Rhetorical Reasoning in Dialogue

Abstract

Thus far we have introduced enthymemes and topoi in a gameboard analysis of dialogue, and suggested ways in which to represent the role of rhetorical reasoning in interpretation and production of dialogue. In this chapter we will consider a fewdifferent problems and situations requiring reasoning.The focus is not so much on the updates of the dialogue, but on the topoi and associated enthymemes which can be identified in, or derived from, the discourse. When we interpret an enthymeme we draw on principles of reasoning— topoi—that we have acquired through interaction with others and the world around us. However, many enthymemes are so specific that they require much abstraction to be recognised as belonging to, or being underpinned by, a particular topos. Moreover, sometimes enthymemes in discourse require that we manipulate and/or combine several topoi to reach one that directly warrants the enthymeme. There are also situations where an enthymeme evokes two or more topoi which are incompatible, or which, when applied in a given context, lead to incompatible conclusions. In this chapter we will consider some of these issues. First, we will look at two textbook examples of non-monotonic reasoning, and suggest how these can be framed in a game board model of rhetorical reasoning cast in ttr. Secondly, we will move on to a slightly longer dialogue excerpt, where topoi play a role for coherence and meaning interpretation. Finally, we will consider howwemaymodel the acquisition of topoi based on enthymemes in dialogue. None of these analyses are fully fleshed out, but rather suggestions of strands of research where the notion of rhetorical reasoning might be helpful.