The section compares an addressee’s outward state with the rhetorical state in which the speaker places them. Its principal applications can be organized as follows:
Outward stateTreated asRelevant clue
Not askingQuestioningAnticipation of the report
Not denyingDenyingSigns resembling denial
DenyingNot denyingClear evidence available
The important point is not merely whether emphasis increases or decreases, but what justifies the adjustment. Rhetorical deviation must be grounded in context.
Opening interactive controls...
Departing from the Expected Form: Rhetorical Reclassification of the Addressee
The section compares an addressee’s outward state with the rhetorical state in which the speaker places them. Its principal applications can be organized as follows:
Outward stateTreated asRelevant clue
Not askingQuestioningAnticipation of the report
Not denyingDenyingSigns resembling denial
DenyingNot denyingClear evidence available
The important point is not merely whether emphasis increases or decreases, but what justifies the adjustment. Rhetorical deviation must be grounded in context.