As we are currently knee-deep in election fever here in the UK, I thought it might be interesting to have a look at political rhetoric, another fascinating example of the power of language. Skill in this area can make a tremendous difference to a politician's success or failure at the ballot box. Barack Obama's electoral victories are widely credited to his ability to connect with the American people through his excellent public speaking skills.
One of the most common techniques that is employed by any persuasive speaker, and particularly by politicians, is repetition, or 'anaphora' as it is usually known. It usually involves repeating a phrase at the start of consecutive statements. A particularly famous example is Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech given during the March on Washington in 1963. Such repetition assists the speaker in making an idea particularly memorable.
Another very common method that orators use to make their speeches effective is to make use of the Rule of Three. This is based on the idea that people have difficulty remembering a long laundry list of ideas or benefits, but generally seem to recall three things. Hence, we hear things such as 'Winston Churchill's 'This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.' And even more obviously: 'Education, education, education' from Tony Blair.
And yet another technique that orators often employ is hyperbole: intentional exaggeration used to emphasise a point. It is actually quite hard to find a political speech that is not awash with hyperbole, particularly during election campaigns. During this last week we have had Tories claiming that Labour economic policies would be 'a disaster' and 'cause chaos' in the country. In the same way, Labour politicians warn that a Tory win would lead to the 'end of the NHS.'
Even if you're finding the interminable round of political speeches, that are popping up like mushrooms all over the television news, to be tedious and unmemorable in themselves, it still proves interesting to watch them, just to see if you can spot these kinds of features.
One of the most common techniques that is employed by any persuasive speaker, and particularly by politicians, is repetition, or 'anaphora' as it is usually known. It usually involves repeating a phrase at the start of consecutive statements. A particularly famous example is Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech given during the March on Washington in 1963. Such repetition assists the speaker in making an idea particularly memorable.
Another very common method that orators use to make their speeches effective is to make use of the Rule of Three. This is based on the idea that people have difficulty remembering a long laundry list of ideas or benefits, but generally seem to recall three things. Hence, we hear things such as 'Winston Churchill's 'This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.' And even more obviously: 'Education, education, education' from Tony Blair.
And yet another technique that orators often employ is hyperbole: intentional exaggeration used to emphasise a point. It is actually quite hard to find a political speech that is not awash with hyperbole, particularly during election campaigns. During this last week we have had Tories claiming that Labour economic policies would be 'a disaster' and 'cause chaos' in the country. In the same way, Labour politicians warn that a Tory win would lead to the 'end of the NHS.'
Even if you're finding the interminable round of political speeches, that are popping up like mushrooms all over the television news, to be tedious and unmemorable in themselves, it still proves interesting to watch them, just to see if you can spot these kinds of features.
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