Final answer:
The term for putting your message into words, images, or action is encoding, which is the first step in the communication process and crucial for creating a message that can be understood by others.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to the process of putting your message into words, images, or action is encoding. When we communicate, we encode our thoughts and ideas into a form that can be understood by others, using language, gestures, facial expressions, and other forms of communication. The process of encoding is crucial for effective communication, whether it's in verbal or non-verbal form. For instance, when writing or speaking, we choose specific terms and construct our messages so that the receiver can comprehend the intended message.
This encoding process is also present when dealing with sensory information, where the brain labels and organizes sensory input. The encoding of words into memory, such as their meaning (semantic encoding), is an example of how we categorize and remember information. This is essential for both personal interactions and transmitting information across various mediums.