In public speaking, what refers to the combination of the speaker, audience, and message context?

The concept that refers to the combination of the speaker, audience, and message context in public speaking is known as rhetorical context. Rhetorical context encompasses all the elements that influence how a message is created and received, which includes the speaker's intent, the audience's characteristics, expectations, and the situational factors surrounding the speech.

Understanding rhetorical context is crucial for public speakers because it shapes the way they develop their messages and deliver them effectively. For instance, knowing the audience's background, interests, and the setting can help the speaker tailor the content and delivery style to enhance audience engagement and comprehension. Rhetorical context emphasizes the relationship between the speaker and audience, highlighting the dynamic interaction that occurs during communication.

Other concepts like communication model, speech structure, and performance setting, while relevant to public speaking, do not encompass the comprehensive interaction and influence of all these elements in the same way. The communication model focuses more on the process of exchanging messages, speech structure pertains to the organization of the content, and performance setting addresses the physical environment of the speech.