abjure
renounce; repudiate
acculturation
cultural modification of an individual, group, or people by adapting to or borrowing traits from another culture
ad hominem
an argument made personally against an opponent instead of against their argument
aphorism
a pithy observation that contains a general truth
apotheosis
the perfect example
axiom
a statement accepted as true as the basis for argument or inference
banal
trite; lacking in originality
codified
arranged into a systematic code
commodity
any thing that is designed to be sold or traded, rather than for immediate practical use
concomitant
naturally accompanying or associated
consonant
being in agreement or harmony
countermand
revoke; cancel
critical mass
an amount necessary or sufficient for a cause to have a significant effect or to achieve a result; in this case, the amount of influence television needs before it entirely infiltrates all culture
decontextualized
something considered in isolation from its context; Postman uses the term mainly to refer to information that is delivered without any attention paid to its historical or social significance
Deism
a religious belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe; several of America's Founding Fathers identified themselves as Deists
desiccated
lacking interest, passion, or energy
didactic
designed or intended to teach
discourse
any written or spoken communication or debate; in Postman's context, the form of communication in which any particular civilization engages, whether oral, written, or televised
ecumenism
a movement promoting unity among Christian churches or denominations
epistemology
the theory of knowledge, esp. with regard to its methods, validity, and scope; our ways of knowing and judging truth
equanimity
composure; calmness; poise
exposition
a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory
illusory
deceptive or unreal
interposition
the placement or insertion of one thing in between others
malapropism
the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase; esp: the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context
media ecology
According to Postman, "Media ecology looks into the matter of how media of communication affect human perception, understanding, feeling, and value; and how our interaction with media facilitates or impedes our chances of survival."
media-metaphor
Postman's term for the way that a civilization's media serves as a metaphor for the way it communicates amongst itself
medium
a means of delivering a message, whether a specific technology or an abstract form of communication like writing or speaking; in Postman's definition, "a use to which a physical apparatus [like the television] is put"
mendacity
untruthfulness
métier
a field of work; occupation or profession
obstetrics
the branch of medicine and surgery concerned with childbirth and the care of women giving birth
parity
the state or condition of being equal
pedagogical
of, relating to, or befitting a teacher or education
penny newspaper
in American history, a cheap newspaper dedicated to sensational or controversial stories
perforce
by necessity; by force of circumstance
perspicacity
keenness of mental perception and understanding; discernment
polemics
the art or practice of argumentation or controversy
preeminent
surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way
proposition
something offered for consideration or acceptance
quixotic
exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
resonance
a phenomenon that Postman defines in the words of Northrop Frye, in which "a particular statement in a particular context achieves a universal significance"
rhetoric
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing
semantic
of or relating to meaning in language
stump speaker
in American political history, a politician or politician's representative who traveled to give speeches detailing a candidate's positions
surmise
to form a thought or idea based on scanty evidence
verisimilitude
the quality of appearing to be true or real
