Essential Vocabulary for Rhetoric and Effective Public Speaking

Key Concepts in Rhetoric and Public Speaking

This glossary defines fundamental terms related to persuasive communication, audience analysis, speech delivery, and logical reasoning.

Ethos

Ethical appeal, based on the speaker's credibility and character.

Pathos

Persuading the audience through emotional appeal.

Logos

An appeal that is rational and reasonable, based on evidence and logic.

Mythos

A term given when content supports a claim by reminding the audience of shared cultural values or history.

Rhetoric

The art of persuasive speech and effective communication.

Oratory

A form of eloquent public speaking.

Delayed Feedback

Audience response received after the speech is performed.

Internal Previews

Transitions that tell the audience what you will say next, helping structure the speech.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own culture is superior to others.

Attitudes

Predispositions to act in a particular way; these influence behavior.

Beliefs

Represent a mental and emotional acceptance of information.

Values

Socially shared ideas about what is good, right, and important.

Monologic Communication

Communication where the audience is viewed as an object to be manipulated or acted upon.

Dialogic Communication

Communication that demonstrates an honest concern for the audience's welfare and perspective.

Listener

An individual who perceives information through sensory levels and interprets its meaning.

General Purpose

The three general purposes of a speech: to inform, to persuade, or to entertain.

Specific Purpose

The precise response or outcome you want from your audience.

Adoption

A persuasive goal where you want your audience to start doing something new.

Slippery Slope Fallacy

A fallacy claiming there will be a chain reaction that inevitably leads to a negative outcome.

Opposed Audience

An audience that does not agree with the speaker's position.

Supportive Audience

An audience that agrees with the speaker's position.

Ad Hominem (Attacking the Person)

Occurs when a speaker attacks the person rather than the argument itself.

Red Herring Fallacy

Occurs when a speaker attempts to divert the audience's attention from the relevant issue.

Inductive Reasoning

Generalizing from specific examples and observations to reach a probable conclusion.

Deductive Reasoning

Drawing conclusions based on established premises or general principles.

Articulation

The verbalization of distinct sounds and how precisely they are formed.

Rate

The pace or speed at which you speak.

Pronunciation

Knowing how to say a word and articulating it correctly.

Non-fluencies

Meaningless words or sounds (like “um” or “like”) that interrupt the flow of speech.

Denotative Meaning

The literal, objective definition provided by a dictionary.

Connotation

The subjective meaning we ascribe to words based on personal experience and cultural context.

Imagery

Creating a vivid description through the use of one or more of the five senses.

Jargon

Technical terminology unique to a specific activity, profession, or group.

Slang

The use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in formal language.

Euphemisms

A word or phrase substituted for more direct, often harsh or offensive, language.

Cliché

A trite, overused phrase or expression.

Anaphora

The repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

Pie Graph (Circle Graph)

A visual aid that shows how the parts of an item relate to the whole.

Line Graph

A visual aid used to show a trend or change over time.

Calculated Ambiguity

A speaker’s planned effort to be vague, sketchy, and considerably abstract.