Public Speaking Final Exam Terms

nonverbal communication

communication based on a person's use of voice and body, rather than on the use of words

manuscript speech

speech written out word for word and read to the audience

impromptu speech

Speech delivered with little to no immediate preparation

extemporaneous speech

carefully prepared and rehearsed speech from a brief set of notes

conversation quality

presenting a speech so it sounds spontaneous no matter how many times it has been rehearsed

volume

loudness or softness of a speaker's voice

pitch

highness or lowness of the speakers voice

inflections

changes in pitch or tone of a speaker's voice

monotone

constant pitch or tone of voice

rate

speed at which a person speaks

pause

momentary break in vocal delivery of a speech

vocalized

pause that occurs when a speaker fills the silence between words with vocalizations such as "uh" & "um

vocal variety

changes in a speaker's rate, pitch, and volume that give the voice variety and expressiveness

pronunciation

accepted standard of sound and rhythm for words in a given language

articulation

physical production of particular speech sounds

dialect

variety of language distinguished by variations of accent, grammar, or vocabulary

kinesics

study of body motions as a systematic mode of communication

gestures

motions of a speaker's hands or arms during a speech

eye contact

direct visual contact with the eyes of another person

denotative meaning

literal or dictionary meaning of a word or phrase

connotative meaning

the meaning suggested by the associations or emotions triggered by a word or phrase

concrete words

words that refer to tangible objects

abstract words

words that refer to ideas or concepts

clutter

discourse that takes many more words than are necessary to express an idea

imagery

the use of vivid language to create mental images of objects, actions or ideas

simile

an explicit comparison introduced with the words "like" or "as" between things that are essentially different yet have something in common

metaphor

an implicit comparison, not introduced with the word "like" or as" between two things that are essentially different yet have something in common

rhythm

pattern of sound in a speech created by the choice and arrangement of words

parallelism

the similar arrangement of a pair or series of related words, phrases, or sentences

repetition

reiteration of the same word or set of words at the beginning or end of successive clauses or sentences

alliteration

repetition of the initial consonant sound of close or adjoining words

antithesis

juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, usually in parallel structure

inclusive language

language that does not stereotype, demean, or patronize people on the basis of gender, race, religion disability, sexual orientation or other factors

generic "he

the use of "her" to refer to both women and men

supporting materials

the materials used to support a speaker's idea
3 major kinds: examples, stats, testimony

example

a specific case used to illustrate or represent a group of people, ideas, conditions, experiences, or the like

brief example

specific case referred to in passing to illustrate a point

extended example

a story, narrative or anecdote developed at some length to illustrate a point

hypothetical example

an example that describes an imaginary or fictitious

statistics

numerical data

testimony

quotations or paraphrases used to support a point

expert testimony

testimony from people who are recognized experts in their fields

peer testimony

testimony from ordinary people with firsthand experience or insight into the topic

direct quotation

testimony that is presented word for word

paraphrase

to restate or summarize a source's ideas in ones

quoting out of context

quoting a statement in such a way as to distort its meaning by removing the statement from the words and phrases surrounding it

persuasion

process of creating, reinforcing, or changing people's beliefs or actions

mental dialogue

the mental give and take between speaker and listener during a persuasive speech

target audience

portion of the whole audience that the speaker most wants to persuade

question of fact

a question about the truth or falsity of an assertion

question of value

a question about the worth, rightness, morality and so forth of an idea or action

question of policy

question about whether a specific course of action should or should not be taken

speeches to gain passive agreement

a persuasive speech in which the speaker's goal is to convince the audience that a given policy is desirable without encouraging the audience to take action in support of the policy

speeches to gain immediate action

a persuasive speech in which the speaker's goal is to convince the audience to take action in support of a given policy

need

first basic issue in analyzing a question of policy

burden of proof

the obligation facing a persuasive speaker to prove that a change from current policy is necessary

plan

the second basic issue in analyzing a question of policy

practicality

the third basic issue in analyzing a question of policy

problem - solution order

method of organizing persuasive speeches in which the first main point deals with existence of a problem and the second main point presents a solution to the problem

problem - cause - solution order

method of organizing persuasive speeches in which the first main point identifies a problem, the second main point analyzes the causes of the problem, and the third main point presents a solution to the problem

comparative advantage order

method organizing persuasive speeches in which each main point explains why a speaker's solution to a problem is preferable to other proposed solutions

monroe's motivated sequence

method of organizing persuasive speeches that seek immediate action

ethos

name used by aristotle for what modern students of communication refer to as credibility

credibility

the audience's perception of whether a speaker is qualified to speak on a given topic. The two major factors influencing a speaker's credibility are competence and character

initial credibility

credibility of a speaker before he or she starts to speak

derived credibility

credibility of a speaker produced by everything he or she says and does during the speech

terminal credibility

credibility of a speaker at the end of the speech

creating common ground

a technique in which a speaker connects himself or herself with the values, attitudes, or experiences of the audience

evidence

supporting materials used to prove or disprove something

logos

the name used by Aristotle for the logical appeal of a speaker. the two major elements of logos are evidence and reasoning

reasoning

the process of drawing a conclusion on the basis of evidence

reasoning from specific instances

reasoning that moves from particular facts to a general conclusion

reasoning from principle

reasoning that moves from a general principle to a specific conclusion

causal reasoning

reasoning that seeks to establish the relationship between causes and effects

analogical reasoning

reasoning in which a speaker compares two similar cases and infers that what is true for the first case is also true for the second

fallacy

error in reasoning

hasty generalization

a fallacy in which a speaker jumps to a general conclusion on the basis of insufficient evidence

false cause

a fallacy in which a speaker mistakenly assumes that because one event follows another, the first event is the cause of the second

invalid analogy

an analogy in which the two cases being compared are not essentially alike

band wagon

a fallacy which assumes that because something is popular, it is therefore good, correct, or desirable

red herring

a fallacy that introduces an irrelevant issue to divert attention from the subject under discussion

ad hominem

a fallacy that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute

either - or

a fallacy that forces listeners to choose between two alternatives when more than two alternatives exist

slippery slope

a fallacy which assumes that taking a first step will lead to subsequent steps that cannot be prevented

appeal to tradition

fallacy which assumes that something old is automatically better than something new

appeal to novelty

a fallacy which assumes that something new is automatically better than something old

pathos

name used by Aristotle for what modern students of communication refer to an emotional appeal

speech of introduction

speech that introduces the main speaker to the audience

speech of presentation

speech that presents someone a gift, an award, or some other form of public recognition

speech of acceptance

speech that gives thanks for a gift, an award, or some other form of public recognition

commemorative speech

speech that pays tribute to a person, group of people, an institution or idea