Home General Interest Chapter 3. Argumentative and non-argumentative rhetorical content
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Chapter 3. Argumentative and non-argumentative rhetorical content

Two examples in same-sex marriage discourse
  • Lilian Bermejo-Luque
View more publications by John Benjamins Publishing Company
To Publisher Page
Argumentation across Communities of Practice
This chapter is in the book Argumentation across Communities of Practice

Abstract

Following a conception of the rhetorical dimension of communication as a matter of its ability to induce beliefs and attitudes, this paper proposes an analysis of the rhetorical content of a piece of communication in terms of the perlocutionary effects that it can be expected to produce in its addressees. Following this view, a distinction is drawn between argumentative and non-argumentative rhetorical content, which is illustrated by considering some pieces of discourse about same-sex marriage. I argue that whether or not we deal with argumentation proper, we can find both types of rhetorical content in any type of communication.

Abstract

Following a conception of the rhetorical dimension of communication as a matter of its ability to induce beliefs and attitudes, this paper proposes an analysis of the rhetorical content of a piece of communication in terms of the perlocutionary effects that it can be expected to produce in its addressees. Following this view, a distinction is drawn between argumentative and non-argumentative rhetorical content, which is illustrated by considering some pieces of discourse about same-sex marriage. I argue that whether or not we deal with argumentation proper, we can find both types of rhetorical content in any type of communication.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Cross-disciplinary perspectives on context-specific argumentation practices 1
  4. Section I. Theoretical perspectives on argumentation – revisited
  5. Chapter 1. Uncontroversial arguments 21
  6. Chapter 2. Connection premises 39
  7. Chapter 3. Argumentative and non-argumentative rhetorical content 57
  8. Section II. Argumentation practices in political discourse environments
  9. Chapter 4. Questioning the questionable 73
  10. Chapter 5. Reason and passion in political rhetoric 99
  11. Chapter 6. Interpersonal style(s) in diplomatic argumentation online 127
  12. Section III. Argumentation practices in legal discourse environments
  13. Chapter 7. The interpreter-mediated police interview as argumentative discourse in context 151
  14. Chapter 8. Context and genre in judicial argumentation 177
  15. Section IV. Argumentation practices in debates on societal and family issues
  16. Chapter 9. Caught between profitability and responsibility 197
  17. Chapter 10. Multi-participant TV debate as an argumentative activity type 229
  18. Chapter 11. The transmission of what is taken for granted in children’s socialization 259
  19. Section V. Argumentation practices in multi-modal discourse environments
  20. Chapter 12. Visual arguments in activists’ campaigns 291
  21. Chapter 13. Attacks on the cartoonist’s strategic manoeuvring 317
  22. Subject index 341
  23. Name index 339
https://doi.org/10.1075/aic.10.04ber

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Cross-disciplinary perspectives on context-specific argumentation practices 1
  4. Section I. Theoretical perspectives on argumentation – revisited
  5. Chapter 1. Uncontroversial arguments 21
  6. Chapter 2. Connection premises 39
  7. Chapter 3. Argumentative and non-argumentative rhetorical content 57
  8. Section II. Argumentation practices in political discourse environments
  9. Chapter 4. Questioning the questionable 73
  10. Chapter 5. Reason and passion in political rhetoric 99
  11. Chapter 6. Interpersonal style(s) in diplomatic argumentation online 127
  12. Section III. Argumentation practices in legal discourse environments
  13. Chapter 7. The interpreter-mediated police interview as argumentative discourse in context 151
  14. Chapter 8. Context and genre in judicial argumentation 177
  15. Section IV. Argumentation practices in debates on societal and family issues
  16. Chapter 9. Caught between profitability and responsibility 197
  17. Chapter 10. Multi-participant TV debate as an argumentative activity type 229
  18. Chapter 11. The transmission of what is taken for granted in children’s socialization 259
  19. Section V. Argumentation practices in multi-modal discourse environments
  20. Chapter 12. Visual arguments in activists’ campaigns 291
  21. Chapter 13. Attacks on the cartoonist’s strategic manoeuvring 317
  22. Subject index 341
  23. Name index 339
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2026 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 20.2.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/aic.10.04ber/html
Scroll to top button