Page 175 - Gabrijela Kišiček and Igor Ž. Žagar (eds.), What do we know about the world? Rhetorical and argumentative perspectives, Digital Library, Educational Research Institute, Ljubljana 2013
P. 175
rhetoric of crisis: polish parliamentarian
debates on the future of the eu 175
For the same reason the analyzed metaphors are the conventional ones,
the use of which is well grounded in the language (Kovecses, 2011: 194).
Their conventional nature to a certain degree limits the rhetoric choic-
es of the speakers. The language community often imposes the way in
which the given matter is discussed (the case of the boat/ship metaphor
is a good example). Undoubtedly the choice of the metaphor is related to
a large degree with the ideological embedding of the given political par-
ty. Brock et al. indicate, using American politics as a reference, how the
ideological profile of the person influences the rhetorical choice strat-
egy (Brock, 2005: 85n). In reference to the Polish conditions it makes
sense to recall three examples. Conservatives use an idealistic perspec-
tive, making reference to the individual’s character or the acting person.
The elements of such a strategy we can find both in the opposition pol-
iticians’ enunciations (PiS) as well as in the ruling coalition. Liberals in
their arguments often refer to situational factors; action is determined
by the circumstances. Such arguments appear in the speeches of PO en-
voys. And finally the radicals point to the structural conditions. In the
analyzed debates it is assumed that the source of the crisis rests in the
systemic weakness of the EU and the capitalist economy.
4. Unused Potential?
Summing up, metaphors used in the analyzed debates belong to the
standard imagery repeatedly appearing in the political discourse. None
of them have become so influential that it would dominate the debate.
Nevertheless they constitute a part of the argumentative tactics and
serve the purpose of intensifying the message. They are not constitutive,
however, of the argument itself, and do not explain something that is to-
tally unknown. They perform an illustrative function instead – in the
cases of more elaborate images. Most of the analyzed examples cannot
be defined as rhetorical figures in the full sense of the word, although
undoubtedly they are metaphorical expressions. It is still in accordance
with Cicero’s explanations, who by connecting the particular value of
metaphors with their sensualism, i.e. making references to specific sens-
es (first of all the sight), explained that sometimes it suffices to use a word
to activate a given sense (Cicero, 1942: III, 161). Due to that the message
is much clearer. Quintilian explains that the use of metaphors is particu-
larly applicable when the metaphorical word is better, more expressive or
more decent than the accurate one (Quintilianus, 2005: VIII, 6, 5–6). In
the analyzed debates the MPs most often used the simile due to its ex-
pressiveness. It is worth remembering though, the qualification that the
debates on the future of the eu 175
For the same reason the analyzed metaphors are the conventional ones,
the use of which is well grounded in the language (Kovecses, 2011: 194).
Their conventional nature to a certain degree limits the rhetoric choic-
es of the speakers. The language community often imposes the way in
which the given matter is discussed (the case of the boat/ship metaphor
is a good example). Undoubtedly the choice of the metaphor is related to
a large degree with the ideological embedding of the given political par-
ty. Brock et al. indicate, using American politics as a reference, how the
ideological profile of the person influences the rhetorical choice strat-
egy (Brock, 2005: 85n). In reference to the Polish conditions it makes
sense to recall three examples. Conservatives use an idealistic perspec-
tive, making reference to the individual’s character or the acting person.
The elements of such a strategy we can find both in the opposition pol-
iticians’ enunciations (PiS) as well as in the ruling coalition. Liberals in
their arguments often refer to situational factors; action is determined
by the circumstances. Such arguments appear in the speeches of PO en-
voys. And finally the radicals point to the structural conditions. In the
analyzed debates it is assumed that the source of the crisis rests in the
systemic weakness of the EU and the capitalist economy.
4. Unused Potential?
Summing up, metaphors used in the analyzed debates belong to the
standard imagery repeatedly appearing in the political discourse. None
of them have become so influential that it would dominate the debate.
Nevertheless they constitute a part of the argumentative tactics and
serve the purpose of intensifying the message. They are not constitutive,
however, of the argument itself, and do not explain something that is to-
tally unknown. They perform an illustrative function instead – in the
cases of more elaborate images. Most of the analyzed examples cannot
be defined as rhetorical figures in the full sense of the word, although
undoubtedly they are metaphorical expressions. It is still in accordance
with Cicero’s explanations, who by connecting the particular value of
metaphors with their sensualism, i.e. making references to specific sens-
es (first of all the sight), explained that sometimes it suffices to use a word
to activate a given sense (Cicero, 1942: III, 161). Due to that the message
is much clearer. Quintilian explains that the use of metaphors is particu-
larly applicable when the metaphorical word is better, more expressive or
more decent than the accurate one (Quintilianus, 2005: VIII, 6, 5–6). In
the analyzed debates the MPs most often used the simile due to its ex-
pressiveness. It is worth remembering though, the qualification that the
