Philology/2 Rhetoric and Stylistics

PhD in Philology Khatser Ganna

Zaporizhzhia National University

The use of rhetorical strategies in analytical writing in linguistics

Linguistics is a part of humanities that include the study of literature, history, ethics, the arts, philosophy, languages, religion and jurisprudence. The study of different parts of linguistics such as phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics holds the prominent position in the process of future translators and linguists’ education. To master this discipline students have to write many essays in English based on the given material and goals set by a mentor. However, any of these papers will include information gathering and analyzing, that is why analytical writing is considered to be one of the most appropriate and popular while studying linguistics.

In general, analytical writing is a process combining critical thinking and analytical writing skills [2, p. 8]. A person who is intended to write an analytical essay should be able to “clearly express an argument and provide sufficient support for it [1]”.

In this paper by analytical writing it is understood the process directed towards supporting, constructing and evaluating arguments in a coherent way. It consists of two types: papers analyzing an issue and those analyzing an argument. The writing based on analyzing an issue provides an opinion on some issue and ways how to respond to it. The main task here is to evaluate this issue. The writing based on analyzing an argument means to evaluate a particular argument in accordance with specific instructions. The main aim is to regard and study the logical structure and not to agree or disagree with it.

The process of analytical writing in humanities can be shown in a 4-level pyramid (fig.1), where the basis is identification of an issue or the problem connected with morphology, phonology, semantics or syntax. The closing stage is defining the relationship between the issue or the problem and the analysis conducted in the paper.

Fig. 1 The process of analytical writing

Taking into account this pyramid model, analysis of articles on semantic analysis with the use of IT technologies includes: 1. Problems connected with the semantic analysis and its computer transfer. 2. Impossibility for the computer to “feel” and “see” the author’s intentions. 3. Analyses of works written by linguists and IT specialists in this field. 4. Marking out success and fails in this issue.

The choice of the style and structure of papers in linguistics depends on the subject that is being addressed there. Besides, one or more of seven rhetorical laws also influences the process of both writing and organization. So, most essays and research papers require the following elements: - introduction; - thesis statement; - evidence; - analysis or interpretation; - logical organization; and - conclusion.

Introduction usually comes before the thesis statement.It gives general information on the paper. It is based on the first conceptual law of rhetoric and ability of a person to build the system of knowledge of the issue to show the concept or intention of the written work. In linguistic papers the author can state something controversial to show the well-known information for the reader from a different perspective. The aim is to get the reader's attention, and keep it during the whole paper.

The thesis statement introduces the audience to the issue analyzed in the paper and gives a hint what to expect from reading the article or essays. It is strong and focused, stated with confidence. For example,

Traditionally, in linguistics punctuality is analyzed from the functional and grammatical point of view. However, the anthropocentric paradigm of the newest linguistics provides some particular changes when the object is not the outer but inner side of the sign, hidden emotional state of a speaker.

As it is seen from the example, the thesis statement addresses one main issue (shift of the object in punctuality study). Throughout the paper, everything will be focused on it.

Some of thesis statements can invite the audience to disagree with the information provided, thus making people read the paper and find arguments.

The next stage is writing body of the paper. This section has the evidence, analysis, and reasoning that support the thesis. Often the writer divides the topic of the paper into subtopics. Typically, each subtopic is discussed in a separate paragraph.

Before writing the evidence and reasoning to support the ideas descried, the writer should analyze his/her audience to provide necessary evidence and arguments for this particular group of people, for example student of language departments, PhD in philology, people without linguistics background, etc. According to the second law of rhetoric, a person studies social and demographic; social and psychological; individual and personal features of the audience.

While working with the evidence, a person develops the ability to work with arguments and data in order to activate the audience’s activity (the tactical law of rhetoric). The thesis statement should be based on the evidences found during this process.

Each evidence presented in the paper should be supported by interpretation or analysis. The author explains the reader in his or her own words why it is important or not.

One of the most powerful parts of the paper is conclusion, because it constitutes the main findings of the paper by summarizing the whole discussion. The efficient conclusion of the paper in linguistics should go through several stages: - comments on the importance of the issue; and - perspectives of this analyzes and discussions.

To sum it up, analytical writing in linguistics is important for development of both students of foreign philology departments and specialist in this area. Any writing should be based on the rhetorical strategies, its laws to reach the audience and to deliver the message more successfully. A person should be able to study, analyze, generalize the information provided by other people, and work with the audience. Based on the goals and the target audience, the writer creates the concept and develops it through the paper. In future it is necessary to study peculiarities of writing particular papers in linguistics, such as a paper in semantics or syntax.

Literature

1. Getting to Know the GRE: What is Analytical Writing? 22 May, 2015. veritasprep.com/blog/2015/05/getting-to-know-the-gre-what-is-analytical-writing/. Accessed 29 January 2017.

2. Overview of the Analytical Writing Section // Graduate Record Examinations. ETS: GRE, 2010. – 127 p.