Methods & strategies: Working with rhetorical devices The tools of word wizards & masters of persuasion Students in ancient Greece and Rome typically had to study grammar, logic, and rhetoric (the so-called trivium). Rhetoric can simply be defined as “the skill or art of using language effectively” (Collins Dictionary), and the methods devised by the ancient Greeks and Romans are still taught and used today. They can make your speeches and presentations much more powerful, so they are certainly worth studying. Here are just a few popular and effective rhetorical devices. You can find many more in books and online. Don’t worry about their complicated names. What matters is not to remember the names but to understand and apply the methods. ■■ Parallelism: “Several parts of a sentence or several sentences are expressed similarly to show that the ideas in the parts or sentences are equal in importance. Parallelism also adds balance and rhythm and, most importantly, clarity to the sentence.” In his victory speech after he was elected president on November 4, 2008, Barack Obama said, “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.” Another example: “For the end of a theoretical science is truth, but the end of a practical science is performance” (Aristotle). ■■ Rhetorical questions: A rhetorical question is usually left unanswered. For example: “This area is known for its scenery – but how can we expect to enjoy the scenery when the scenery consists entirely of garish billboards?” However, you can also ask a question and then answer it. For example, you explain a theory and then say: “So, what are the implications of this theory, and how can it be applied to the present problem? The answer to these questions lies in the …” ■■ Repetition: A “favoured tool among orators, […] it can help to emphasize a point and make a speech easier to follow. It also adds to the powers of persuasion — studies show that repetition of a phrase can convince people of its truth. Writers and speakers also use repetition to give words rhythm. […] [It] adds musicality to a piece of text and makes it more pleasing to listen to.” The most famous American example is arguably Martin Luther King’s speech “I have a Dream”, which everyone should watch or listen to more than once. “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. […] I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.” (Search for it online or scan this page with the QuickMedia app.) ■■ Alliteration: This occurs when two or more nearby words, or their first stressed (= accented) syllables, begin with the same consonant sound. It makes phrases and sentences very memorable, which is why it is often used in brand names (PayPal, Coca-Cola, Krispy Kreme, Dunkin’ Donuts, Best Buy, …). From Barack Obama’s Speech at the Memorial Service for Fort Hood Servicemen and Servicewomen, delivered November 10, 2009: “They are part of the finest fighting force that the world has ever known. They have served tour after tour of duty in distant, different, and difficult places.” ■■ Antithesis: This structure “establishes a clear, contrasting relationship between two ideas by joining them together […], often in parallel structure”. It is particularly effective because the human “mind has a natural love for antithesis.” Two famous examples: “To err is human; to forgive, divine” (Alexander Pope, English poet of the 18th century); “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” (Neil Armstrong, first person to walk on the moon). How-to [A] [B] [H] 10.2 Martin Luther King at Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., Civil Rights March, August 28, 1963 90 Key aspects Strategies Sample task 10 The world of work Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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