Rhetoric, Language, and Logical FallacyCOM 115

Common Rhetorical Devices

Alliteration, Anaphora, Antistrophe, Antithesis, Chiasmus, Metaphor, Parallelism, Simile, Tricolon

Examples

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ6eFItZhIA (RFK in April 1968)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfzTY3Ey3Ys (Reagan - 1964)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugsTkFmXCnQ (Ted Kennedy – 1980)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4q4_aUX3bc (Cuomo – 1984)

Rhetoric & Language

Patterns of Language

Language is

Patterned &

Structured

Systems of Language

are Diverse

Language is a Social

System

Language Principles

C C V I SORRECT

LEAR

IVID

NCLUSIVE

TYLISTIC

Acquiring Meaning – Denotation & Connotation

Denotation:• The Object itself

Connotation:• Our experience or personal evaluation of the object – i.e. What does it mean to you?

Establishing Groups - Language

Gro

up C

reat

ion

Func

tion

Jargon – Specialized Vocabulary

Slang – Informal form of an established

language

Argot – Secret, highly specialized language

Dialect(s) – Colloquialisms,

euphemism, and misc. turns of phrase

Logical FallaciesFlaws in the logic of an argument

Hasty generalizationFalse analogy

Post hoc

Slippery slope

Red herring

Logical Fallacies - Overview

Appeal to tradition

False dilemma/choiceFalse authority

Bandwagon

Ad hominem

Son or Daughter: I’m so upset because we broke up…

Mom/Dad/Guardian: Just think of all the starving children around the world, honey. Your problems don’t seem so bad now, right?

Now we have bought a new house, everyone will get along.