Figures of Speech Served Fresh

Dear Figaro,
Why do people no longer pronounce the word 'the' as 'thee' before vowels? It sounds so hick and ugly.
[Theh End]

Thank you for your book
i found my first copy in the back of my uncles car, i flipped to the section (How to Seduce a Cop)
i was then seduced into getting my own copy, having no ideal what kind of world, i was stepping into.
Your book has opened the doors of Rhetoric to me and i am amazed in all that there is. The power that lies in Rhetoric seems immense and incredible.
Thank you for opening this world to me

P.S. Do you have any advice on how a 16 year-old can learn and master Rhetoric?

Dear Figaro:

I teach AP English English Language and Composition, and this coming year (actually, for summer reading), we'll be delving into your book. It's required for my course. Now, I need help, ideas, game plans, etc. I've printed your discussion questions. Just wondering if you would take the book in the order you've written it (probably a d'uh there). I also teach (alongside the AP course) American Lit, and that last chapter is very appealing to start with. I teach American Lit in chronological order, so we'll be analyzing the Founding Fathers' speeches, etc. Anyway, I finished your book today and feel pretty rhetorical for promoting both your book and rhetoric in my classroom. I just want to do justice to your material!

Thanks, Jan

Hey, you encourage your kids to argue, http://www.figarospeech.com/teach-a-kid-to-argue/, but don't have on page comments? Seems contrary.

Anyhow, my eldest is nearly 4 - I tell him if he doesn't like what we ask he has to say, this I try and encourage argument. Unfortunately the school tell him he must do things "first time", oh well. Any suggestions for encouraging him to think about his objections more; what did you do with your kids (who it seems are much older) at this stage?

Is there a term for the figure of speech when the name of an individual or individuals may be used to represent a class of people?

For instance, "It is a widely held belief among the (insert person's name as a plural noun) of the world that gravy makes a wonderful adhesive."

Dear Figaro,

In a past English exam paper they gave us a cartoon, they then asked us to state which part of speech was used. The first character "I'm sorry. I forgot your party last night." and then the second character said "Oh, weren't tou there?" Can you please tell me which part of speech is being used.

Dear Figaro,
I am still Cubasia from Italy-
you are right. We speak very rhetorically.
Just a question:
I saw that your president and all your politicians use all the tactics you have so well explained in your book.

We italians have different values, so we cannot understand how American people don't understand they are just playing.
Everything seems studied including the moves of their hands.

From your experience, is it so easy to influence someone in USA just speaking retorically?!
And, on an other hands, what could be a good move to influence italian people that instead don't believe in nothing ?

Let me know when you pass from Italy...

CIao
C.

Hello. Let me first congratulate you for your book. I had a wonderful time reading it. Tell me. I am looking for ways to learn more about this art that is rhetorics & was curious to hear your suggestions. Are there any movies where one could easily analyse rhetorics in action?

Kathy,

Interesting that a State Representative is using a logical fallacy as a support for his argument.

Our state representatives in Utah keep insisting that civil unions are a "slippery slope" towards same-sex marriage. I've done my best to explain that there is no such thing as a "slippery slope," but since bigotry is illogical it comes as no surprise our esteemed boys on Capitol Hill would employ the "slippery slope" argument. Would you care to expand on the discussion?

Even though this site seems dead. I am learning a lot on the section on figures. It satisfying during a conversation to use a figure and control the issue and the moment. I found the redefining figure very powerful. People just look at you and you can see the wheels turning in their head.

how do i join? Didn't see a button for that.

Anyone know of any good forums for the discussion of these concepts?

Hello,

Are you on sabbatical? I'm reading your book and have not found anything "served fresh" in 2009. IMWTK.

Can you break down some of the rhetorical devices used by Pat Condell on Youtube? He has a very clear style that stands out to me. Granted, I think the messages he sends are more of a comedy than a true attempt to gently convince large groups to change their ways. However he has a way of clearly stating a point with entertaining twists of wit requiring a full breath to smite his opponents with. It isn't a style I would ever exclusively use in convincing someone, but I feel understanding his fundamental algorithm would be very useful. To see more subtle examples of his techniques to me would be indispensable.

By the way, I would like to say that your book has helped me as much as any Dale Carnegie or Napoleon Hill or any such book of that broad theme and high calibre, if not more. Even just today I can recall knowingly using a memory of your book to eat where I wanted by offering first the option I knew she would dispise most. Not many days occur in which I do not use a direct or derived technique from your work.

Many Thanks,

Keith

It has been suggested that the phrase "most excellent" is a tautology because it uses two superlatives. But it seems to me that "excellent" is not an absolute. One could have several pizzas which are all excellent. But some of them could be more excellent than others and one could be the "most excellent" of them all.

What do you think?

Hello, i'm new here. Probably you gona think it's a silly quistion, but i would like to ask what does it mean Figaro? is it italian word? What is the meaning of this word?

Thank You for the answer

Toma

Is this a dead site now?

Figaro,

I read then reread your book on rhetoric and am wondering how best to practice these skills. Is there a boot camp for learning this stuff that is geared for people in the technical field?

Al

Not intending to post, just not sure how to let you know that I somehow dropped off the "Daily (Sic) Figure" mailing list, and I want back on. Glanced at my copy of "Thank You For Arguing" yesterday and realized I'd gone through most of 2008 without your insighful analysis. Your recent-ish comments on Gov. Sarah Palin rubbed salt in the proverbial wound. Anyway, deal me in, please.