Approaches to African American Rhetorical Theory Some

Approaches to African American Rhetorical Theory

Some of the many difficulties Essentialist views are wrong: • Diverse groups under differing conditions. • No single way is The “African American communication style” Oppression: • Colonialism, slavery, and racism are against human status and suppress history/traditions.

Some of the many difficulties Hegemony of the Western tradition: • White models find non-whites “wanting. ” Formal vs Informal Codes • “Getting over, ” “code-switching, ” and other covert strategies don’t “show” to or impress non-blacks. Multilingualism • BEV issues abound. • Mainstream white folks don’t treat BEV as multilingual.

Some of the many difficulties As multicultural approaches increase, educational opportunities broaden, civil rights improve, international travel and global communication evolve. . . • The African American experience reverberates with African influences. • Often very difficult to tease them apart and/or to know when Africa applies (or does not).

Some Key African/African American Rhetorical Considerations While remembering that essentialism is VERY untrustworthy. Harmony and Unity • the divine spirit is found in community. Spiritual powers in individual actions. • power and wisdom come to individuals who will then aid the community. Nommo • the lived power of the spoken word. Speech is more a transmission of centered life than of the “parts” of traditional speech-ifying

Some Key Rhetorical Behaviors/Features Invention as “calling into existence, recognizable patterns. ” • the rhetor must then organize and style the materials creatively. • Style must respond to images which connect with the audience. Delivery is collaborative. • This mirrors both the call and response found in preaching as well as in the Effeminate style.

Needed Steps Inclusion • Find great speakers/speeches. • Do ethnography of speaking across different groups. • Be especially sensitive to co-group differences---this work can be turned against the very group it claims to study.

Needed Steps Revision • Solidify understanding of black philosophy. • Discover principle sets that are exclusive to co-groups. • Discover principle sets that generalize across co-groups.

Approaches to Asian Rhetorical Theory

Some of the many difficulties Essentialist views are wrong: • Diverse groups under differing conditions. Hegemony of the Western tradition: • White models find non-whites “wanting. ” Translation is a HUGE difficulty. • We’ve long depended on problematic translations and textual interpretations. • This improves as Asian scholars join us.

Some More Challenges for Understanding Asian Rhetoric Tied to philosophy and metaphysics; rhetoric is sometimes missed due to its tight relation with Eastern religions. Operates in high context culture: verbal is not always foregrounded (Langer helps here) Operates in hierarchical (deferencerelevant) yet group-oriented society. Depends on Eastern ways of minding which do not always seem “rhetorical” to Westerners.

Some Key Asian Rhetorical Considerations (keeping essentialism in view to tame it) Bian • fluid senses about speech and argument using reason and evidence to express opinions, show weaknesses in other’s argument, and to achieve correct view and mutual understanding. Ming • logos, esp. logic and order.

Some Key Asian Rhetorical Considerations (keeping essentialism in view to tame it) Wen • all polished literature should have sermonic outcome. Authority • perhaps the most ubiquitous form of argument: from the archetypal case/quotation/text/master – Western rhetoric uses these, but as a somewhat weak form.

More Key Asian Rhetorical Considerations Parsimony: rhetorical decisions should be strategic toward avoiding contentious argumentation, focusing instead on harmony; but when required, should be economical • Knowledge: thorough assessment of the situation, esp. with regard to the status quo and how holding/attaining it can be leveraged. • Strategy: one tries to gain strategic advantages toward quick and decisive victory. • Responsiveness: adaptation to events/circumstances is key.

Needed Steps Inclusion • Find great speakers/speeches. • Do ethnography of speaking across different groups. • Get better translations.

Needed steps Revision • take philosophy more seriously with regard to its role in rhetoric. • build a non-Western model for judgment. • build better rhetorical model for nondiscursive forms.

In all three cases: Women, African American, Asian We’d better figure it out. They ain’t going away. We are wasting previous human resources. One might say “morality notwithstanding. ” But of course, morality is very much in play here.