Rhetoric in Speaking and Writing
Scholars have questioned the scope of rhetoric since long ago. The concept of rhetoric covers each aspect of culture. Current studies regard rhetoric to a more diverse range of domains than in the ancient days. Traditional rhetoric taught speakers to be effective persuaders in public institutions and public forums. Rhetoric arises among Greeks as they valued public participation in politics. Aristotle was a scientist and philosopher and is still considered as the greatest thinker in ethics, psychology, and politics (Grimaldi, 1980). Marcus Tullius Cicero was a lawyer and academic skeptic and played a critical role in the politics of the Roman Republic. Marcus Fabius Quintilian’s was a rhetorician from Hispania and Roman educator.
They all differ in their definitions. Cicero referred to rhetoric as one great art that comprised of five lesser arts: memoria, inventio, elocutio, dispositio, and pronunciation. To him, rhetoric was a speech planned to persuade. Quintilian defined rhetoric as art, the art of speaking well, or the art of a good man speaking well. Aristotle defined rhetoric as the ability to determine in any specific cases all of the available means of persuasion.” Aristotle recognized the importance of the audience and the context of (Leen, 1991). According to Aristotle, persuasion encompasses three appeals, that is the emotional aspect, moral standing, and facts. On the other hand, Cicero argued that the art required eloquence, a good orator should be enlightened on a wide range of civic topics (May, 2002). He also believed that a good orator should have a general and wide range of knowledge of the firm foundation.
Quintilian used to teach rhetoric in law courts. He advocated a simpler language and a clear language that would be used in courts. He disliked the silver Latin that is excessive ornamentation (Ramus, 1960). Quintilian believed that character was shaped by the contemplation of vice and virtue. His goal was to prepare an orator who can regulate the state.
They all applied the principle of five canons, that is arrangement, invention, memory, style, and delivery. These were the technical aspect that was involved alongside rhetoric. The canons aid in speech preparation. They all had the idea that to be a good orator, and one must be a good citizen and an eloquent public speaker (May, 2002). they were all determined to educate good orators. They also valued rhetoric as a moral force in the community. Cicero encouraged his generations to use the same ethics, ideals, and standards of the past.
Nowadays, rhetoric is being taught in universities. The study of rhetoric has resulted in many ways of application in many fields, as has resulted in fluent and effective speaking and writing by many students. The study of rhetoric is widely spread in democratic institutions and has played a major impact on the social role as it has made it possible for the creation of different educational systems.
References
Grimald, W. M. (1980). Aristotle, Rhetoric I: A Commentary. Fordham University Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=wWm9V3Cp3YgC&printsec=copyright#v=onepage&q&f=false
Leen, A. (1991). Cicero and the Rhetoric of Art. The American Journal of Philology, 11(2), 229-245. https://doi.org/10.2307/294719
May, J. M. (2002). Brill’s Companion to Cicero: Oratory and Rhetoric. Boston: Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden. Retrieved from https://jasonthamdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/may_brill-companion-to-cicero-oratory-rhetoric_2002.pdf
Ramus, P. (1986). Arguments in Rhetoric Against Quintilian: Translation and Text of Peter Ramus’s Rhetoricae Distinctiones in Quintilianum. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.