Words Matter: How Politicians Utilize Rhetoric to Their Advantage

Regardless of what kind of work environment you find yourself in most days, the fact remains that words matter. What you say to others impacts the way they perceive you. Likewise, the truth in your words changes the results of what you say.

In academic terms, the study of how people use their words to impact others falls under rhetoric. Whether you are listening to your boss give a well-practiced speech about the company's current sales pipeline or you are watching a political debate between two opponents on the evening news, rhetoric plays a big role in the outcomes of people's communication efforts. 

Understanding the Definition of Rhetoric

Think about all of the ways that you communicate. From texts to videos, images and all other sorts of media that you may use, each of these communication mediums falls into the realm of rhetoric. Basically, rhetoric is about the underlying purpose of a communicated message. Analyzing rhetoric seeks to understand all aspects of the situation, from the language and culture to the audience, topic, writer, genre and context. Each of these factors is worth considering when evaluating rhetoric.

How Rhetoric and Politics Mix

Politics and rhetoric go hand-in-hand because the art of rhetoric is essentially the art of polishing one's words in a way that is clear enough to be persuasive. Whenever you watch a politician on television giving a speech for or against a certain topic of debate, you are watching him or her practice rhetoric. The way he or she presents him or herself and the force of his or her words, for example, are rhetoric factors that often impact the opinions of voters. 

Examining the Power of Politicians' Political Rhetoric 

While most politicians have the potential to use rhetoric to advance their power for better or for worse, some are much more well-known for it than others. Typically, whenever there is a major political controversy of any sort, rhetoric plays a major role in either minimizing or exacerbating the situation. For an ongoing example, former President Donald Trump is a politician who has regularly exercised the art of rhetoric during many of his past political performances. 

Drawbacks of Empty Political Rhetoric

Although political rhetoric has the power to do more than you might think words should be able to in places like Washington, D.C., the truth is that empty words end up still being empty words at the end of the day. For this reason, it is a smarter move for politicians to shape rhetoric in an intentionally positive way that is also grounded in truth. Empty rhetoric tends to lead to more feelings of disappointment and discontent among voters.

Using Political Rhetoric To Gain Trust

On the flip side of the empty rhetoric problem is the possibility of politicians using rhetoric to their advantage and doing good with it. An example of this might look like a politician speaking positively about opponents and encouraging shared positive values. At the same time, walking the talk of past promises is another way for politicians to use rhetoric alongside action to their political advantage. 

Moving Forward With More Informed Approach to Study

Because rhetoric has the potential to do so much damage, the best antidote for avoiding that potential disaster is moving forward with a more informed approach to study. This includes being more intentional, meditative and reflective on everyday processes and voting choices. Taking the time to truly analyze your words and the meaning behind your messages is a great way to move forward with better choices and smarter behaviors. The same is true for politicians.

At the end of the day, rhetoric impacts nearly every aspect of the world around you. Learning more about it can help you recognize how politicians use it to shape current affairs. After gaining this understanding of politics, it becomes much easier to read between the lines and form your own opinion outside of empty rhetoric. The first step, of course, is learning.