Today, rhetoric such as epideictic and deliberative is often associated with negativity. It is commonly believed that politicians and salespeople use rhetoric to manipulate and hide the truth. However, it is essential to recognize that epideictic and deliberative appeal are valuable components of language. They help convey ideas effectively and enable better audience comprehension. Language possesses immense power to shape thoughts and concepts. Epideictic and deliberative appeal serve as beneficial linguistic tools that efficiently communicate our perspectives and convince others of certain ideas. Differentiating between these two types of rhetoric allows for a deeper understanding of the authority of language.
It is crucial for Americans to be able to distinguish between epideictic and deliberative speech because it helps us understand the desired action or emotion our leaders want us to have. Differentiating between these two forms of rhetoric will lead to a more unified America, as both our leaders and citizens will be on the same page. In both President Roosevelt’s speech “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy” and Senator Robert Taft’s speech “Let Us Stay Out of War,” deliberative and epideictic rhetoric are used to educate the American people about their values. Those who couldn’t distinguish between deliberative and epideictic rhetoric during these speeches didn’t fully comprehend their leaders’ words, resulting in a lack of awareness about the events unfolding in the country. By recognizing the distinction, these citizens could have contributed to a better America.
Recognizing the use of deliberative appeal in speeches is crucial for individuals’ role as citizens of America. As American citizens, we are responsible for following the president’s directions. Deliberative rhetoric is often employed in presidential speeches to encourage action. President Roosevelt’s speech “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy” is an example of this. In his speech, Roosevelt urges the American people to take action against the atrocities of Pearl Harbor. He declares, “we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us” (Roosevelt). Through this statement, Roosevelt uses deliberative rhetoric to motivate Americans to respond to this “treachery” and fight for their country.
Throughout the speech, Roosevelt employs various strategies to rally and inspire the American people. For instance, he asserts, “the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory” and promises that “we will gain the inevitable triumph” (Roosevelt). By utilizing these expressions, Roosevelt employs deliberative rhetoric to call upon his audience to unite and achieve victory against Japan. Without understanding the distinction between deliberative and epideictic appeal, citizens would fail to recognize that Roosevelt’s statements are not merely emotional but a direct call to action. Similarly, Senator Robert Taft also employs deliberative appeal in his speech entitled “Let Us Stay Out of War” as he seeks to persuade the American people to prevent the United States from entering World War II.
When discussing the foreign policies implemented by the United States during the war, Taft argues that such a policy is not only futile but also inevitably leads to conflict (Taft). In this quote, Taft employs deliberative appeal to advocate for isolationism among the American people. By recognizing when deliberative appeal is used in speeches like these, individuals stay informed about current events and the language employed. Such citizens are then capable of making well-informed decisions, making the ability to identify deliberative rhetoric crucial.
Epideictic rhetoric is important for the American people to recognize because it unifies individuals based on shared emotions or feelings of praise or blame. Unlike deliberative rhetoric, which focuses on persuasion and decision-making, epideictic rhetoric primarily aims to express praise or blame. When discussing praise, the speaker aims to generate curiosity in the audience about the person or object being praised after hearing the speech. Conversely, when discussing blame, the speaker seeks to inform the audience about the person or object in order to steer clear of negative consequences. In addition to deliberative rhetoric, Roosevelt also incorporates epideictic appeal into his speech. In the opening of his speech, Roosevelt declares, “no matter how long it takes us to overcome this carefully planned invasion, the American people, in their righteous power, will ultimately achieve absolute victory” (Roosevelt).
Roosevelt utilizes epideictic rhetoric in this quote to instill confidence in the American citizens. This tactic serves to unify the nation, fostering a collective desire for revenge against Japan for their atrocities. Roosevelt further employs epideictic rhetoric by emphasizing that “our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us” (Roosevelt). Through this, he intends for the events of Pearl Harbor to be etched permanently in the memory of the American people, highlighting Japan’s crimes against America. Recognizing the appropriate attitude towards Pearl Harbor was crucial in achieving unity during World War II in America. Roosevelt effectively employed epideictic rhetoric to assign blame to Japan’s empire for the horrors of Pearl Harbor, thus uniting the nation against a common enemy. Consequently, it is often argued that differentiating between epideictic and deliberative rhetoric is unnecessary when analyzing speeches like those of President Roosevelt and Senator Taft.
Admittedly, Americans would receive the same basic message in these speeches even if they couldn’t distinguish between the two types of rhetoric. However, it is crucial to understand the difference between epideictic and deliberative rhetoric in order to truly connect with the speaker and grasp the intended meaning of their words. By differentiating between these two forms of rhetoric, individuals gain a better understanding of the language employed in the speech. Consequently, having the ability to distinguish between these rhetorical styles becomes integral in fully comprehending a leader’s message. It is evident that this differentiation is significant for Americans as it enables leaders to effectively communicate with the people of America. In today’s society, effective communication is vital, and comprehending our leaders’ guidance is pivotal for our nation’s success. If the capacity to differentiate between epideictic and deliberative rhetoric became commonplace in America, it would foster a unified and well-informed citizenry.
Works Cited
According to National Geographic Education, Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a speech titled “Roosevelt’s Day of Infamy Speech” in 1996-2013. This information was found on the National Geographic website on May 3, 2013.
Taft, Robert A. “Let Us Stay Out Of War.” Vital Speeches of the Day 5.8 (1939): 254. Academic Search Complete. Web. 2 May 2013.
