Ronald H. Carpenter

America's tragic metaphor: Our twentieth‐century combatants as frontiersmen

In the twentieth century, many Americans tended to view our wars metaphorically as extensions of this nations earlier frontier experience. From an anthropological perspective, those figurative analogies for contemporary combatants as frontiersmen reveal how an apparent “truth of things” expressed by some metaphors provided our culture with “a pastness to the future that is fundamentally reassuring.” This longitudinal study traces “social functions” of those metaphors which have become, from an ethical perspective, tragic not only because of their false analogies but also for their lack of worth when compared to other, more responsible frontier metaphors.

Admiral Mahan, “narrative fidelity,” and the Japanese attack on pearl harbor

The strategy and tactics employed by the Japanese in attacking Pearl Harbor were based in part on key ideas from the writings of Alfred Thayer Mahan. These ideas had been corroborated by observations and experiences of Japanese officers through a series of historical events, giving the ideas “narrative fidelity” sufficient to influence momentous decisions and actions.

A stylistic basis of Burkeian identification

This article contends that many analyses utilizing the Burkeian concept of identification emphasize the ideational sources of consubstantiality contingent upon the content and context of discourse; receiving less attention is Burkes perception of a complementary formal identification evolving not so much from the lexical “matter” of discourse as from the syntactical features of its “manner” or style—regardless of content. In this attempt to clarify a stylistic basis of identification, one facet of the rhetorical effectiveness of form is explicated in terms of redundancy and the decreased information and predictability of some symbols in sequences. Admittedly, idiomatic syntax achieves a relative redundancy. The salient point emerging from this explication, however, is that identification, in the Burkeian view, may be facilitated by yet increased redundancy achieved by stylistic manipulation in favor of uncommon but more formalized syntactical patterns. Some dimensions of that functionalism are then explored.

The Statistical Profile of Language Behavior with Machiavellian Intent or While Experiencing Caution and Avoiding Self‐Incrimination

During the second of the televised presidential debates in 1976, Gerald Ford uttered what Time magazine called “The Blooper Heard Round the World.” In that debate on foreign policy, the President said, “There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration.” At that point, his opponent Jimmy Carter broke the debate rule forbidding interruption and said, before a television audience of millions, “Did I understand you to say, sir, that the Russians are not using Eastern Europe as their sphere of influence in occupying most of the countries there and making sure with their troops that it’s a Communist zone...?” Although Mr. Ford’s attempt to extricate himself from that misstatement was equally inept, his answers to panelists’ subsequent questions in the debate were plausible and convincing; outwardly the President remained a model of physical poise and composure. Inwardly, however, Gerald Ford undoubtedly cautioned himself to be careful lest he make another statement damaging to his credibility. And the statistical profile of his language behavior thereafter-independent of its semantic content+hanged subtly but discernibly for an investigator applying a precise method of quantification to a transcript of his statements. Statistical analysis of language behavior was utilized, then, to ascertain if style in discourse could be a predictor of political personality.’.2 An emergent, apparent relationship between caution and a corresponding change in statistical properties of verbal behavior suggested applications in law enf~rcement .~ Two basic tenets are indisputable. First, statistical analysis of language behavior is the focal point of substantial scientific research.”’ Second, from the standpoint of communication research specifically about deception,loJ1 we know that “when individuals shift from being truthful to lying there are some clearly discernible changes in their language behaviors.”l? * * *

Stylistic analysis for law enforcement purposes: A case study of a language variable as an index of a suspect's caution in phrasing answers

This study develops the hypothesis that a need to be cautious will lead a speaker to encode with relatively higher levels of lexical diversity. Application is made specifically to law enforcement by first explaining the working hypothesis as it evolved from a stylistic analysis of the 1976 presidential debates; second, describing the procedure for examining the transcript of an interrogation of a murder suspect; and third, presenting data which provide initial support for the hypothesis that caution may lead to higher lexical diversity.

Carl Becker and the epigrammatic force of style in history

Among historians in America, Carl Becker attained fame for style in discourse. Although his stylistic prowess was evinced in scholarly works which brought him eminence in his profession, epigrammatic style also was prominent in his writing of popular history, first in a polemic essay called “Kansas” which led to his role as propagandist in World War One, and then—and of particular interest to those interested in mass persuasion—an eminently successful high school textbook, Modern History. The objective of historiography herein is to establish causal relationships between epigrammatic style in those popular works and resultant, rhetorical effects upon Beckers readers mainly in the general public over a span of several decades. Primary source evidence of effectiveness is in letters to Becker, and other correspondence, that indicate which concepts and precise sentences in Modern History were salient and persuasive for a mass readership largely because of the epigrammatic style with which they were phrased.

Alfred Thayer Mahan's style on sea power: A paramessage conducing to ethos

With an 1890 book called The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, Alfred Thayer Mahan had a profound and far‐reaching impact upon subsequent world events. In large measure, Mahans effectiveness was derived from his style in discourse. Evidence for this assumption is found in the reactions of Mahans readers, in their correspondence to him or about him. Analysis and synthesis of those situationally bound responses to discourse account for a rhetorical function of style in language as para‐message conducing to ethos.

The rhetorical genesis of style in the “frontier hypothesis” of Frederick Jackson turner

Frederick Jackson Turners “Frontier Hypothesis” is unquestionably one of the major documents in the development of American historical thought. As presented initially. Turners conceptualization was characterized by a distinct rhetorical style having origins in his earlier career as a noted prize winning college orator. In adapting to the rhetorical event of 1893 for which he prepared his address on the frontier, it appears that Turner the historian resorted to the successful techniques of style of Turner the rhetorician in 1883 and 1884.

General Douglas Macarthur's oratory on behalf of Inchon: Discourse that altered the course of history

General Douglas MacArthurs acclaim for oratory stems from epideictic or occasional addresses which articulate well audiences’ extant attitudes. Yet his more influential discourse was deliberative, during the Korean War, persuading opposing Joint Chiefs of Staff to approve the Marines’ landing at Inchon. Explication of this event suggests how oratorical prowess affected a pivotal military decision more than professional estimates offered in those deliberations.

Nixon, patton, and a silent majority sentiment about the Viet Nam war: The cinematographic bases of a rhetorical stance

The motion picture Patton had an acknowledged profound impact on Richard Nixon in the month preceding his 1970 decision to enter Cambodia. A significant source of its attractiveness could be the Presidents sensing from the film a Silent Majority acceptance of a Patton‐esque approach to war.