Public Speaking Glossary
A
abstract A summary of a magazine or journal article, written by someone other than the original author.
abstract words Words that refer to ideas or concepts.
acceptance speech A speech that gives thanks for a gift, an award, or some other form of public recognition.
acronym A word composed of the initial letters or parts of a series of words.
active listening Giving undivided attention to a speaker in a genuine effort to understand the speaker's point of view.
ad hominem fallacy An attempt to discredit a position by attacking the people who favor it.
adrenaline A hormone released into the bloodstream in response to physical or mental stress.
after-dinner speech A brief, often humorous, ceremonial speech, presented after a meal, that offers a message without asking for radical changes in attitude or action.
agenda-setting function The work of informative speaking in raising topics to attention and creating a sense of their importance.
agreement The third stage in the persuasive process requires that listeners not only accept the speaker’s recommendations but remember their reasons for doing so.
alliteration Repetition of the initial consonant sound of close or adjoining words.
amplification The art of developing ideas by finding ways to restate them in a speech.
analogical persuasion Creating a strategic perspective on a subject by relating it to something about which the audience has strong positive or negative feelings.
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.
analogous color scheme Colors adjacent on the color wheel; used in a presentation aid to suggest both differences and close relationships among the components represented.
analogy A connection established between two otherwise dissimilar
abstract A summary of a magazine or journal article, written by someone other than the original author.
abstract words Words that refer to ideas or concepts.
acceptance speech A speech that gives thanks for a gift, an award, or some other form of public recognition.
acronym A word composed of the initial letters or parts of a series of words.
active listening Giving undivided attention to a speaker in a genuine effort to understand the speaker's point of view.
ad hominem fallacy An attempt to discredit a position by attacking the people who favor it.
adrenaline A hormone released into the bloodstream in response to physical or mental stress.
after-dinner speech A brief, often humorous, ceremonial speech, presented after a meal, that offers a message without asking for radical changes in attitude or action.
agenda-setting function The work of informative speaking in raising topics to attention and creating a sense of their importance.
agreement The third stage in the persuasive process requires that listeners not only accept the speaker’s recommendations but remember their reasons for doing so.
alliteration Repetition of the initial consonant sound of close or adjoining words.
amplification The art of developing ideas by finding ways to restate them in a speech.
analogical persuasion Creating a strategic perspective on a subject by relating it to something about which the audience has strong positive or negative feelings.
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.
analogous color scheme Colors adjacent on the color wheel; used in a presentation aid to suggest both differences and close relationships among the components represented.
analogy A connection established between two otherwise dissimilar