What are the most important characteristics of rhetoric, and what have you learned about non-western rhetoric which is new to you?
The characteristics of rhetoric, as described in chapter 1, include: symbols, audience, probable truth, invention and analysis.
Interestingly enough the symbols we use within communicating rhetorically play a huge impact in the way our message is received by our audience. These symbols are mostly non-verbal indicators that help the audience connect to the speaker and help paint a picture in their mind of what is being discussed. Symbols may include letters, images or even gestures. Careful consideration must be taken into account when using symbols, because when used we are allowing the audience to put their own meaning behind what they are seeing or hearing. Sometimes their interpretation may be different than what is intended because of their experience and knowledge about the symbol. Careful audience analysis and knowledge assumptions must be made in order to choose the correct symbol usage for your audience. Variations may be needed in the explanation of the symbols depending on the knowledge level of the audience.
Audience in a rhetorical situation is very important. Our use of rhetoric is to accomplish something and that cannot be done without the people. We commonly use rhetoric to inform and persuade. In order to accomplish this, we must be familiar with our audience and study how to be successful with different kinds of audiences. Our main issue is to capture the attention of our audience, so they will listen to what we have to say. This may be a difficult journey depending on the type and size of audience. To inform or persuade an audience, it is important that they become active listeners and eventually even participate in the discussion so they have the information to make their own decisions.
In our culture we determine what is probably true based on what we here from our community and research ourselves. As a society, we are presented with some facts and based on those facts we make an informed decision about our view point of the truth. It is difficult to report the whole truth, because anything that cannot be proven is scrutinized to some subjectivity. Today we are able to question authority and ask our own questions, which makes finding out what we accept as the truth a little bit easier.
Invention and analysis of rhetoric refer to the effect of communication in our everyday lives. Rhetoric today influences our decisions, our values, and our lifestyle. There are so many different mediums for communication that we are continually being influenced without even knowing it. It is important to analyze communication and see how much media is inventing ourselves compared to us consciously making life decisions based on our own needs and wants without outside influences.
The thing I found most interesting in non-western rhetoric is that all three cultures we discussed look to a higher being or spiritual power to guide them through their communication. It seems in western rhetoric we follow the democratic way of thinking and use the separation of church and state almost as a guideline. No where in our studies has it said that we look for something spiritual to guide us. We are relying on our own knowledge and skills. There may be some rhetorical situations where we include spiritual guidance, especially in the church, but it doesn't seem to dominate our communication structure.
I like how you're emphasizing the importance of reflecting over the use of symbols as their intentional use may differ widely from their actual use if senders are not careful. And, this becomes all the more important when thinking interculturally because of the diversity of interpretive possibilities. With most classes in writing I always start emphasizing audience. Before we even begin to think about what to convey, we should thing about to whom we're conveying it. This is, perhaps, the most important principle of rhetoric--if it is the art of persuasion, within that definition, at its core, is the idea that the art includes persuading someone or some group. And again, this is when any communication structure, as you put it, should now think globally; that is, the likelihood that our ideas, especially if online, will be viewed by a much larger audience, is now much more a possibility.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting point that your getting at is the emphasis that Western rhetoric places on logic or rationality. Although we don't tend to relate this to the formal logic of classical times (syllogism, enthymeme), we still tend to value knowledge based in empirical observations whether that be through research or our own experiences. The really cool thing here is that other cultures don't reason that way, but still manage to persuade each other via other means. When these other cultures reason through means other than what we deem rational (logic, empiricism, experiential knowledge,etc.) are they any less rational than we are? It's an interesting idea to consider as we start thinking about cultural rhetorics.
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