Rhetorical Communication 修辞沟通

It is vital to use the appropriate rhetoric for effective communication. In ancient time, “irony” was a rhetorical device being used to communicate messages. It means that using a particular word or phrase to signify something opposite. By so doing, this can more effectively catch the attention of the audience or to provoke them to think further pertaining to the intended message. However, irony should be used tactfully today lest the audience may misunderstand and ruin the relationship between the speaker and the audience.

There is an ancient story about somebody trying to host a dinner for his friends. Although he had no intention to be ironical, his inappropriate phrases have become insults to his guests.

Time had come for the guests to be at his house, but there were still quite a few yet to arrive. Feeling little anxious, he said, “Those who should be here are yet to arrive.” Quite a number of the guests who were there felt that the host regarded their presence as unnecessary. Thus, they quietly left the house.

When the host saw some people left, he became more anxious. He then said, “Those who should leave have not left.” The remaining guests were frustrated, feeling that they should have left rather than those already quietly left the house. Then, all the guests left except one faithful friend of the host.

The last remaining guest made an attempt to persuade the host to be more cautious in choosing phrases for communication. The host felt rather being wronged rather than became aware of his own mistakes. And he reacted by saying, “Those who shouldn’t go have all left. What a pity!” The very last remaining guest felt that he was utterly not welcome. Then he also left.

In view of the need for effective communication, it is vital to learn the art of speech or rhetoric for good communication.

有效的沟通涉及使用适当的修辞。在古代，传达信息包括了使用讽刺法。这意味着使用某些用词或短句来表示相反的事物。通过如此做，这可以更加引起聽众的关注或激发他们进一步思考有关的内容。無論如何，今天应该很技巧地使用讽刺用词，以免聽者误解并破坏了讲者和聽者的关系。

有一个古老的故事谈及有一个人邀请朋友到家里用晚飱。他原本无意讽刺，然而因为用词不恰当，结果得罪了他的客人。

客人到他家的时候，仍有不少人未抵达。他因为有点焦虑便说:”应该来的还没到!” 而很多已在场的客人便认为主人不看重他们；因此不少人悄悄地离开了房子。

当主人发现一些人离开时，他变得更为焦虑。然后他说，“那些不应该走的人离开了!” 剩下的客人感到很尴尬， 跟着也离开了房子。客人都走了，只剩主人的一位忠实朋友。

这最后一位客人只好试圖劝说主人要在用词方面谨慎。但是主人却感到很冤枉，並没有意识到自己的错误。他回应说：“那些不应该离开的人都走了！太可惜了!” 结果唯一的客人认为他完全不受到欢迎；结果他也离开了。

鉴于有效沟通的必要性，今天有必要学习言语的艺术或修辞学以进行良好的沟通。