Listening: Understanding Interactional Cues & Discourse (Advanced) C1 - Lesson 3: Recognizing How Speakers Use Language to Persuade, Influence, or Manipulate

C1 Discourse: The Language of Persuasion CEFR Level C1 Lesson Goals In this lesson, you will learn to identify and analyze common linguistic techniques used to persuade, influence, and manipulate . This is a crucial skill for advanced comprehension and critical thinking. Recognizing Persuasive Techniques Advanced communication involves understanding not just what is said, but how and why. Speakers constantly make strategic language choices to influence their audience. Let's analyze three of the most powerful techniques. 1. Rhetorical Questions A rhetorical question is a question asked to make a point, not to receive an answer. The speaker presumes the answer is obvious, aiming to create a sense of shared opinion and guide the listener towards a predetermined conclusion. Example (A manager motivating a team): "This has been a difficult month. But are we going to give up? Are we going to accept defeat? No. We are going to work harder than ever before." 2. The Rule of Three (Tricolon) …