Abstract
The current research is mainly conducted to explore the pragmatic functions of English rhetoric in public speech. To do this, methods of close reading and case studies are adopted. The research first reveals that the boom of public speech programs helps reexamine the art of utterance, during the delivery of which English rhetoric plays an indispensable role in shaping and expressing a speaker’s opinions, and then, with Emma Watson’s HeForShe as a case study, concludes the specific pragmatic functions of English rhetoric: parallelism helps strengthen opinions; irony shows dissatisfaction, disapproval or rejection; rhetorical questions invite no answers, but call for emphasis and sense of urgency; contrast describes difference(s) so as to show preference. Use of proper English rhetoric devices in public speaking as well as in daily life improves communicative effect and efficiency.
Highlights
In recent years, with the release of such popular public speech programs as TED, “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”, which are from various countries with various themes and distinctive oratory characteristics, people are increasingly aware of the importance of interpersonal skills and the art of public speaking in daily life
The research first reveals that the boom of public speech programs helps reexamine the art of utterance, during the delivery of which English rhetoric plays an indispensable role in shaping and expressing a speaker’s opinions, and with Emma Watson’s HeForShe as a case study, concludes the specific pragmatic functions of English rhetoric: parallelism helps strengthen opinions; irony shows dissatisfaction, disapproval or rejection; rhetorical questions invite no answers, but call for emphasis and sense of urgency; contrast describes difference(s) so as to show preference
With the release of such popular public speech programs as TED, “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”, which are from various countries with various themes and distinctive oratory characteristics, people are increasingly aware of the importance of interpersonal skills and the art of public speaking in daily life
Summary
With the release of such popular public speech programs as TED, “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”, which are from various countries with various themes and distinctive oratory characteristics, people are increasingly aware of the importance of interpersonal skills and the art of public speaking in daily life. If a speaker wants to inform, persuade, or entertain the audiences, he/she should employ special means of expression effectively, among which English rhetoric such as irony, repetition, metaphor, parallelism, contrast, rhetorical question and etc., works well. Comes the critical question that the current research aims to answer: what are the pragmatic functions of English rhetoric in public speeches since the two disciplines of English rhetoric and Pragmatics are closely related. The research, based on the case study of Emma Watson’s HeForShe, attempts to explore the pragmatic functions of English rhetoric in public speech, and analyze the effective use of English rhetoric so as to help us learn to make the audience better persuaded/informed/entertained and improve communicative efficiency in daily life
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