A Rhetorical Analysis of Fallacy in a Selected English Drama Movie
Mustafa Hameed Andulhussein
College of Arts, Baghdad University
Shurooq Abboodi Ali
College of Arts, Baghdad University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25130/jls.6.1.17
Keywords: Fallacy, reasoning, argument, rhetorical appeals, rhetorical devices
Abstract
Fallacies are incorrect reasoning that make an argument seem less logically credible and easier to be identified as unsound. They are widespread; individuals commit them while engaging in various activities, including at work, at home, while creating advertisements, and in the media. This study aims to investigate the rhetorical strategies accompanied with producing the fallacious arguments selected from the American Film “12 Angry Men (1957)”. The study adopts Damer’s (2009) model for the identification of fallacy. As for rhetorical analysis, the study adopts Aristotle’s triangle of rhetoric and McGuigan’s (2007) taxonomy of rhetorical devices. The results uncover that the most violated criteria are relevance, acceptability and sufficiency. Besides, the arguers try their best to achieve persuasion by employing their own personalities, by depending on logic or manipulation of other’s emotion. The most frequently used rhetorical device is rhetorical question.
