摘要
The argumentative stasis theory and enthymeme principles richly complement each other but they have rarely been investigated jointly. We correct this oversight first with a principled re-analysis of the stasis tradition, resulting in a double-layer stasis system: Cicero's later system(in De Oratore and Topica) with "action" stasis' subclassification, modified by Kenneth Burke's dramatic pentad of act, scene, agent, agency, purpose(in A Grammar of Motives). Then inspired by Ronald Langacker's salience theory in cognitive linguistics, we secure two stasis deployment strategies: selection(profile against base) and prominence(trajector against landmark). Stasis theory thus solidified, we examine how it interacts with the two central aspects of the enthymemic thesis: incompleteness and probability and how the enthymemic thesis helps explain the force of stasis theory. This inquiry contributes to rhetorical theory and criticism; argumentation studies; and linguistics, by showing the reach of salience theory.
The argumentative stasis theory and enthymeme principles richly complement each other but they have rarely been investigated jointly. We correct this oversight first with a principled re-analysis of the stasis tradition, resulting in a double-layer stasis system: Cicero's later system(in De Oratore and Topica) with 'action' stasis' subclassification, modified by Kenneth Burke's dramatic pentad of act, scene, agent, agency, purpose(in A Grammar of Motives). Then inspired by Ronald Langacker's salience theory in cognitive linguistics, we secure two stasis deployment strategies: selection(profile against base) and prominence(trajector against landmark). Stasis theory thus solidified, we examine how it interacts with the two central aspects of the enthymemic thesis: incompleteness and probability and how the enthymemic thesis helps explain the force of stasis theory. This inquiry contributes to rhetorical theory and criticism; argumentation studies; and linguistics, by showing the reach of salience theory.
