How does Foss et. al define rhetoric? Describe in your own words what this means to you and offer a few examples of rhetoric in your life?
Foss and the others offer a simple definition of rhetoric: the use of symbols to communicate (1). They of course don't stop at that, but further unpack "human", "symbols", and "communicate"in such a way that paints rhetoric as a complex, yet everyday used concept. For years people have argued over the importance of rhetoric, and have adjusted it's place in society—Greek to Roman; Medieval to Renaissance; Early Modern to Modern; Modern to Contemporary—, but after roughly 2,500 years of existence, rhetoric is still in use today. Seemingly history has produced several individuals that represent the concept in different ways (i.e sophists, Aristotle, Quintilian, Ramus), but the root stays the same—rhetoric has, and still is, the use of symbols to communicate.
Personally, I agree with the authors' definition of rhetoric and see how it specifically encapsulates the four canons of rhetoric. Last semester I took a class from Professor Davis that opened my eyes to the truth and science of rhetoric—which, to my surprise, was much much more than my high school and community college teachers let on to. Up until this year I had visualized rhetoric in the exact way that the authors described in the introduction: "empty, bombastic words with no substance or trivial talk" (1). Now, I am able to see more of rhetoric in this culture, and can see its substance. For example, I work part time for a local church and spend most of my time working with and teaching the youth. When I teach, I realize the importance of invention, organization, style, and memory, causing me to understand and relate with Augustine's claim that preachers need to own these skills. Communicating to a group of people is much more than just talking. Another example of rhetoric is the way in which I communicate with my wife. I have been married for a 1.5 years now, and in that time I have learned much about mis-communication. Much like the book's example of an American plane flying over Korea, the way I say things, or the way I go about doing certain things sometimes communicates exactly the opposite than I intend. I have learned quickly that my actions and words can symbolize something much different to other people than what it symbolizes to me.
Foss, Sonja K., Karen A. Foss, and Robert Trapp. Contemporary Perspectives on Rhetoric. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland, 2002. Print.
Google Search Definitions:
Wikipedia: the art of using language to communicate effectively and persuasively. It involves three audience appeals: logos, pathos, and ethos.
Dictionary.com: the study of the effective use of language.
1)"Rhetoric." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric>.
2)"Rhetoric | Define Rhetoric at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 10 Jan. 2011<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rhetoric
I gotta know more about this: "Communicating to a group of people is much more than just talking." What else is it?
ReplyDeleteI think I could have used better wording for this. I should have said this: communicating effectively is more than just meaningless talking". Poor communication is easy to do. Good communication takes work.
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