Political communication

What is a rhetorical device

Features of the construct of speech that indicate when applause is appropriate

What are Atkinsons two main rhetorical devices

• contrasts

• Three part lists

What is a contrast

A device that juxtaposes a word, phrase or sentence with its opposite, creating a contrast point that signals the audience when to applaud

What was heritage and greatbatchs’ study of contrasts and what did they find?

UK speeches from three main political party’s

• 476 speeches

Found:

• contrasts counted for 33% of collective applause

• Lists counted for 12.6%

• Found 5 other RD - 2/3 of collective applause associated with these 7 RD

• Contrasts and Lists still most effective

What 5 other RD did heritage and greatbatch discover

1. Puzzle solution

2. Headline-punchline

3. Position taking

4. Combination

5. Pursuit

If 2/3 of applause was associated with RD, what other comprehensive analysis’s were used to explain the remaining 1/3

1. Synchrony - extent applause occurs at completion point

2. Speech content - how important

3. Uninvited applause - Not via RD

4. Delivery - e.g. speech rate, loudness

5. Culture - beyond UK are same RD used

Atkinsons analysis of synchrony

Displays of approval are seldom delayed for more than a split second after a completion point, and frequently start before one is reached

Bulls and wells analysis of synchrony with results

Analysed 15 instances of applause not associated with RD

• only 65% in the way Atkinson described

Atkinsons analysis of content

Applause occurs in response to statements praising the politicians own party or attacking the opposition

Bulls analysis of content with results

Analysed 15 instances of applause not associated with RD

• applause typically Asynchronous with speech - interruptive

• Some content so potent that applause occurred whether or not RD used

Bull and wells analysis of invited and uninvited applause

86% applause invited

14% uninvited

2 reasons for uninvited :

1. Response to content

2. Misreading of RD

Atkinsons analysis on delivery

Delivery increases Chance of a RD receiving applause

Bull and wells analysis of delivery

Delivery indicates whether or not a RD is to be taken as an applause indication

• delivery indicates applause → synchronous applause 98%

• Delivery did not indicate applause → asynchronous applause 98%

Bull and Feldman analysis of Culture

36 speeches from Japanese general election

• common use for explicit invitations

68% of applause instances

71% of all affiliative responses

Bull and Miskinis analysis of culture

US presidential election speech

Audience response:

• applause → 8%

• Cheering → 66%

• Chanting and booing ect.

What is equivocation ?

Use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth to avoid committing ones self

Bulls analysis on whether politicians equivocate

33 interviews with leaders

• assessment of reply rate - receive explicit answer

• 46% mean reply rate

Harris’s analysis of whether politicians equivocate

Analysed a different set of interviews

Mean reply rate - 39%