Communication terminal providing user communication of high comprehension

A keyboard and display terminal displays alphanumeric characters with a split screen format and with selective scrolling to display both host message information and user message information in a highly comprehensible manner. The terminal provides further message information to a user with kinetic punctuation of the message display and with audible cues. The terminal also provides automatic repertory dialing directly to a telephone line, and monitors the line for the user. The terminal can employ a display element of limited capacity, and yet provides high comprehension to an unskilled user. The terminal provides the user with both message information and operating reports for enhanced intelligibility. The terminal further sends a host a terminal-identifying code which can uniquely identify that terminal.