View on Rhetoric

The “Contemporary Perspectives on Rhetoric” defines rhetoric as, “the human use of symbols to communicate (1)”. Foss, Foss, and Trap stated in this reading that this is a broad enough interpretation of the definition the successfully cover all aspects of what is considered rhetoric. In the reading in clarifies each main part of the three key words, or parts, of the definition to help us fully understand what the definition means. The three key words to the definition are humans, symbols and communicate. When explain the human aspect of the definition the reading states that humans are the only species on the planet that communicates through symbols. The writers state that, “some people debate that symbol use is a characteristic that distinguishes humans from all other species of animals, (1)”. The second part to the definition, symbols, I believe is the most important part of the definition. Symbols are the tools that we as humans use to communicate. We associate items with words, which are symbols, to help us communicate what we are telling another individual. Symbols can also be more than just words. The reading gives an example of a tree decorated with lights inside of a house is a symbol that it is Christmas time. The final part to the definition is communicate. The reading says that rhetoric is just another term for communication but in emphasis in using these symbols to do so.

I myself participate in various different aspects of digital culture. Playing video games and communicating though the various ways that I can on my IPhone are all examples of digital culture. An example of digital culture that I participate in that I know uses rhetoric is texting with my friends of family. Not only does texting use rhetoric by just the symbols of words and phrases, but it has developed its own sort of symbols to communicate that is unique to texting, or instant messaging, itself. The two main ways that I have noticed are emoticons and shortened words.

Emoticons are small images that look like a face that one can type out on a regular keyboard. Although these are not real word, these serve as powerful symbols that can portray emotion the person receiving the message. The second type of symbols that has been developed are shortened words. These are words such as “thnx “or “whtevr”. We read and understand these symbols even though they are not part of any official language, but they do provide us with a symbol that we can understand.

Works Cited:

Foss, Sonja, Karen Foss, and Robert Trapp. Contemporary Perspectives on Rhetoric. Third. Waveland Press, Inc., 1-15. Print.