Rhetoric is the ability or craft of speaking or writing effectively
and persuasively. One often makes use of different figures of speech when performing this skill. It is reputable for having an impressive
effect on audiences. Unfortunately it can also be considered as content lacking in
meaning and truthfulness.
Bitzer sets out to reintroduce the notion of rhetorical
situation to confirm it as managing and underlining concern of rhetorical
theory. He explains that there are three components of rhetorical situation:
exigency, audience and constraints.
An exigence is a reason or something waiting to be done.
Not all exigences are rhetorical. According to Bitzer, only exigences that can
be modified and positive modification that requires discourse or the assistance
there of, is rhetorical. He uses the example of air pollution, because the
reduction of air pollution is brought on by discourse producing public
awareness and action.
Bitzer describes a rhetorical audience as persons capable of
being influenced by discourse and being mediators of change. The writer gives
an example of scientists and poets that do not require an audience in order to
produce their end (whether it is scientific work or a poem).
A rhetorical situation contains constraints- persons,
events, objects and relations. These constraints can limit decisions and
actions needed to alter the exigency. The two main classes of constraints are
stated as those which are operative and those that originate by the rhetor.
Other examples of constraints include facts, attitudes, beliefs, documentary
and many more.
No comments:
Post a Comment