Public Speaking

Glossary 289

direct methods asking audience members directly for

their opinion by questionnaires, interviews, and

so on

disclaimer word or phrase that leads the audience to

doubt your competence or expertise

discourse consistency using a repetitive style such as

alliteration of main points throughout the speech

dismissive language put-downs; language that discounts

the importance of someone’s viewpoint

dissonance inconsistency or clash

division a method for presenting information by breaking

the whole into parts and explaining each one

document cameras high-resolution cameras that display

documents and three-dimensional objects

domain the type of site such as .com, .edu, or .org that tells

the site’s purpose and tax status

D-R-E method Describe-Respond-Evaluate; a feedback

method that describes content, shares personal

responses, and gives evaluation

dual coding theory (DCT) theory that our brains process

material two ways: through language and through

images

dual processing combining words and images to create

meanings

E

empirical facts information verifiable by observation

enthymeme omitting part of the syllogism in an argument

and letting listeners supply what’s missing; inherently

dialogical

enumeration a count

epithet word or phrase with a powerful negative

connotation, used to describe some quality of a person

or group

established fact information verified consistently by

many observers

ethical communication the conscious decision to speak

and listen in ways that you, in light of your cultural

ideals, consider right, fair, honest, and helpful to all

parties involved

ethnicity heritage and cultural traditions, usually stemming

from national and religious backgrounds

ethos personal credibility or character traits that make

a speaker believable and worthy of the audience’s

confidence

euphemism word or phrase that substitutes an inoffensive

term for a potentially offensive, embarrassing, or

unpleasant thing

exemplum speech pattern built around a quotation and

developed by at least one narrative

experts people whose knowledge is based on research,

experience, or occupation

expository speech the “speech to teach” that explains an

idea in detail

expressive cultures cultures that encourage members

to give their opinions, speak their minds, and let their

feelings show

extemporaneous delivery preparing a speech carefully

in advance but choosing the exact wording during the

speech itself

eye contact looking audiences in the eye; communicates

friendliness in the United States

F

fabrication making up information or repeating

information without sufficiently checking its accuracy

factual claims argument about debatable points,

causation, or predictions

fair use provision the provision in the federal Copyright

Act that allows free use of materials for educational and

research purposes

fallacy failure in logical reasoning that leads to unsound or

misleading arguments

false analogy comparing two things too dissimilar to

warrant the conclusion drawn

false dichotomy an either–or fallacy that ignores other

reasonable options

faulty generalization a fallacy of induction; generalizing

too broadly, given the evidence

fight-or-flight mechanism physiological mechanism your

body automatically activates when threatened; helps you

fight or flee

figurative analogies state similarities between two

otherwise dissimilar things; requires an imaginative

connection

filled or vocalized pause saying um or uh or other

sounds during a pause

flip chart tablet you prepare in advance or create on the

spot; turn to a new page or tear off and display pages as

you finish them

flowchart shows the order or directional flow in which

processes occur; may simply be a series of labeled shapes

and arrows

G

gender clusters of traits culturally labeled as masculine,

feminine, or androgynous

general purposes four general purposes are to inform, to

persuade, to entertain, or to commemorate

geographic map shows mountains, deserts, and other

natural features; not easily outdated

grounds, data, or evidence supporting material for claims

H

habituation lessening anxiety by successfully repeating an

experience over time

harm the problem in a stock issues case; also called ill

hearing physical process involving sound waves, eardrums,

and brain receptors

heckling disrupting a speech by interrupting or shouting

down a speaker

hedges words such as kinda or I think that can lead

listeners to distrust your competence or your knowledge

of your topic

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