Repetition as an effective rhetorical device in remarks at media briefings on COVID-19

Abstract

The present paper aims at exploring the use of a linguistic means of repetition as a persuasion strategy to achieve a communicative intention in a particular kind of discourse: addresses and opening remarks on COVID-19 related issues delivered at WHO and NCDC media briefings. The main objective is to investigate pragmatic function of repetition as a rhetorical device by means of which the text is assigned intentionality and the address becomes persuasive and manipulative as a consequence. Drawing on the assumption that such addresses lack a conversational space in which interactants would equally participate, a speaker takes a tough stance to bring forward ad hoc issues by utilizing repetition tactically and pervasively. This serves as a contributing factor to strengthening credibility of a speaker’s interpretation of the pandemic crisis and actions proposed. The study highlights that while attempting to persuade, threaten, frighten or deter the audience into sharing a particular opinion of the state of affairs and undertake a proposed action, the speaker utilizes a direct appeal to the audience with the aim of having a specific impact on their opinions or behavior. In such addresses repetition functions as the main linguistic device used for rhetorical purposes.