Linguistics and Literature Studies Vol. 7(4), pp. 156 - 163
DOI: 10.13189/lls.2019.070405
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Logical Function of Rhetorical Questions: An Enthymematic Analysis of RQs in The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons

Qian Na , Ying Yuan ^*
School of Foreign Languages, Soochow University, China

ABSTRACT

Rhetorical questions are often interpreted from the semantic, pragmatic, and syntactical perspectives; but their logical function is rarely investigated. This paper, based on the proper interpretation of Aristotle's "enthymeme" or "rhetorical syllogism", attempts to explore the mechanism of RQs' argumentative function, by examining the RQ-rich masterpiece, Liu Xie's The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons (《文心雕龙》). The sample analyses reveal that RQs achieve a strong logical function via both suggesting and implying the propositions (often major premise and conclusion), as well as providing the solid argument (as minor premise). Also, our enthymematic analyses prove that the RQs' logical function is meanwhile accompanied by salience of the suggested conclusion or major premise, the assertion or assumption transformed from the question itself. This inquiry highlights the argumentative function of rhetorical figures and enriches Western rhetoric notions in Chinese classics interpretation.

KEYWORDS
Rhetorical Question, Logical Function, Enthymeme, Liu Xie, The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Qian Na , Ying Yuan , "Logical Function of Rhetorical Questions: An Enthymematic Analysis of RQs in The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons," Linguistics and Literature Studies, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 156 - 163, 2019. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2019.070405.

(b). APA Format:
Qian Na , Ying Yuan (2019). Logical Function of Rhetorical Questions: An Enthymematic Analysis of RQs in The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons. Linguistics and Literature Studies, 7(4), 156 - 163. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2019.070405.