1

What's a floor discussion in the following sentence?

Promptness is necessary so that, by the time the Conference opens, your material will have been compiled for use in a report, a panel discussion, a workshop, a floor discussion, or a committee agenda item.

Improve this question
2
  • 1
    Never heard this. Sounds like jargon. Even as a native speaker, I'd have to guess the meaning. Perhaps it means an open discussion to all members of some organization, not just a private panel.
    – Senjougahara Hitagi
    Commented Nov 24, 2015 at 12:41
  • @SenjougaharaHitagi You mean it may mean a kind of discussion which takes place at the floor of, say for example, a conference?
    – Ali Erfani
    Commented Nov 24, 2015 at 12:45

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

The definition of floor that you're looking for is

5 c : the members of an assembly
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floor)

You will see this used a lot in phrases like "the Senate floor" or "we would like to open the floor for questions".

So a floor discussion is one between all of the members of the conference.

Improve this answer
1

A panel discussion is a discussion where only panelists discuss issues in a conference.

I think "floor discussion" is used to to mean Question and Answer (Q&A)" sessions where panelists and participants can discuss issues openly. This link is about a book whose subtitle is Floor Discussion of "Regulatory Priorities for... Reform" and it lists "presenter", "participants", "discussant in another session", and "chair".

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .