Language choice, expectation, and the roman notion of style

Abstract

This article is directed toward understanding how language can function to create expectations in an audience. While many theorists have addressed this problem, none to our knowledge have revisited the Roman system of style to see how it informs the process. Thus, we begin by describing the Roman concepts decorum and ornatus, and propose using them to teach students about creating and meeting expectations in an audience. Decorum refers to the expectation of the audience which can be satisfied by stylistic tone. Ornatus refers to the fashioning of a speech with rhythm, tropes and figures; it means functional adornment. To better understand these style related terms, the authors analyze a speech from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to show how decorum and ornatus advance plot, deepen character, and create and meet expectation. Then the Roman system is applied to President Reagan's eulogy to the Challenger Crew in an effort to demonstrate the usefulness of the concepts in the criticism of American public address.