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SATURDAY SNIPPETS
Saturday Snippets: Words that Stick
A look at rhetorical devices, from Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” to the common phrase “Talk the talk”
A few weeks ago, I shared a snippet about an alliteration exercise, inspired by Mark Forsyth’s book, The Elements of Eloquence. The book has some great examples of rhetorical devices (ways of using words so that they stick), such as polyptoton - the repeated use of a word in different roles, like “talk the talk and walk the walk”, where talk and walk are each a verb and then a noun.
It does feel a little technical and I never remember the names. But I find using them in exercises like the alliteration exercise an enjoyable and productive way to improve creativity.
Wordplay and rhetorical devices can add a little more interest to a piece, much like a flourish in calligraphy or a skill move in football. They’re also effective in speeches. Think of Martin Luther King’s passionate, sincere and heartfelt “I have a dream”, an example of anaphora (yes, I had to check), a repetition of a phrase at the start of successive sentences.
Of course, they’re not needed, but they catch my eye when I come across them. It doesn’t have to be grand to have effect - we use metaphors, similes and hyperbole for effect without a second thought.
Do you enjoy rhetorical devices and wordplay? Are there any quotes you like that use them?
If you’re interested, Mark Forsyth also talks about rhetorical devices on David Perell’s podcast.
