Közvetlenség

Közvetlenség is a Hungarian noun that describes the quality or state of being direct, unmediated, or immediate. It can refer to how information is conveyed without intermediaries, how people relate to one another with little social distance, or how an institution speaks to its audience in a straightforward way. The term is formed from közvetlen (direct, immediate) and the suffix -ség.

In the realm of communication, közvetlenség denotes a style that favours plain language, a straightforward tone, and informal register. It can signal authenticity and transparency, but may also come across as blunt or tactless depending on the social context and audience expectations.

In media, business, and marketing, the concept is used to describe approaches that reduce mediation between producer and consumer, thereby increasing immediacy and perceived closeness. Digital platforms, social media, and user-generated content often amplify közvetlenség by enabling rapid feedback and more direct engagement with audiences.

Socially, közvetlenség can reflect physical proximity or familiar ease between people, where boundaries are less formal and exchanges are more spontaneous. However, high levels of directness are not universally valued; cultural norms influence whether bluntness is seen as sincerity or rudeness.

See also: közvetítés (mediation), közvetlen beszéd (direct speech), őszinteség (frankness), informális stílus, spontaneitás. The sense and acceptance of közvetlenség vary by context and culture, ranging from appreciated authenticity to potential conflict.