Silence as an argument and a rhetorical figure

Abstract

The specifics of silence as an argument and a rhetorical figure in human communicative practice is investigated in the article. The variability of the phenomenon of silence as an argument (argument to silence and argument from silence) and a rhetorical figure (intentionally incomplete statement of the speaker and pause before digression) is emphasized based on the analysis of the theoretical principles of modern research in the fields of logic, rhetoric, argumentation theory. By case study of the fragment about the woman caught in adultery in the Gospel According to John, it is demonstrated that the silence of Jesus as a rhetorical figure executing an argumentative function destroys the goals of the Pharisees and scribes. By case study of the procedure of wedding ceremonies of the Christian tradition, the necessity of using silence as an argument in the reasoning of its participants is demonstrated. Silence in the act of execution of its argumentative function can be considered as a strong argument in the strategy of actions of both separate individuals (the priest) and social groups (groups that are present during the wedding ceremony) because it acts as an integral component of forming a conclusion about the justification of marrying people. Based on the role that silence plays for each side of the ritual of the wedding ceremony in the Christian tradition, it is emphasized that silence as an argument serves as a necessary basis for justifying the legitimacy of marriage or not recognizing its legitimacy in wedding ceremonies.