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Fahd Sultan Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

Uses of "Rhetorical"

I have difficulty grasping some uses of this word:
So, I know what a rhetorical question is. But if someone is asking it and another person interrupts him and then the first person responds by saying "Do not interrupt me while i am asking a rhetorical question" Why is this an insult to the second person?
Also what does the phrase "The rhetorical sin of the meaningless variation" means?
  

Top answer

Hi, I have difficulty grasping some uses of this word: So, I know what a rhetorical question is. But if someone is asking it and another person interrupts him and then the first person responds by saying "Do not interrupt me while i am asking a rhetorical question" Why is this an insult to the second person? I wouldn't call it an insult, as 'insult' is a very strong word.

— Clive

  • Hi, I have difficulty grasping some uses of this word: So, I know what a rhetorical question is.
  • But if someone is asking it and another person interrupts him and then the first person responds by saying "Do not interrupt me while i am asking a rhetorical question" Why is this an insult to the second person?
  • I wouldn't call it an insult, as 'insult' is a very strong word.
  • But it is rude.
  • The reason it is rude is not related to the rhetorical question, but to the fact that Person A should not usually give such a direct order to Person B.
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5 Answers
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Hi,
I have difficulty grasping some uses of this word:
So, I know what a rhetorical question is.

But if someone is asking it and another person interrupts him and then the first person responds by saying "Do not interrupt me while i am asking a rhetorical question" Why is this an insult to the second person?
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But if person, infact is able to give such an order? Actually I've heard this dialogue in a movie "Mission Impossible 3". Though I saw it a long time ago, this particular piece of dialogue just kept nagging at my mind. It is a scene where Laurence Fishburne who is a playing a high ranking official and is saying something to a person during which his subordinate inturrupts him. So he responds by s
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Hi,
But if person, infact is able to give such an order? Actually I've heard this dialogue in a movie "Mission Impossible 3". Though I saw it a long time ago, this particular piece of dialogue just kept nagging at my mind. It is a scene where Laurence Fishburne who is a playing a high ranking official and is saying something to a person durin
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Ok. I get it. But the quotation still is a puzzle. Anyway thank you for the help.
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Hi,
"The rhetorical sin of the meaningless variation"

Without any context, it might mean that it is very bad rhetoric to simply use a variety of words that all have the same meaning.
eg I love you! I adore you! I am enamoured of you!
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