C1 Discourse: Recognizing How Speakers Use Language to Persuade, Influence, or Manipulate
Welcome! In our final lesson on discourse, we will analyze how speakers use language to persuade, influence, or manipulate1. This means recognizing the techniques speakers use to make you agree with them. This is a vital skill for critical thinking.
1. Technique 1: Rhetorical Questions
A rhetorical question2 is a question asked to make a point, not to get an answer. The speaker implies the answer is obvious and wants the listener to agree with them, creating a sense of shared opinion.
Example (A manager motivating a team):
"This has been a difficult month for sales. But are we going to give up? Are we going to accept defeat? No. We are going to work harder and smarter than ever before."
The manager isn't asking for information; they are using questions to build motivation and unity.
2. Technique 2: The Rule of Three
Speakers often list ideas or adjectives in groups of three. The "Rule of Three" is a powerful rhetorical device because it sounds complete, memorable, and persuasive to the human ear.
Example (A politician describing their vision):
"We need a city that is safe, clean, and prosperous. Our new policy will provide better security, improve waste management, and create new jobs for everyone."
The rhythm of three makes the message feel more convincing and well-thought-out.
3. Technique 3: Emotive Language
Speakers can influence you by using emotive language3—words chosen specifically to create a strong emotional response.
Example (An advertisement for a holiday):
"Escape the crushing stress of your daily life. Imagine yourself on a pristine, white-sand beach, listening to the gentle whisper of the waves as you relax under a canopy of stars. This is not just a holiday; it's the freedom you deserve."
The language is designed to make you feel negative about your current situation and extremely positive about the product being sold.
Final Quiz: Identify the Technique
Read the short extracts. Identify the main persuasive technique being used.
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Sentence 1: "This isn't just a phone; it's a gateway to creativity, a portal to connection, and a key to your future."
Main Technique? (a) Rhetorical Question, (b) Rule of Three, (c) Emotive Language
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Sentence 2: "How can we stand by and do nothing while our precious environment is threatened? Is that the kind of people we are? I think not."
Main Technique? (a) Rhetorical Question, (b) Rule of Three, (c) Emotive Language
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Sentence 3: "This disastrous policy will be a catastrophic failure, destroying the hopes of hardworking families across the nation."
Main Technique? (a) Rhetorical Question, (b) Rule of Three, (c) Emotive Language
Click to Show Answers
Answers: 1-b (uses a list of three powerful concepts). 2-a (asks questions where the answer is implied). 3-c (uses strong negative words like "disastrous," "catastrophic," "destroying").
Homework Task
1. Analyze an Advertisement: Watch a television commercial or an online video ad. What persuasive techniques does it use? Does it use emotive language? The Rule of Three? Rhetorical questions? How does it try to make you feel?
2. Write a Persuasive Sentence: Think of something you want to persuade a friend to do (e.g., try a new restaurant in Siem Reap). Write one sentence using the Rule of Three. Then, write another sentence using a rhetorical question.
Vocabulary Glossary
- To Persuade / Influence (verb) - Khmer: ដើម្បីបញ្ចុះបញ្ចូល / មានឥទ្ធិពល - To cause someone to do or believe something through reasoning or argument. ↩
- Rhetorical Question (noun) - Khmer: សំណួរវោហាសាស្ត្រ - A question asked to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get a real answer. ↩
- Emotive Language (noun phrase) - Khmer: ភាសាដែលបង្ហាញអារម្មណ៍ - Words and phrases chosen deliberately to make the listener feel a particular strong emotion. ↩