It occurs when the communicator is completely focused on the communication situation. (ch 15) (534)
impromptu speaking  Speaking on the spur of the moment with little time to prepare. (ch 15) (536)
inclusion  Involvement with others. (ch 7) (219)
indirect aggression  (Also called passive aggression.) People who use this form of communication often feel powerless and respond by doing something to thwart the person in power. (ch 8) (273)
individualism versus collectivism  That way of contrasting a group of cultures to another group of cultures that involves the degree of integration and orientation of individuals within groups. (ch 3) (76)
inductive reasoning  Reasoning from the specific to the general. (ch 17) (622)
inflection  A change in pitch used to emphasize certain words and phrases. (ch 15) (545)
influence  The power of a person or things to affect others-to produce effects without the presence of physical force. (ch 17) (610)
information givers and seekers  Members of groups who either give information or seek it. (ch 11) (394)
information interview  An interview in which the goal is to gather facts and opinions from someone with expertise and experience in a specific field. (ch 9) (303)
information-sharing group  A type of group which meets to be informed or to inform others, to express themselves and to listen to others, to get or give assistance, to clarify or hear clarification of goals, or to establish or maintain working relationships. (ch 10) (355)
informative speech  A speech that concentrates on explaining, defining, clarifying, and instructing. (ch 12, 16) (427, 573)
initiators-expediters  Members of groups who suggest new ideas, goals, solutions, and approaches. (ch 11) (393)
instrumental values  Those values that guide people's day-to-day behavior (how one should or should not behave). (ch 17) (612)
integration  One of eight ways couples have for dealing with or responding to dialectical tension that involves a way that partners simultaneously respond to opposing forces without dilution or delusion. (ch 7) (245)
intercultural communication  When a message is created by a member of one culture, and this message needs to be processed by a member of another culture. (ch 1, 3) (22, 68)
internal noise  Interference with the message that occurs in the minds of the sender-receivers when their thoughts or feelings are focused on something other than the communication at hand. (ch 1) (12)
Internet  A group of computer networks connected to each other. (ch 13) (459)
Internet-ready résumé  A résumé specifically designed to apply for jobs online that produce interviews. (ch 9) (322)
interpersonal communication  One person interacting with another on a one-to-one basis, often in an informal, unstructured setting. (ch 1, 7) (20, 24)
interview  A series of questions and answers, usually exchanged between two people, which has the purpose of getting and understanding information about a particular subject or topic. (ch 9) (301)
intimacy  Intimacy is defined by some or all of the following characteristics: spontaneity, self-disclosure, motivation, interdependence, and tension and balance. (ch 7) (241)
intimate distance  That distance zone, a range of less than 18 inches apart, that places people in direct contact with each other. (ch 6) (190)
intrapersonal communication  Communication that occurs within you; it involves thoughts, feelings, and the way you look at yourself. (ch 1) (18)
introduction (of speech)  In a speech, the opening remarks that aim to get attention and build interest in the subject. (ch 14) (502)
Johari window  a model of the process of disclosure in interpersonal relationships, developed by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham. (ch 7) (232)
key-word outline  An outline containing only the important words or phrases of a speech that helps to remind speakers of the ideas they are presenting. (ch 14) (513)
laissez-faire leader  One who does very little actual leading. This leader suggests no direction for and imposes no order on a group. (ch 11) (384)
language environment  The environment in which language takes place, e.g., in a classroom. (ch 5) (145)
leader  A person who influences the behavior of one or more people. (ch 11) (376)
leadership style  The amount of control a leader exerts over a group. (ch 11) (380)
leading question  A question designed to point the interviewee in a particular direction. (ch 9) (309)
learning group  The purpose is to increase the knowledge or skill of participants. (ch 10) (356)
legitimate power  (Also called organizational power) Leaders in formal organizations who derive their influence because they are "the boss" or because of the organizational hierarchy and its rules. (ch 11) (377)
leisure clothing  That type of clothing that is up to the individual and that is worn when work is over. (ch 6) (188)
letter of application  A letter that accompanies a résumé and other requested materials, such as transcripts and letters of recommendation, when it is known that an employer has an opening which interests a prospect. (ch 9) (326)
letter of inquiry  A letter that accompanies a résumé and is designed to determine if an employer has an opening for which you may qualify. (ch 9) (323)
listening  Hearing and responding to given information, both intellectually and emotionally. (ch 4) (102)
logical appeal  An appeal that addresses listeners' reasoning ability. (ch 17) (621)
long-term orientation  That way of contrasting a group of cultures to another group of cultures that involves the trade-off between long-term and short-term gratification of needs. (ch 3) (78)
mailing lists  Online group discussions that are completely passive. The discussion arrives through e-mail. (ch 10) (354)
main heads  The points that reinforce the central idea. (ch 4) (114)
main points  All the broad, general ideas and information that support your central idea. (ch 14) (492)
maintenance roles  Group members who play these roles focus on the emotional tone of the meeting. (ch 11) (395)
manuscript speaking  Writing out an entire speech and reading it to the audience from the prepared script. (ch 15) (537)
map versus territory  The map is the personal mental approximation and the territory is the actual land or external reality that people experience. Map versus territory simply contrasts the subjective internal experience with the objective external reality. (ch 2) (54)
mass communication  Communication that involves highly structured messages and large audiences, often numbering in the millions. Messages of mass communication are created by many people. (ch 1) (21)
media literacy  The ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and communicate information in all its forms-both print and nonprint. (Appendix) (660)
memory (speaking from)  This type of delivery involves writing out the entire speech and then committing it to memory word for word. (ch 15) (538)
message  The ideas and feelings that a sender-receiver wants to share. (ch 1) (9)
metamessage  The meaning, apart from the words, in a message. (ch 5) (161)
metasearch engine  A special tool designed to help you find information on the Internet that transmits your search request to a number of different search engines and their databases of websites at the same time. (ch 13) (463)
minor points  The specific ideas and information that support the main points. (ch 14) (492)
mixed message  A message in which the verbal and nonverbal contradict each other. (ch 6) (177)
mob appeal  A fallacy that occurs when an appeal is made to emotions, particularly to powerful feelings that can sway people in large crowds. (ch 17) (624)
model  A replica of an actual object that is used when the object itself is too large to be displayed (e.g., a building), too small to be seen (e.g., a cell), or inaccessible to the eye (e.g., the human heart). (ch 15) (547)
monotone  Little variety of pitch in a speech. (ch 15) (545)
motivated sequence  Organization of a speech that involves five steps: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action and works because it follows the normal process of human reasoning. (ch 14) (500)
motivation  The stimulation or inducement that causes people to act. (ch 17) (611)
multimedia  Refers to various media (e.g., text, graphics, animation, and audio) used to deliver information. (ch 15) (553)
national communities  Cocultural groupings within a country. (ch 3) (70)
natural delivery  The collection of speech and actions that best represents your true self-that is, free from artificiality, affectation, and constraint. (ch 9) (333)
naturalistic fallacy  Occurs when something is identified as being good or desirable because it appears to be a natural characteristic. (ch 17) (624)
netiquette  (or net etiquette) It includes the common practices, customs, conventions, and expectations expected of individuals using the Internet. (ch 10) (396)
neutral questions  Interview questions that do not show how the interviewer feels about the subject. (ch 9) (309)
neutrality  Not taking sides (in a group discussion). (ch 11) (389)
noise  Interference that keeps a message from being understood or accurately interpreted. (ch 1) (12)
nondominant culture  Includes people of color, women, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, and those whose socioeconomic background is lower than middle class. (ch 3) (81)
nonelective characteristics  The nonverbal physical characteristics over which you have no control and cannot change such as height, body proportion, coloring, bone structure, and physical handicaps. (ch 6) (185)
nonverbal communication  Information we communicate without using words. (ch 6) (170)
nonverbal symbol  Anything communicated without words, e.g., facial expressions or hand gestures. (ch 1) (10)
norms  Expectations that group members have of how other members will behave, think, and participate. (ch 10) (351)
objective world  The actual territory or external reality people experience. (ch 2) (54)
objectivity  Basing conclusions on facts and evidence rather than on emotion or opinions. (ch 11) (389)
observers  Group members who aid in the group's cohesiveness by being sensitive to the needs of each member. (ch 11) (397)
occupational dress  That type of clothing that employees are expected to wear, but not as precise as a uniform. (ch 6) (188)
online résumé  A résumé specifically designed to apply for jobs online that produce interviews. (ch 9) (322)
open-ended questions  Interview questions that permit the person being interviewed to expand on his or her answers. (ch 9) (308)
open-format  Interviews that are relatively unstructured. (ch 9) (307)
opinion  A personal belief with which some people may disagree. Some opinions are more reliable than others. (ch 4) (119)
organizational chart  A chart that shows the relationships among the elements of an organization, such as the departments of a company, the branches of federal or state government, or the committees of student government. (ch 15) (548)
organizational power  (also called legitimate power) The ability of a leader to be influential because of his or her place in the organizational hierarchy (e.g., as a boss or supervisor). (ch 11) (377)
outline  A way of organizing material so all the parts and how they relate to the whole can be seen. (ch 14) (512)
owned message  (also known as an I-message) An acknowledgment of subjectivity by a message-sender through the use of first-person singular terms (I, me, my, mine). (ch 7) (228)
pace  How quickly or slowly a person speaks. (ch 15) (544)
paralanguage  The way we say something. (ch 5, 6) (154, 179)
paraphrasing  Restating the other person's thoughts or feelings in your own words. (ch 4) (123)
participating  That style of situational leadership in which leaders state the problem but immediately consult with group members. (ch 11) (386)
partitioning  How you choose to divide your speech into parts. (ch 12) (425)
passive listener  A listener who records but does not evaluate what is heard. (ch 4) (113)
passive listening style  That kind of listening in which listeners believe that it involves no work. (ch 4) (105)
patriotism  Devotion to one's country. (ch 3) (79)
people listening style  That kind of listening in which the listener is concerned with the other person's feelings. (ch 4) (102)
perception  How people look at themselves and the world around them. (ch 2) (46)
perceptual filters  The limitations that result from the narrowed lens through which people view the world. (ch 2) (51)
personal distance  That distance zone, a range from 18 inches to 4 feet, that people maintain from others when they are engaged in casual and personal conversations. (ch 6) (191)
personal inventory  Appraising your own resources. (ch 12) (416)
persuasion  The process of trying to get others to change their attitudes or behavior; also, the process that occurs when a communicator (sender) influences the values, beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors of another person (receiver). (ch 17) (608)
persuasive speech  A speech in which the speaker takes a particular position and tries to get the audience to accept and support that position. (ch 12) (428)
PETAL  In using presentation graphics, 1) develop pertinent materials, 2) choose an engaging format, 3) present your materials in a timely manner, 4) satisfy yourself that they are appropriate to the audience, and 5) ensure that everything is legible. (ch 9) (335)
pitch  Highness or lowness of the voice. (ch 6) (180)
policy information  Interviews that focus on how things are or should be done. (ch 9) (306)
polls  Surveys taken of people's attitudes, feelings, or knowledge. (ch 13) (479)
poster  Consists of lettering or pictures, or both. (ch 15) (548)
power distance  That way of contrasting a group of cultures to another group of cultures that involves social inequality. (ch 3) (74)
powerful talk  Talk that comes directly to the point, that does not use hesitation or qualifications. (ch 5) (157)
precursor  Something that precedes or comes before something else. (ch 9) (314)
prediction  From past experience with a person, a listener tries to predict what he or she will say next. (ch 4) (109)
prejudice  A negative attitude toward a cultural group based on little or no experience. (ch 3) (80)
premise  A premise includes the reasons given in support of a conclusion. (ch 17) (624)
presentation  A descriptive or persuasive account that is created to communicate ideas in a compelling and graphic manner (e.g., explain concepts, communicate complex data, make recommendations, or persuade and motivate others). (ch 9) (332)
primary questions  Interview questions that often come first in the interview or that come first with each new topic the interviewer introduces. (ch 9) (308)
proactive  In this style of responding to undesirable behavior, the mother anticipates that the undesirable behavior is coming and tries to divert the child. (ch 7) (247)
problem-solution order  Organization of a speech into two sections: one dealing with the problem and the other dealing with the solution. (ch 14) (498)
pronunciation  The ability to pronounce a word correctly. (ch 15) (545)
propriety  The character or quality of being proper, especially in accordance with recognized usage, custom, or principles. (ch 4) (127)
proxemics  The study of how people use space. (ch 6) (189)
proximity  Close contact that occurs between people who share an experience such as work, play, or school. (ch 7) (218)
psychological risk  Taking a chance on something new, e.g., on a new person or place. (ch 2) (41)
psychological safety  Approval and support obtained from familiar people, ideas, and situations. (ch 2) (41)
psychological sets  Those types of perceptual filters that are expectations or predispositions to respond by knowing what is about to confront people and preparing for it. (ch 2) (46)
public communication  The sender-receiver (speaker) sends a message (the speech) to an audience. (ch 1) (21)
public distance  That distance zone, a distance of more than 12 feet, typically used for public speaking. (ch 6) (192)
quality (of voice)  Comprised of all voice characteristics: tempo, resonance, rhythm, pitch, and articulation. (ch 6) (180)
question-begging epithets  A fallacy that occurs when slanted language is used to reaffirm what we wish to prove but have not proved yet. (ch 17) (624)
questions of fact  Questions that deal with what is true and what is false. (ch 10) (364)
questions of policy  Questions that are about actions that might be taken in the future. (ch 10) (365)
questions of value  Questions of whether something is good or bad, desirable or undesirable. (ch 10) (365)
rapport-talk  Type of language women use in conversation, designed to lead to intimacy with others, to match experiences, and to establish relationships. (ch 5) (151)
rate (of speech)  Speed at which one speaks. (ch 6) (180)
RDAT  In using slides in a presentation, read the visual, describe its meaning or significance, amplify it with an explanation or illustration, and, finally, transition to the next slide. (ch 9) (336)
reactive  In this style of responding to undesirable behavior, the mother punishes the child when the behavior appears. (ch 7) (247)
reaffirmation  One of eight ways couples have for dealing with or responding to dialectical tension that involves an active recognition by both partners that dialectical tensions will never go away. (ch 7) (245)
recalibration  One of eight ways couples have for dealing with or responding to dialectical tension that involves couples in reframing situations so the tugs and pulls on partners do not seem to be in opposite directions. (ch 7) (245)
reference list  A list of all the material you have used-and only that which you have used-in preparing your speech. (ch 14) (513)
referent power  When leaders enjoy influence because of their personality. (ch 11) (377)
reflected appraisals  Messages we get about ourselves from others. (ch 2) (36)
regrettable talk  Saying something embarrassing, hurtful, or private to another person. (ch 8) (274)
regulators  1) Nonverbal signals which control the back-and-forth flow of speaking and listening, such as head nods, hand, gestures, and other body movements. (ch 6) (181) 2) Group members who play this role help regulate group discussion by gently reminding members of the agenda or of the point they were discussing when they digressed. (ch 11) (397)
relational dialectics  The dynamic interplay between unified oppositions, based on the premise that relationships are organized around the dynamic interplay of opposing tendencies as they are enacted in interaction. (ch 7) (243)
report-talk  Type of language men use in conversation, designed to maintain status, to demonstrate knowledge and skills, and to keep center-stage position. (ch 5) (151)
response to a bid  A positive or negative answer to somebody's request for emotional connection. (ch 7) (223)
résumé  A summary of a person's professional life written for potential employers. (ch 9) (318)
reward power  A leader can have an influence if he or she can reward the followers (e.g., through promotions, pay raises, or praise). (ch 11) (376)
rhetorical question  A question that audience members answer mentally rather than aloud. (ch 16) (592)
ritual language  Communication that takes place when we are in an environment in which a conventionalized response is expected of us. (ch 5) (145)
roles  Parts we play, or ways we behave with others. (ch 1) (15)
rules  Formal and structured directions for behavior. (ch 10) (351)
scannable résumé  Résumés that follow specific guidelines so they can be scanned into a computer to create a searchable database. (ch 9) (322)
scripts  Lines and directions given to people by parents, teachers, coaches, religious leaders, friends, and the media that tell them what to say, what they expect, how to look, how to behave, and how to say the lines. (ch 2) (35)
search engine  Special tools designed to help you find information on the Internet. They are likely to be your first Web guides when you are searching something by keywords. (ch 13) (462)
segmentation  One of eight ways couples have for dealing with or responding to dialectical tension that involves a strategy of compartmentalizing different aspects of a relationship. (ch 7) (245)
selective attention  The ability to focus perception. (ch 4) (110)
self-concept  How a person thinks about and values himself or herself. (ch 2) (34)
self-disclosure  Process by which one person tells another something he or she would not tell just anyone. (ch 7) (230)
self-esteem  See self-concept.
self-fulfilling prophecies  Events or actions that occur because a person and those around her or him expected them. (ch 2) (37)
self-perception  The way in which one sees oneself. (ch 2) (39)
selling  That style of situational leadership in which leaders state the problem and decide what to do, but they sell the other group members on the idea to gain majority support. (ch 11) (386)
semantic noise  Interference with the message that is caused by people's emotional reactions to words. (ch 1) (12)
semiopen format  Interviews that occur based on a core set of standardized questions that are asked in a standard manner and carefully recorded. (ch 9) (307)
sender-receiver  In communication situations, people who simultaneously send and receive messages. (ch 1) (9)
separation  When nondominants do not want to form a common bond with the dominant culture, so they separate into a group that includes only members like themselves. (ch 3) (84)
separation strategies  When people are not part of a dominant culture, those processes people use to get the dominant group to reinvent or change the rules through the use of nonassertive, assertive, or aggressive separation. (ch 3) (84)
servant leadership  People who work for the well-being and growth of all employees and are committed to creating a sense of community and sharing power in decision making. (ch 11) (378)
setting  Where the communication occurs. (ch 1) (12)
shape  The outward form, configuration, or contour of a thing. (ch 16) (581)
situational leadership  People who can adopt different leadership styles depending on the situation. (ch 11) (384)
size  The measurement or extent of a thing when compared with some standard. (ch 16) (581)
small-group communication  Gatherings of 3 to 13 members who meet to do a job or solve a problem. (ch 1) (21)
small groups  Gatherings of 3 to 13 members who meet to do a job, solve a problem, or maintain relationships. (ch 10) (347)
small talk  Social conversation about unimportant topics that allows a person to maintain contact with a lot of people without making a deep commitment. (ch 7) (222)
social comparisons  When people compare themselves with others to see how they measure up. (ch 2) (37)
social distance  That distance zone, a range from 4 to 12 feet, that people are most likely to maintain when they do not know people very well. (ch 6) (191)
social group  Groups designed to serve the social needs of their participants. (ch 10) (352)
space and distance  Those distances people maintain between themselves and others that convey degrees of intimacy and status. (ch 6) (192)
spatial order  Organization of a speech by something's location in space (e.g., left to right, top to bottom). (ch 14) (495)
specific purpose  A statement for a speech that tells precisely what the speaker wants to accomplish. (ch 12) (429)
spiraling inversion  One of eight ways couples have for dealing with or responding to dialectical tension that involves separating the dialectical forces and responding to one pull now, the other pull later. (ch 7) (245)
statistics  Facts in numerical form. (ch 13) (475)
stereotypes  Oversimplified or distorted views of another race, ethnic group, or culture. (ch 3) (74)
stress interview  A type of information interview which is sometimes part of the job search and is designed to see how an interviewee acts under pressure. It is designed to give interviewers a realistic sense of their response to difficult situations. (ch 9) (303)
study  An in-depth investigation of a subject. (ch 5) (149)
style  The result of the way we select and arrange words and sentences. (ch 5) (149)
subculture  People who are part of a larger culture but also belong to a smaller group that has some different values, attitudes, or beliefs. (ch 1) (22) See coculture. (ch 1, 3) (22, 65)
subject directory  They include human-selected Internet resources and are arranged and classified in hierarchical topics. (ch 13) (461)
subjective view  The personal, internal, mental map of the actual territory or external reality that people experience. (ch 2) (54)
substantive conflict  Conflict that arises when people have different reactions to an idea. Substantive conflict is likely to occur when any important and controversial idea is being discussed. (ch 11) (398)
support messages  Those messages designed to make a child feel comfortable and secure in the family relationship. (ch 7) (247)
supporting material  Information that backs up your main points and provides the main content of the speech. (ch 13) (470)
supporting points  That material that backs up the main heads. (ch 4) (114)
sweeping generalization  A fallacy that occurs when a general rule is applied to a specific case to which the rule is not applicable because of special features of the case. (ch 17) (624)
symbol  Something that stands for something else. (ch 1) (9)
synchronous communication  Online group discussion in which group members communicate at the same time. All participants are virtually present at the same time (e.g., in a telephone conversation, a face-to-face encounter, or a real-time, online group format). (ch 10, Appendix) (354, 663)
systems theory of family  This theory describes a family as a dynamic whole composed of constantly shifting interrelationships but still bounded and rule-governed. (ch 7) (239)
tables  Columns of figures arranged in an order that enables the viewer to easily pick out the needed information. (ch 15) (549)
target audience  A subgroup of the whole audience that you must persuade to reach your goal. (ch 17) (620)
task-oriented group  A type of group that serves to get something specific accomplished, often problem-solving or decision-making goals. (ch 10) (352)
task roles  Roles that help get the job done. Persons who play these roles help groups come up with new ideas, aid in collecting and organizing information, and assist in analyzing the information that exists. (ch 11) (393)
telling  That style of situational leadership in which the leader is focused more on the task and less on the group. (ch 11) (385)
terminal values  Some final goal that is worth or not worth attaining. (ch 17) (612)
territory  Space we consider as belonging to us, either temporarily or permanently. (ch 6) (189)
testimony  Another person's statements or actions used to give authority to what the speaker is saying. (ch 13) (478)
time order  Organization of a speech by chronology or historical occurrence. (ch 14) (494)
time-style listening  That kind of listening in which the listener prefers brief and hurried interaction with others and often lets the communicator know how much time he or she has to make the point. (ch 4) (102)
topical order  Organization of a speech used when the subject can be grouped logically into subtopics. (ch 14) (501)
touch  To be in contact or come into contact with another person. (ch 6) (193)
transactional communication  Communication that involves three principles: 1) people sending messages continuously and simultaneously, 2) communication events that have a past, present, and future, and 3) participants playing certain roles. (ch 1) (14)
transitions  Comments that lead from one point to another to tell listeners where speakers have been, where they are now, and where they are going. (ch 14) (511)
transpection  The process of empathizing across cultures. (ch 3) (88)
trustworthiness  In the giving of a speech, the speaker is perceived as reliable and dependable. (ch 17) (639)
uncertainty avoidance  That way of contrasting a group of cultures to another group of cultures that involves tolerance for the unknown. (ch 3) (76)
uniforms  The most specialized form of clothing and that type that identifies wearers with particular organizations. (ch 6) (187)
usenet newsgroups (or Usenet)  Online group discussions that handle individual messages sorted by broad subject areas that can be subscribed to through Internet or corporate network host providers. (ch 10) (354)
values  A type of belief about how we should behave or about some final goal that may or may not be worth attaining. (ch 17) (612)
verbal symbol  A word that stands for a particular thing or idea. (ch 1) (10)
virtual reality  Like imagineering, it is a computer-generated alternate reality. (Appendix) (674)
visual support  Visual material that helps illustrate key points in a speech or presentation. Visual support includes devices such as charts, graphs, slides, and computer-generated graphics. (ch 15) (546)
vividness  That property of style by which a thought is so presented that it evokes lifelike imagery or suggestion. (ch 5) (159)
vocal fillers  Words we use to fill out our sentences or to cover up when we are searching for words. (ch 6) (181)
volume (of vocal sound)  How loudly we speak. (ch 6) (180)
web conferencing or web forums  Online group discussions that use text messages (and sometimes images) stored on a computer as the communication medium. Messages are typed into the computer for others to read. (ch 10) (354)
web forums  (also known as web conferencing) Group discussions that use text messages (and sometimes images) stored on a computer as the communication medium. (ch 10) (354)
web portal  The home page your browser displays when you first connect to the Net. (ch 12) (418)
weight  The heaviness of a mass, object, or thing. (ch 16) (581)
worldview  An all-encompassing set of moral, ethical, and philosophical principles and beliefs which governs the way people live their lives an interact with others. (ch 3) (67)







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