Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification Practice Exam

What term refers to the meaning or subject of information being communicated?

1. Content

2. Message

3. Context

4. Delivery

The correct answer is: Message

The term that best describes the meaning or subject of information being communicated is 'Message'. In professional communications, the message encompasses the core idea or the main point that the sender intends to convey to the recipient. It represents the substantive information that is meant to be understood and interpreted by the audience. Clarifying the context, while 'Content' could be a reasonable alternative, it often refers more broadly to the material or information presented, which might include various forms, such as words, images, or data, rather than focusing solely on the central idea. Similarly, 'Context' pertains to the circumstances surrounding the communication, which can influence the interpretation of the message but does not directly refer to the meaning itself. Lastly, 'Delivery' emphasizes how the message is presented, which can affect its reception but does not pertain to the intrinsic meaning of the information being communicated.