Public Speaking Handbook

Glossary (^471)
leadership: The process of influencing other people through
communication
line graph: A graph that uses lines or curves to show relation-
ships between two or more variables
listening: The process by which receivers select, attend to,
create meaning from, remember, and respond to senders’
messages
listening styles: Preferred ways of making sense out of spoken
messages
literal analogy: A comparison between two similar things
literary quotation: An opinion or description by a writer,
expressed in a memorable and often poetic way
logic: A formal system of rules that is used to reach a rational
conclusion
logos: Literally, “the word”; the term that Aristotle used to
refer to logic—the formal system of using rules to reach a
rational conclusion
main ideas: The key points of a speech; subdivisions of the
central idea
major premise: A general statement that is the first element of
a syllogism
malapropism: The mistaken use of a word that sounds like the
intended word
manuscript speaking: Reading a speech from a written text
mapping: Use of geometric shapes to sketch how all the main
ideas, subpoints, and supporting material of a speech relate
to the central idea and to one another
memorized speaking: Delivering a speech word for word
from memory without using notes
message: The content of a speech plus the way in which it
is said
metaphor: An implied comparison of two things or concepts
that are similar in some vital way
minor premise: A specific statement about an example that is
linked to the major premise; the second element of a syllo-
gism
model: A small object that represents a larger object
motivation: An internal force that drives people to achieve
their goals
myth: A belief based on the shared values, cultural heritage,
and faith of a group of people
nomination speech: A speech that officially recommends
someone as a candidate for an office or position
non sequitur: Latin for “it does not follow”; an idea or conclu-
sion that does not logically relate to or follow from the previ-
ous idea or conclusion
nonverbal communication: Communication other than writ-
ten or spoken language that creates meaning
nonverbal expectancy theory: A communication theory sug-
gesting that if listeners’ expectations about how communica-
tion should be expressed are violated, listeners will feel less
favorable toward the communicator of the message
nonverbal transition: A facial expression, vocal cue, or physi-
cal movement that indicates that a speaker is moving from
one idea to the next
omission: Leaving out a word or phrase the listener expects
to hear
online database: An electronic resource that includes abstracts
and/or the full text of entries in addition to bibliographic
data
font: A particular style of typeface
forum: A question-and-answer session that usually follows a
public discussion or symposium
free speech: Legally protected speech or speech acts
gender: The culturally constructed and psychologically based
perception of one’s self as feminine or masculine.
general purpose: The overarching goal of a speech: to inform,
to persuade, or to entertain
generalization: An all-encompassing statement
graph: A pictorial representation of statistical data
hard evidence: Factual examples and statistics
hasty generalization: A conclusion reached without adequate
evidence
hyperbole: Exaggeration
hypothetical illustration: An example that describes a situ-
ation or event that might happen but that has not actually
occurred
illustration: A story that provides an example of an idea, issue,
or problem the speaker is discussing
immediacy: The degree of physical or psychological closeness
between people
immediacy behaviors: Nonverbal expressions of closeness to
and liking for an audience, made through such means as
physical approach or eye contact
impromptu speaking: Delivering a speech without advance
preparation
indirect persuasion route: Persuasion that occurs as a result of
factors peripheral to a speaker’s logic and argument, such as
the speaker’s charisma or emotional appeals
inductive reasoning: Reasoning that uses specific instances or
examples to reach a general, probable conclusion
inference: A conclusion based on partial information or an
evaluation that has not been directly observed
inflection: The variation of the pitch of the voice
initial credibility: The impression of a speaker’s credibility
that listeners have before the speaker starts a speech
initial preview: A statement in the introduction of a speech of
what the main ideas of the speech will be
internal noise: Anything physiological or psychological that
interferes with communication
internal preview: A statement in the body of speech that intro-
duces and outlines ideas that will be developed as the speech
progresses
internal summary: A restatement in the body of a speech of the
ideas that have been developed so far
invention: The development or discovery of new insights or
new approaches to old problems
inversion: Reversal of the normal word order of a phrase or
sentence
jargon: The specialized language of a profession or hobby
kairos: The circumstances surrounding or the occasion for a
speech
keynote address: A speech that sets the theme and tone for a
meeting or conference
ladder of abstraction: Continuum model of abstract and con-
crete words for a concept, idea, or thing
lavaliere microphone: A microphone that can be clipped to an
article of clothing or worn on a cord around the neck
lay testimony: An opinion or description offered by a non-
expert who has firsthand experience
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