Persuasion
Language is often used to persuade people to buy something, or to adopt new or different ideas. Some politicians are experts at making persuasive speeches. There’s a range of language effects that help to “get the message over”. Here’s our list:
Persuasion
- Rhetoric (language designed to persuade or impress when selling, appealing for money or promoting political beliefs.) Language to PERSUADE.
- Hyperbole (exaggeration for effect or emphasis.) Pretending it’s bigger or more serious to PERSUADE.
- Pathos (emotional language that evokes pity or sadness.) Tug your heart-strings to PERSUADE.
- Personal pronouns (“you”, “our” and “we” can be used very effectively to make people feel involved, and that they are being addressed personally.) PERSUADE to be involved.
- Imperatives (encouragement such as “Just do it!” or “Hurry – call us today!” can be very effective.) PERSUADE us to do it.
- Triplets (repeating something three times can make the word or phrase very memorable, for instance, Tony Blair’s famous “education, education, education” speech when he was campaigning to put classrooms at the top of the political agenda.) PERSUADE us that it’s important.
- Empathy (when a writer imagines they are in the readers’ position in order to make the words very relevant to the particular audience.) PERSUADE with relevance to audience.
