Final answer:
The unfamiliar word in the passage that may hurt the speaker's relationship with the audience is 'traverse'.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this passage, the word that might be unfamiliar to the audience and potentially hurt the speaker's relationship with them is traverse.
The word traverse means to move or travel across something, and it can be less commonly used or understood compared to words like 'forward' or 'darkness'.
By using a less common word, the speaker might risk confusing or alienating the audience, which could affect their relationship.
Learn more about Unfamiliar word in a passage and its impact