Grammar
Welcome to the first part of a new series. I shall be following in the sandal-clad footsteps of no less than the great Aristotle with my up-to-date take on rhetoric - the art and study of the use of language with persuasive effect. Used sparingly rhetorical devices can make your writings and oration more compelling. Let's begin...
A rhetorical question is a question that is posed merely for effect. For example in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, Shylock says:
This device is very commonly used by great orators. The aim is to make the listener actively think about what the speaker is saying. An answer is not expected, nor is one offered. This is fine if you are speaking, unless you’re doing stand-up comedy it’s unlikely that someone will chip in with an answer.
When you start asking rhetorical questions on social-networking sites, however, don’t be surprised when people start firing back answers at you. The mere act of putting a question mark at the end of a sentence invites an answer. Does it not?
Of course, if your rhetorical question is a plea for help such as “Why is my life so crap?” you’ll be glad to hear that there are people out there who do care if you live or die. Conversely, if your e-suicide-note is met with a stony silence you might regret asking that rhetorical question.
In everyday speech (and in everyday arguments) rhetorical questions are often asked.
Unless you want the argument to escalate, it’s best not to answer these sorts of questions.
In summary, the rhetorical question is a useful tool. When writing it serves as a way of airing your musings and at the same time giving your reader pause for thought. When speaking in public it can serve to stop your audience falling asleep. This especially so if several are used in rapid succession and each question mark hammered home with a thump of the lectern in the manner of an Evangelist giving a sermon warning of fire, brimstone and eternal damnation. So, there you are. Why not give it a try?
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- Glottal Stop, Clipping And Elision
I got into a conversation with somebody on Twitter yesterday about the phonetic processes. To be truthful, it wasn’t much of a conversation and rather a question asked by them followed by my monologue with possible answers. They wanted to know ‘’what...
- Whom Watch #3 - Silly Infographic
Continuing an occasional series where I look at silly or downright bad articles etc about whom on the Internet. The other day I was looking through a teacher’s blog which had kindly linked to mine, when I came across an ‘infographic’ with...
- Q & A When Do We Use That Instead Of Who Or Which?
Basic answer The who, which and that the question refers to are all relative pronouns. We can use that instead of who or which in defining (restrictive) relative clauses: For people: - The boy who is climbing the tree is my son. or The...
- Commas - Perhaps There's More Than Meets The Eye.
.clue2{ background:#7ac4e2; color:white; padding:2px 3px; font-weight:bold; -moz-border-radius:5px; -webkit-border-radius:5px; -o-border-radius:5px; -moz-box-shadow:1px 1px 5px #333; -webkit-box-shadow:1px 1px 5px #333; -o-box-shadow:1px 1px 5px #333; margin:0...
Grammar
Rhetorically Speaking 1: Rhetorical Questions
Welcome to the first part of a new series. I shall be following in the sandal-clad footsteps of no less than the great Aristotle with my up-to-date take on rhetoric - the art and study of the use of language with persuasive effect. Used sparingly rhetorical devices can make your writings and oration more compelling. Let's begin...
A rhetorical question is a question that is posed merely for effect. For example in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, Shylock says:
“If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh?”
This device is very commonly used by great orators. The aim is to make the listener actively think about what the speaker is saying. An answer is not expected, nor is one offered. This is fine if you are speaking, unless you’re doing stand-up comedy it’s unlikely that someone will chip in with an answer.
When you start asking rhetorical questions on social-networking sites, however, don’t be surprised when people start firing back answers at you. The mere act of putting a question mark at the end of a sentence invites an answer. Does it not?
Of course, if your rhetorical question is a plea for help such as “Why is my life so crap?” you’ll be glad to hear that there are people out there who do care if you live or die. Conversely, if your e-suicide-note is met with a stony silence you might regret asking that rhetorical question.
In everyday speech (and in everyday arguments) rhetorical questions are often asked.
What the hell is wrong with you?
How many times have I told you not to do that?
How many times have I told you not to do that?
Unless you want the argument to escalate, it’s best not to answer these sorts of questions.
In summary, the rhetorical question is a useful tool. When writing it serves as a way of airing your musings and at the same time giving your reader pause for thought. When speaking in public it can serve to stop your audience falling asleep. This especially so if several are used in rapid succession and each question mark hammered home with a thump of the lectern in the manner of an Evangelist giving a sermon warning of fire, brimstone and eternal damnation. So, there you are. Why not give it a try?
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- The Importance Of Spaces
You can’t see them, but you know they’re there. I’m talking about spaces. There are some pairs of words that can be used joined together as one word or kept separate with a space. The distinction can be very subtle or very marked. Here are some...
- Glottal Stop, Clipping And Elision
I got into a conversation with somebody on Twitter yesterday about the phonetic processes. To be truthful, it wasn’t much of a conversation and rather a question asked by them followed by my monologue with possible answers. They wanted to know ‘’what...
- Whom Watch #3 - Silly Infographic
Continuing an occasional series where I look at silly or downright bad articles etc about whom on the Internet. The other day I was looking through a teacher’s blog which had kindly linked to mine, when I came across an ‘infographic’ with...
- Q & A When Do We Use That Instead Of Who Or Which?
Basic answer The who, which and that the question refers to are all relative pronouns. We can use that instead of who or which in defining (restrictive) relative clauses: For people: - The boy who is climbing the tree is my son. or The...
- Commas - Perhaps There's More Than Meets The Eye.
.clue2{ background:#7ac4e2; color:white; padding:2px 3px; font-weight:bold; -moz-border-radius:5px; -webkit-border-radius:5px; -o-border-radius:5px; -moz-box-shadow:1px 1px 5px #333; -webkit-box-shadow:1px 1px 5px #333; -o-box-shadow:1px 1px 5px #333; margin:0...