以修辞理论分析布道《永远的代祷者》中的说服性效果(英文)

Analyzing the Persuasive Effects of the Sermon Eternal Intercessor with Rhetoric Theories

虽然布道是一种很特别的演讲形式却鲜有人关注。之前对于宗教语言的研究主要集中在《圣经》对文学的影响,对宗教语言形式的研究并不多见。本研究的目的是用修辞理论分析基督教布道中体现出的说服性。由于史密斯主教的布道《永远的代祷者》较具代表性,因此被选作此次分析的文本。本研究主要分析布道中运用的修辞手法和亚里士多德的修辞手法(信誉、情感、逻辑)。分析表明这个布道中最常用的修辞手法是押韵,首语重复,押头韵,和修饰性问句。布道中,主教的正面形象有利于赢得观众对基督教教义的信任。主教讲述的故事不仅让听众敬畏神灵,也让他们对神充满期待。整场布道十分有技巧,进而起到以理服人的效果。所有修辞手法的运用都是为了说服听众相信上帝以及为教会捐款。

Usually, God, Bible, churches, and God father come to people's mind when Christianity is mentioned. Seldom do they notice the preaching which is a special type of speech. Previous research about religious language mainly focused on the influences of Bible on literature, while not many studies about religious language styles have been carried out. The current study aims at investigating the persuasive effects of Christian sermon with rhetoric theories. Due to its similarity to the ordinary sermons, the preaching Eternal Intercessor given by Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D. on the internet is chosen as text. The rhetoric devices used in the sermon are figured out, and Aristotle's notions of rhetoric(ethos, pathos and logos) are applied in the analysis as well. It is found rhyme, anaphora, alliteration, and rhetorical questions are the most frequently used rhetoric devices in this sermon. The positive image of the Bishop reflected in the video can win trust of the audience. The stories told by the Bishop in the sermon appeal to audience's feelings of fear, guilt or hope. The skillfully organizations of the sermon function as rational appeal.By applying all these rhetorical devices in the sermon, the Bishop intends to persuade the audience to believe in God and make a donation for the development of Christianity.