从伯克对修辞与人的定义看中西修辞学思想的差异

Studies on the Differences between Chinese and Western Rhetoric from Kenneth Burke’s Definitions of Rhetoric and Human Being

近年来,汉语修辞学界展开了多次讨论,试图冲破"语言表达效果论"的藩篱,开拓汉语修辞学研究的新天地。修辞学的发展不仅仅是应该拓宽视野、扩展研究内容的问题,更重要的是要从根本上改变修辞即调整语辞的观念,对修辞学思想予以重新考虑。本文首先探讨20世纪西方修辞学的主要代表人物肯尼斯·伯克的修辞学思想中有关修辞与人的定义,然后就中西修辞学思想的差异进行对比分析,以期能为更新修辞观念提供一点借鉴。

Traditionally speaking, the major conception of Chinese rhetoric is dominated by Chen Wangdao＇ s idea of ＂language-centeredness＂. Although there have been dozens of definitions of rhetoric, they all focus upon the ＂polishing of language use＂ with the aim of achieving the greatest effect of expression, thus laying emphasis upon the choice of figures of speech, luxuriant use of language and aesthetic ways of expression. Recently, there have been numerous discussions on the nature and usage of rhetoric, trying to explore new horizons of rhetoric study. We hold the view that the proper means for the development of rhetoric is not simply to find new fields of study, but in fact, lies in the transformation of the old conceptions of rhetoric. This paper first discusses Kenneth Burke＇ s definitions of rhetoric and human being, and then makes a comparison between Chinese and Western conceptions of rhetoric, and finally attempts to draw some implications for the renewal of Chinese conceptions of rhetoric.