The Rhetorical Techniques Employed by Japanese Activists

Abstract

This study analyzes the English language rhetorical techniques employed in public speeches by four current Japanese activists. While not as deeply embedded in Japanese culture as in some Western cultures, there has been a recent increase in activism in Japan. Frequently, such activists deliver speeches in English focusing on climate change issues, gender issues, and political issues. Correspondingly, there has been a renewed interest in exploring whether these Japanese activists employ established English language rhetorical techniques to enhance the persuasiveness of their speeches. Four speeches (two delivered by experienced speakers and two by inexperienced speakers) were analyzed in this study using Rowland’s (2019) categories of language strategies. The core research question in this study is: What rhetorical techniques are utilized by Japanese activists to enhance their English language speeches? Findings indicate that even though the Japanese activists spoke in their second language (English), they employed many of the traditional rhetorical techniques commonly used in English speeches. Furthermore, subtle differences in the frequency and complexity of techniques used distinguished one of the experienced speakers from the other speakers. The educational implication drawn from these findings is that English language rhetorical techniques can be more widely taught in L2 classes.