Persuasive Language Techniques

Persuasive Language Techniques

What makes language techniques so mystical and an important part of everyone's life? It is because these language techniques allow us to connect mere words with emotions in more than one way. Some authors use them to describe a topic better, some to narrate better and some even use it to persuade and influence their audience. So today we are looking at one such aspect of them, Persuasion language techniques.

When you read some text and feel compelled to do something you can be assured that the text has Persuasion language techniques. If you are a student who wishes to learn about persuasive language techniques for your academics or even for your reasons, you are at the right place. New Assignment Help Australia has brought this blog where we will look through types and strategies of Persuasive language techniques. But first, let's understand the meaning of persuasive language techniques.

What is a Persuasive Language Technique?

Persuasive Language Techniques are the language techniques that the authors use to persuade their readers or to make them agree with their point of view. These techniques allow the authors to influence the readers thoroughly and it is something every motivational speaker or writer uses.

Persuasive writing mostly includes using language techniques such as imperative verbs, alliteration, facts, logic and even rhetorical questions. Anything that can be used to persuade the audience is a persuasive language technique. Based on this, persuasive techniques are used in three different ways or say there are three strategies for persuading the audience. These strategies will be looked upon in the further parts.

In our everyday lives, we find many instances where persuasive language techniques are being used. For example, students use persuasive techniques to make teachers and others in the class agree with their opinions. Teachers use it too to persuade their students in some cases to have them participate in science fairs or some sports tournaments.

Where are Persuasive Language Techniques Used?

Now we have looked at some examples of persuasive language techniques used in everyday life in school. But that doesn't mean that it's not used outside the school. On the contrary, the uses of persuasive language techniques are much more diverse in the world today. So let's take a look at where you can find the persuasive language techniques being used.

• Newspaper and Media: Most media outlets use persuasive language techniques. When the writers of newspaper articles talk about some topic they will use these techniques to persuade their readers. The journalists on the NewsChannel similarly try to do the same when talking about issues like environmental changes.

• Advertisement campaigns: Turn on the television and look at any adverts on there. They are trying to persuade the audience to buy their products. Hence to persuade you to make that decision they use persuasive language techniques.

• Reviews: Another example of persuasive language techniques used in everyday life is in the reviews. When a person writes a review and mentions how and why they liked or didn't like some product or service, they similarly use persuasive language techniques to have others agree with them.

• Speeches: Political Leaders use these techniques in their speeches to hook their audience and make them agree with their views. Corporate People in higher positions like CEOs and CFOs or even some University deans use these persuasive language techniques to persuade their audience, employees or students to work harder and perform better.

Types of Persuasive Language Techniques & Examples

Now then since you are aware of the meaning of persuasive techniques and where are used let us move forward and look at some of them. Here, we will go through some of the major persuasive language techniques to understand them better. We will also look at some examples where they are each used as persuasive language techniques.

Adjectives

Starting the list we have a major language technique, Adjectives. As you are aware already, adjectives are words that emphasise some word or statement.

Example: Many people believe the ridiculous notion that coffee is good for their health.

Adverbs

Adverbs are words that put emphasis on verbs or even on adjectives to make the audience agree to something.

Example: Many people believe that insanely Ridiculous notion that coffee is good for their health.

Repetitions

The authors also repetition to persuade the audience. In this technique, certain words are intentionally repeated a few times to have the audience pay attention to them and agree with them.

Example: We need to take action now. We need to move forward in the journey now. Otherwise, the future will be the same as it is now.

Analogy

Analogy takes some elements and makes them seem similar to others in order to make the audience understand them better and agree with them.

Example: The roaring of thunder signified the brewing storm.

Simile

Similar to Analogy, Simile also connects two distinct elements to show their similarities and persuade the audience, but simile uses ‘like’ as a medium to do so.

Example: Her eyes were like shining sapphires.

Cliches

Cliches are words that have been so overused that they have long lost their desired meaning but the authors still use them to have their audience quickly understand and agree with them.

Example: Time will tell who wins among us.

Evidence

Another great way to make someone agree with you is by giving them a piece of solid evidence. After all, people wish to be aware of the points before making their judgements.

Example: Even Einstein said in his letter that “The views of Gandhi are the most enlightened of all the politicians of our time”.

Connotations

You must have seen words that evoke different understandings compared to their literal meanings. These words are connotations and they are similarly used as persuasive techniques.

Example: He has a youthful face and a childish personality.

Flattery

Now flattery in its literal meaning is an act of ‘insincerely’ praising someone for their work or some quality because you wish to ask them for something. Just this alone should be sufficient to show how this could be used in persuasive language techniques. After all, what’s a better way to persuade someone than by buttering them up?

Example: As a smart fellow, you should understand my point.

Euphemism

Euphemism is about replacing a harsh or blunt word with some mild word or phrase. Political leaders use euphemisms in their campaigns and speeches to not seem overly harsh and impolite while having people agree with them.

Example: He has a habit of spinning the truth.

Strategies of Persuasive Techniques

There are three ways or strategies to use persuasive language techniques. As mentioned earlier, there are various persuasive language techniques but what defines where to use which one is the tone and intent. Based on this tone/intent we have the following three ways.

• Ethos: Ethos is a Greek word that translates to “character” and is a way of doing an Ethical Appeal. When we are reading some text, we have a feeling that the person writing it has more knowledge about that subject. Hence we believe them and find them credible. This is where the ethos strategy comes in. It is the way of using this character and credibility to persuade the people. Advertisements, where doctors recommend something, are an example of this Ethos strategy.

• Logos: This Logos as strategy is the complete opposite of what Ethos does. Logos is the Strategy of using Logic to Persuade people. We use principles, facts or even evidence as persuasive language techniques to Logically appeal to the audience in this strategy. Academic researchers use these kinds of logical writing to persuade their readers.

• Pathos: Now Pathos is the way to do an Emotional Appeal. In this strategy, we use persuasive techniques like analogy, simile, and cliches to emotionally connect with the audience. People use pathos as a means to evoke emotions and persuade others based on their feelings. Most marketing campaigns use this strategy.