Sun Liang

The main purpose of this article is to revive the notion of rhetorical situation. Bitzer introduces the conception of rhetorical situation and highlights the importance of rhetorical situation that always be ignored by rhetoricians. First of all, he explains the connection between rhetorical discourse and rhetorical situation. He points out that it is the situation that calls the discourse into existence. Then he sketches the conception of rhetorical situation giving seven summarized explanations. After that, he discusses three constituents of rhetorical situation with each one in detail. He distinguishes rhetorical exigencies and other exigencies and also rhetorical audiences and other audiences and introduces the third constituent, constraints. Next, he presents six general characteristics of rhetorical situation. He points out that rhetorical discourse is called into existence by situation and rhetorical situation invites a fitting response rather than any other response and also it must prescribe the response that fits. The forth is that the rhetorical situation is real rather than contrived. And it exhibit structures whether they are simple or complex, and more or less organized. He points out that not all rhetorical situations exist forever, some mature, some decay but some persist indefinitely and base on that, he illustrates some cases of recurring situations. At last, he summarize his opinion towards rhetorical situation, comparing with scientific method and draw the conclusion that rhetoric is justified philosophically insofar rather than a mere craft of persuasion.

I think this article is well structured. The contents in each unit are well connected and presented logically. Also Bitzer illustrates lots of examples to support his point of views, making the article more convincible. What he presents in the article arises my awareness of rhetorical situation, which really is easy to be ignored. Before I read the article, I pay less attention to rhetorical situation. I think rhetorical situation exists naturally when a rhetorical discourse published. I never consider the cause and effect in it. Through this article, I know the relationship between rhetorical discourse and rhetorical situation, knowing that it is rhetorical situation that calls the discourse into existence. This realization facilitates me to understand more about rhetoric.

When reading about the forth characteristic of rhetorical situation, Bitzer distinguishes the difference between rhetorical situation as real and fictive rhetorical situation. I am confuse at this paragraph. Is fictive rhetorical situation also one type of rhetorical situation or not? If it is, how can we explain that rhetorical situation is real and objective since it is already a fictive one. Does it mean that fictive rhetorical situation is real and objective in the certain play or novel?