Force Dynamic Dimensions of Rhetorical Effect

Abstract:     
This is an essay in Applied Cognitive Rhetoric. It seeks to establish a renewed connection between Cognitive Semantics and rhetorical theory at the level of pa-tient textual analysis. Sustained cognitive rhetorical analysis of canonical rhetorical texts has been a rare occurrence in Cognitive Linguistics forums, despite Turner’s (1991) seminal work in this area. In this essay, I apply Talmy’s (2000) system of Force Dynamics and Event Frames to two paragon rhetorical texts: the Preamble to President George W. Bush’s National Security Report and Abraham Lincoln’s Second Innaugural Address, the first an example of the deliberative genre, the second an example of the epideictic genre. After a brief discussion of the rhetorical situations to which these two texts were responding, I give a systematic overview of Talmy’s force dynamic and event frame systems. The remainder of the essay comprises a patient analysis of the schematic force dynamic patterns and support-ing event frames inherent in each text. The intent of each analysis is to reveal how these schematic patterns shape the logic and emotion of each argument.

Keywords: Cognitive Linguistics, Culture, Rhetoric, Cognitive Rhetoric, Abraham Lincoln, George W. Bush, Bush Doctrine, Inaugural Addresss

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