Instruction 2-3

Structure and Format of Functional Documents | Prepare Bibliography Reference Materials | Features and Rhetorical Devices of Public Documents

What is rhetoric? The dictionary gives three definitions:

1. the art of the effective and persuasive use of language,
2. public speaking intended to persuade, and
3. showy, bombastic language.
    

Many people only think of the second and third definitions. And there's no getting around it -- rhetoric is language intended to persuade you to do something, buy something or vote for someone. Some rhetoric simply tells you the truth with great charm and skill, while other rhetoric is out-and-out lying. It's important to be able to tell which is which.

It's easy to tell the difference in advertising, because when you see an ad, a billboard or a commercial, you know it's trying to sell you something. And if you read or listen carefully, you can usually tell when a claim is not what it appears to be. For example, if you see the statement "Acme Tires: No Tires Last Longer," you might think that Acme Tires are better than other tires because they last longer. And that's what you're supposed to think. But if you read the statement carefully, all it really says is that Acme Tires last the same length of time that other tires do. If they really lasted longer, the ad would say so. This is a rhetorical device called "weasel wording." A weasel is a sneaky animal -- and this is sneaky language.

But outside of obvious advertising, how can you tell if someone or something is exaggerating, putting their own spin on things or lying to you? That's harder. And this brings us back to the subject of rhetorical devices. What is a rhetorical device? A fancy way of saying something. Everybody uses rhetorical devices -- politicians, religious leaders, teachers, your school friends. And they aren't necessarily bad. Language and literature would be very dull without them. It's just that you need to understand them. The last two Instructions in English Lesson I dealt with topics related to rhetorical devices: the denotative and connotative meaning of words and the difference between literal and figurative language. Now might be a good time for you to reread those Instructions. But since some rhetorical devices are pretty common, especially in public documents, we'll review them here.

Euphemism

When someone thinks that a word or phrase might be offensive, they often try to find a "nice" way to say the same thing. That's euphemism. Instead of "war," the President calls for "a police action." When reporting civilian deaths, a general calls it "collateral damage." When soldiers mistakenly attack their own, it's called "friendly fire." Instead of a "corpse," a dead body is called "the remains." When you get fired, your boss calls it "downsizing." Although many euphemisms were invented to avoid hurting people, which is good, it is important to look at them carefully so that you can understand what is really being said.

Simile and Metaphor

People love to compare things. Simile and metaphor are two rhetorical devices for doing so. We use them all the time. What's the difference between them? Simple. When you compare one thing to another and use the words "like" or "as," that's a simile. When you don't use "like" or "as," that's a metaphor. Here are some examples:

Similes
Those girls are like two peas in a pod.
He's as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
I feel like a limp dishrag.
I'm as cranky as a Missouri mule.
This class is like a three-ring circus.
Her hair is like silk.

Metaphors
Nobody invites Harold to parties because he's a wet blanket.
The fluorescent light was the sun during our test.
The bar of soap was a slippery eel during the dog's bath.
The giant's steps were thunder as he ran toward Jack.
Her hair is silk.
That creep is toast!

In other words, when you say that something is like something else, that's a simile.  When you say that something is something else, that's a metaphor.

As we said earlier, rhetorical devices are not necessarily bad or intended to deceive you. But some do mean to confuse you or obscure the truth. It is important to read and listen carefully so that you can tell what is really going on.

In addition to the last two Instructions in English Lesson 1, these web sites will give you information on a wide range of rhetorical devices:

http://www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm

Now let's do Practice Exercise 2-3 (top)
 

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