Public Speaking Glossary

active listening
Giving undivided attention to a speaker in a genuine effort to understand the speaker's
point of view.
articulation
The physical production of particular speech sounds.
body language
Communication achieved using facial expressions, eye contact, movements, and gestures.
chronological order
A method of speech organization in which the main points follow a time pattern.
connotative meaning
The emotional, subjective, personal meaning that certain words can evoke in listeners.
crescendo ending
A conclusion in which the speech builds to a zenith of power and intensity.
delivery cues
Directions in a speaking outline to help a speaker remember how she or he wants to
deliver key parts of the speech.
denotative meaning
The dictionary definition or objective meaning of a word.
direct quotation
Repeating the exact words of another to support a point.
emphatic listening
Listening to provide emotional support for a speaker.
eulogy
A speech of tribute presented upon a persons death.
A specific case used to illustrate or to represent a group of people, ideas, conditions,
experiences, or the like.
eye contact
Direct visual contact with the eyes of another person.
feedback
The audiences immediate response to a speaker.
gestures
Motions of a speaker's hands or arms during a speech.
habitual pitch
The level at which people speak most frequently.
impromptu speech
A speech delivered with little or no immediate preparation.
jargon
The specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group.
malapropisms
Language errors that occur when a word is confused with another word that sounds like it.
monotone
A constant pitch or tone of voice.

nonverbal communication
Communication based on a person's use of voice and body, rather than on the use of
words.
paraphrase
To restate or summarize an author's ideas in one's own words.
patchwork plagiarism
Stealing ideas or language from two or three sources and passing them off as one's own.
pause
A momentary break in the vocal delivery of a speech.
pitch
The position of a human voice on the musical scale.
plagiarism
Presenting another person's language or ideas as one's own.
positive nervousness
Controlled nervousness that helps energize a speaker for her or his presentation.
pronunciation
The use of correct sounds and of proper stress or accent on syllables in saying words.
rate
The speed at which a person speaks.
rhetorical questions
Questions that have a self-evident answer, or that provoke curiosity that the speech then
proceeds to satisfy.
rhythm
The pattern of sound in a speech created by the choice and arrangement of words.
verbatim
Using the exact words of a source.
vocalized pause
A pause that occurs when a speaker fills the silence between words with vocalizations such
as 'uh,' 'er,' and 'um.'
vocal distractions
Filler words, such as er, um, and you know, used in the place of a pause.
vocal variety
Changes in a speaker's rate, pitch, and volume that give the voice variety and
expressiveness.
volume
The loudness or softness of the speaker's voice.