Persuading through narratives
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Sole Alba Zollo
Abstract
Following the tradition of Critical Discourse Analysis and Social Semiotics, this paper seeks to identify the linguistic and visual tools of persuasion in the Council of Europe photo exhibition “Break the silence on domestic violence” by looking at the way in which they interact to produce a persuasive message. In particular, the investigation focuses on narratives, which are one of the most powerful persuasive strategies available. They can combine different modalities and many voices in a single event and can have different functions: informative, self-presentational, entertaining, or, as in this case, persuasive. In this campaign material narratives evoke images and help European citizens to feel strong emotions associated with the stories represented. The text analysis helps to reveal that verbal and pictorial narratives are employed as a persuasive instrument to raise awareness on human rights by facilitating identification with the victims of abuses.
Abstract
Following the tradition of Critical Discourse Analysis and Social Semiotics, this paper seeks to identify the linguistic and visual tools of persuasion in the Council of Europe photo exhibition “Break the silence on domestic violence” by looking at the way in which they interact to produce a persuasive message. In particular, the investigation focuses on narratives, which are one of the most powerful persuasive strategies available. They can combine different modalities and many voices in a single event and can have different functions: informative, self-presentational, entertaining, or, as in this case, persuasive. In this campaign material narratives evoke images and help European citizens to feel strong emotions associated with the stories represented. The text analysis helps to reveal that verbal and pictorial narratives are employed as a persuasive instrument to raise awareness on human rights by facilitating identification with the victims of abuses.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction vii
-
Persuasion in Political Dialogue
- Persuasion or the integration of grammar and rhetoric 3
- The burden of proof in dealing with political accountability 19
- Pre-election TV debates – persuasive games between ethos, logos, and pathos 39
- … every time you’ve offered an opinion, you’ve been wrong 55
- Political debates 85
- Analysing the rhetoric use of the epistemic marker Eu cred că (I think) in Romanian parliamentary discourse 101
-
Persuasive Strategies in Professional Dialogue
- Argumentation at work 145
- Argumentation strategies in mediated professional interactions 161
- Using identities-in-talk as a persuasive strategy 179
- Markers of argumentation in intercultural professional discourse 201
- Leaders banking on ethos 217
- Persuading through narratives 249
- Index 275
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction vii
-
Persuasion in Political Dialogue
- Persuasion or the integration of grammar and rhetoric 3
- The burden of proof in dealing with political accountability 19
- Pre-election TV debates – persuasive games between ethos, logos, and pathos 39
- … every time you’ve offered an opinion, you’ve been wrong 55
- Political debates 85
- Analysing the rhetoric use of the epistemic marker Eu cred că (I think) in Romanian parliamentary discourse 101
-
Persuasive Strategies in Professional Dialogue
- Argumentation at work 145
- Argumentation strategies in mediated professional interactions 161
- Using identities-in-talk as a persuasive strategy 179
- Markers of argumentation in intercultural professional discourse 201
- Leaders banking on ethos 217
- Persuading through narratives 249
- Index 275
