Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
117 results found in Communication.
- Social Communication (Social-Communication, Pragmatic Communication)
- The use of language and nonverbal behavior in social contexts, encompassing skills such as taking turns in conversation, adjusting communication style based on the listener or situation, understanding…
- Social Engagement (Social Participation)
- The active involvement of a person in social interaction with others - making eye contact, attending to a partner, taking turns, responding to bids for attention, and sustaining shared activity. Socia…
- Social Interaction (Social Communication, Interpersonal Interaction)
- The process by which people act and react in relation to one another, including verbal conversation, non-verbal communication, and physical proximity. For people with disabilities, social interactions…
- Social Media
- Networked digital platforms — including Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, LINE, WhatsApp, and similar services — that enable users to create, share, and discuss content with others. For accessibility, social…
- Speaking Behavior (Speaker Behavior, Speech Behavior)
- In accessibility and HCI research, the observable communicative behaviors a speaker exhibits during conversation — including speech rate, voice intensity (loudness), articulation clarity (including hy…
- Speech Acts Theory (Speech Act Theory, Illocutionary Acts)
- A theory from the philosophy of language, originally developed by J.L. Austin and John Searle, which holds that utterances are not just statements of fact but also actions that accomplish things — suc…
- Speech Error (Articulation Error, Pronunciation Error)
- A deviation from the expected or standard production of speech sounds, including substitutions, omissions, additions, and distortions of phonemes. Speech errors are common among people who are deaf or…
- Speech Impairment (Speech Disability, Communication Disability)
- A condition affecting the ability to produce speech sounds or to communicate verbally. Speech impairments range from mild articulation difficulties to complete inability to speak, and may be caused by…
- Speech Language Pathologist (SLP, Speech Therapist, Speech-Language Therapist)
- A licensed healthcare professional who specialises in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of communication disorders, including speech, language, voice, fluency, and swallowing difficulties. In a…
- Speech Sound Disorder (SSD, Speech Disorder, Articulation Disorder, Phonological Disorder)
- A communication disorder affecting the development of accurate speech sound and prosody production in childhood. Children with SSDs struggle with phonological representation, phonological awareness, a…
- Speech Synthesizer (Speech Synthesiser, Text-to-Speech Engine, TTS Engine, Voice Synthesizer)
- Software or hardware that converts text into spoken audio output, producing artificial speech that can be used to read content aloud. Speech synthesizers are a fundamental component of many assistive …
- Speech and Language Therapist (SLT, Speech-Language Pathologist, SLP)
- A healthcare professional who assesses, diagnoses, and treats communication and swallowing disorders. Speech and language therapists play a critical role in the assistive technology ecosystem by evalu…
- Speech-Like Vocalization (SLV)
- A sound produced by a person that can be phonetically transcribed based on the conventions of a spoken language, distinguishing it from non-speech-like vocalizations such as grunts, screeches, or voca…
- Speech-to-Sign Translation (Spoken Language to Sign Language Translation)
- The process of automatically converting spoken language into sign language output, typically displayed through a signing avatar or animated character. Speech-to-sign translation involves three major c…
- Spoon Theory (Spoons)
- A metaphor created by Christine Miserandino to explain the limited energy available to people living with chronic illness or disability. In this framework, each daily activity costs a certain number o…
- Step-by-Step Device (Sequential Message Device, Step-by-Step Communicator, SBS)
- A simple, single-switch augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device that stores a sequence of pre-recorded voice messages and plays them back one at a time with each button press. Step-by-…
- Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident, CVA)
- A medical condition caused by interruption of blood supply to the brain, resulting in brain cell damage that can cause a range of disabilities including paralysis, speech and language impairments (aph…
- Symbol Communication (Symbol-Supported Communication)
- The use of graphic symbols — pictograms, ideograms, line drawings, or photographs — alongside or in place of text to convey meaning. Symbol communication supports people who cannot rely on spoken or w…
- Symbol-Based Communication (Picture-Based Communication, Graphic Symbol Communication)
- A form of augmentative communication that uses visual symbols — including pictures, photographs, line drawings, or icons — to represent words, concepts, or messages. Symbol-based communication is part…
- Synchronous Communication (Real-Time Communication, Live Communication)
- Communication that occurs in real time, requiring all participants to be present simultaneously. In digital contexts, this includes video conferencing, live chat, instant messaging, and real-time coll…