Rhetorical device: definition and examples

To maximize the topic of speech, to make the speech live, use a rhetorical technique. Despite the existence of a huge number of them, not all people use tricks in their speeches. There are a huge number of methods to perform well, to attract the attention of the public, to achieve an effective result.

What is a rhetorical device?

Speaker Success

The explanatory dictionary of S. I. Ozhegov shows such a definition of rhetorical device: the oratory method, which is focused on denial or expressive statement. Speech revolutions will be appropriate if you can use them.

Rhetoric is a science aimed at the study of patterns and rules of behavior in speech. With its help, they acquire skills of mastery of public speaking, develop oratory abilities. A person acts on the listener through a reasonable and effective expression of thoughts. Of particular importance are the expressive means.

With the help of the law of harmonizing dialogue awaken feelings and thoughts, passing from a monologue into dialogue. Listeners move forward with orientation and advancement during speech. Effective speech exposure with rhetorical devices takes place using correctly constructed sentences and summary phrases. It is important that the speech is emotional, enjoyable.

With the help of rhetoric, the laws of eloquence are explained. The concept appeared at the beginning of the XIX century, divided eloquence into two parts: general with the study of speech style and private with the preparation of business documentation.

Expressive language tools

Stages of work of the speaker

The lexical system has many faces. The constant updating of principles, methods and signs within the text provides the ability to update speech expressiveness. Rhetorical devices and visual expressive means of language are supported by the imaginative thinking of the reader. The creation of certain conditions will lead to the fact that speech will become more expressive.

Independent thinking, consciousness, activity of the author of speech is necessary. He should be interested in what he says and writes. It is important to know the expressive capabilities of the language. The speaker must systematically consciously train.

Expressiveness affects the amplification and weakening of all elements. These include sounds, syntactic units, intonation, articulatory fuzziness, lexical poverty, uniformity in the construction of speech. Vocabulary suggests the use of rhetorical methods of argumentation, proof, presentation of material using special means. Speakers often refer to:

  • Epithets.
  • Sinekdoha.
  • Metonyms.
  • Allegories.
  • The irony.
  • Avatar.
  • Perifrazam.
  • Comparison.

It is possible to make speech expressive with the help of syntax and its stylistic figures. The speaker uses a rhetorical question, appeal, oxymoron.

Oratory genres

Expressive language tools

Oratory consists of various rhetorical genres. These include a lecture, report, discussion, dispute, thesis, slogan. A kind of journalistic style is oral public speech. It is distinguished by such characteristics as collectivity and mass appeal, the significance of the topic, preparation for the speech.

Formed skills are considered oratory. Learns these skills rhetoric. Now these two terms are interpreted more broadly. They are a kind of interaction that occurs after goal setting, impact planning, and forecasting the result. Eloquence has been present in Russian for a long time. Views differ depending on the area of ​​performance.

  • Political includes parliamentary speech, a meeting, an appeal from a deputy or president.
  • The academic field includes a report, a lecture, a scientific discussion.
  • The court includes a statement by a lawyer, defendant, prosecutor.
  • Ordinary life is a social sphere with a compliment, a table speech.
  • The spiritual and moral is preaching, the speech of a missionary.
  • Negotiations, a note, a government statement are ranked as diplomatic.

Oratory is considered art. Ancient figures believe that it can be learned.

The rules of eloquence

The rules of eloquence

There are a few rules that a future speaker should follow. Adhering to them, he can easily win an audience:

  1. Listeners should be the center of attention. It is necessary to focus on the interests of the audience, to monitor the reaction to the words spoken.
  2. The relationship is important: the speaker to the audience, speaking to the content of speech, listeners to the content of speech.
  3. Be sure to set goals for the performance.
  4. Apply body language.
  5. Give voice an expression.
  6. They are able to answer questions.

Every thought is proven, argued. Speech is distinguished by harmony, dignity. Performance should bring maximum benefit and aesthetic pleasure. These rules need to be remembered, made a guide to action.

Stages of work of the speaker

Speeches in the literature

At each stage of oratory, rhetorical techniques are provided in the text, which differ depending on the purpose of the prepared presentation. The first is called inventory. The speaker develops the subject of speech, strategy, selects material.

The speech will be impressive, based on deep thought. Rhetorical techniques with examples will help determine which methods of transmitting information you need to choose to communicate with the audience.

Invention is not an invention of the new, but the use of rules and techniques to collect the most complete information, to establish a connection between thoughts. When selecting material use their own developments, observation, reasoning, literature.

The next step is argumentation. The speaker selects theses confirming or refuting the opinion. Rhetoric involves bringing cases from life, examples. Logic is the justification of what has been said and the conclusion. Both of these concepts are closely intertwined.

Disposition is the structure of the speech. Together with the use of rhetorical techniques, a consistent presentation of the material is necessary. This happens when dividing topics into microgenres, which make up the complete composition. In the usual sense, this is an introduction, the main part and conclusion. The beginning and the end are the most informative.

Elocution is a section that is necessary for the preparation of expressiveness and effectiveness. It combines with style. This is how the creation of the image of reality takes place, the syllable becomes living, light, harmonious. The purpose of the speaker is to build the text and each individual part. The speaker improves his thoughts, correctly constructs phrases, selects the appropriate vocabulary.

Uniformity and heterogeneity of the audience

The complexity of the performance depends on whether the audience will be homogeneous or heterogeneous. The first category of students is approximately the same age. At one level is their intelligence and awareness. They are presented with information in a simplified form, for example, when the audience is children.

For schoolchildren and preschoolers, you will need visual material. Speech should be concise, listeners praised and encouraged. Speaking to young people takes place without edification and “reading morality”. Young people can be interested in a story with notes of humor, revelations, personal assessments. To transmit information to the older generation, a rhetorical device with a slow sound is chosen. They turn to the experience of the audience, facts from history, reinforce the words with a link to the source.

When viewers are indifferent, apply audience capture and retention with the help of emotionality, vivid images, appeal to individual listeners, there should be a feeling about informing, and not about the desire to convince in something.

Speaking to specialists implies a rhetorical reception with the presentation of new information. It is important to use dialogue, persuasion with the help of arguments. Speech is delivered at a fast pace. Rigid listeners are not ready to change their point of view, so the presentation is being prepared in an informational version.

For a successful speaker to speak

Rhetorical techniques and principles for constructing public speech are based not only on facts. They evoke certain emotions and feelings, make speech animated and animated. The speaker will undoubtedly be a success with the public. With the help of speech, they create vivid images in the minds of people. The purpose of the techniques used is the desire to captivate, capture the attention of the public, to make speech understandable and interesting. Cicero said: "There is no eloquence if there is no admiration for the audience." You should consider each technique individually.

Speeches in the literature

How to prepare for a performance

Synecdoche. Helps to transfer the name of the private to the general and vice versa, increases the aesthetics of speech, gives it depth of content. "I want to go for a breath" - take a walk.

Comparison and metaphor. One of the main rhetorical devices is comparison. It is used so often that people themselves do not notice that they use it in various performances. Needed when you need to convey numerical information. It is difficult to understand what a diameter of two billion kilometers is, and if you compare the value with Mount Everest, it becomes clear.

A metaphor is one of the rhetorical devices in the literature when the properties of one object are transferred to another. For example: “The sunset was blazing. A soft whisper of waves is heard. ” This technique can be seen less often, but it enhances the impact on the listener.

Repeat Important key points are repeated at least two times. This is necessary so that the listener returns to the topic of the speaker. It seems that the information is new, but in fact it is conveyed in other words. The listener will give the speaker’s thought as his own, the speech will become convincing. Insert repetition where necessary to increase interest.

There are several ways to use rhetorical techniques in the form of repetition. To emphasize, they convey the idea exactly. Variably change the sentence, leaving the main idea. With the help of the extension, the proposal is drawn up with new images. This is necessary when the key thesis is lost in the total mass of what has been said.

Citation. This method is necessary to inspire confidence in unfamiliar people. Use the statements of leaders and public figures. Excerpts from historical documents, sayings of philosophers make the transfer of information reliable.

Antithesis. They use rhetorical techniques in the text to contrast completely different phenomena, processes, concepts that are opposite in meaning. "The weather was terrible, the princess was beautiful."

Allegory. Transmission of an abstract concept through a concrete image. Often you can find the personification of ant and hard work, a donkey and stubbornness. This is a complicated technique that requires good oratory and preparation.

Hyperbola. Used when the speaker is sure that what he said will not be perceived as fiction. Performance should not be too emotional and pathos. Such rhetorical techniques are used in the literature lesson to clearly demonstrate how the author emphasizes certain properties of the subject.

Rhetorical appeal. The utterance is addressed to an inanimate object. Reception of rhetorical appeal enhances the expressiveness of speech. The main task is the desire to express attitude to the subject, to give it a characteristic. A peculiar speech circulation is used with interrogative or exclamatory intonation.

How to influence the public

Oratory genres

Rhetorical question. Asked to make the audience actively reflect, reason. He asked a question that had no answer, and gave time to think.

Insert. An important rhetorical device in which a phrase is inserted, as it were, by the way. And the hall becomes an accomplice, not an outside observer. This is a way to help attract an audience to the issue being discussed.

Crossing (chiasm). A way to cross-change the endings of phrases. A. Griboedov said: "Contrary to reason, contrary to the elements." People often say: "Eat to live, not live to eat."

Hint. Some rhetorical techniques in public speaking are necessary in order not to speak directly about the event or phenomenon. Not suitable for sophisticated listeners. If it is not clear what the speaker is talking about, the hint will go unnoticed.

Chain. A way to convey information using a sensation phrase to cause shock. After that, a logical chain is built, during which the meaning of the first phrase becomes clear. The method helps to rivet the attention of the public for a long time. The longer the chain, the stronger the voltage.

Surprise. Suitable for an inactive audience. Caught by surprise, impresses. Rarely used at the right time, so as not to smooth the effect.

Framing. It is important that the speaker be able to present the same material in different circumstances. This is one of the rhetorical principles and techniques of manipulating a mass audience, is an integral part of neuro-linguistic programming. Helps to change the perception of things.

The effect of novelty. The audience’s attention is dispelled after 20 minutes, then it’s difficult to keep it. The human brain does not perceive one information for a long time. The report should include short speeches. These include jokes, funny examples from life. This gives students the opportunity to relax. After that, the information is again perceived by the audience. In addition, it is important to introduce new information on the main topic. It should not be disclosed at the beginning of the performance.

The call. A way to appeal to something. It works when listeners have a positive attitude to the speaker and support his ideas. The audience is addressed in two or three phrases, urging them to take some action. The speaker must be fully confident in the sympathy of the audience, have the desire to create a vivid image of the idea in the minds of the listener with their direct participation.

How to develop rhetorical speech: stages

For the development of rhetorical speech, it is necessary to go through several stages. This will allow you to apply basic rhetorical techniques in any performance, regardless of audience.

At the first stage, an idea appears that needs to be developed. But you need to do this on paper. The question is how to write, so that everyone understands? The first draft is re-read several times. After correcting errors read with intonation. This will fill in the gaps, adjust what you don't like.

The second stage is more complicated. Brevity is considered the sister of talent, so the written report needs to be reduced. To do this, the text is read twice: the first is slow, the second is fast. The speaker will see if there are extra notes or words, repetitions. If revision is not required, proceed to the next step.

You will need a voice recorder or gadget with a recording function. It is necessary to record the prepared presentation so that there is no inconvenience. The speaker himself should be surprised at his achievements. Frequent practice of this method will help to make thoughts understandable. The voice becomes intonationally rich, the mind works faster.

How to talk about difficult

Speaking to specialists is quite easy. If you have to speak to an audience that does not understand the topic, you will need careful preparation. Apply examples and images, tell a short story, draw an imaginary situation.

In business oratory, rhetorical techniques with examples in colloquial speech are selected taking into account several factors. The first is the characteristic of those present. The speaker must take into account the nationality of those present, whether the audience understands the topic of the speech, whether it is developed culturally. The second involves the content and nature of the speech. They do not admit an authoritarian tone, show trust in people, and are advised in the process of submitting information. The third factor is the speaker’s objective assessment of personal qualities.

There are several types of communication:

  • With the help of mentoring lecture.
  • Spiritualizing is necessary for the exaltation of people in order to instill in them faith in personal qualities.
  • The confrontational variety implies a desire not to object, to agree with the speaker.
  • Informational - is necessary for transmitting information to listeners.

Business people do not use the latter kind of speech. More often they choose a spiritualizing manner of communication, in some situations confrontational. The speaker applies such principles of influence as associativity, accessibility, intensity, expressiveness.

In colloquial speech, a certain set of tools is used. Apply a visual image, the effect of the first phrases, argumentation, relaxation, intonation and pause. . . , .

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