ABSTRACT
Simply put, intelligibility is the ability to understand the spoken word. It is not, strictly speaking, a function of the acoustics of the room, but acoustics do play an important role in intelligibility. Intelligibility is not to be confused with audibility. Audibility is a measure of hearing whereas intelligibility is a measure of understanding. Everyone involved in the design of churches or of sound systems for churches needs to understand how to optimize intelligibility, even though some worship styles will not value intelligibility as much as others do.
