From Fish Soup to Fish Tank: Rhetoric, Politics, and Dialectic in the Polish Revolution of 1989

Abstract

The article offers a rhetorical account of the “leap into politics” by the Polish Communist authorities that led to the political transition of 1989. In contrast to accounts of the transition focused on “dialogue” between the authorities and the opposition, this article examines the move toward dialogue from a dramatistic and dialectical perspective—that is, in terms of the shifting principles of motivation, changing rhetorical identities of the key actors, and associated transformations of terms that characterized the transition from a monocentric ideal of the state to a “political” one.

Scientific persuasion and use of language forms

“…Of course, science research and publications require that scientists interpret, articulate, compose, discuss and review their publications. Ornatowski (2007) is in agreement with the above submission, arguing that ideas and language are inextricably linked and intertwined. The scholar further explained that ideas did not exist in some neutral space, but they emerged in response to circumstances, and are adjusted.…”

“…Not known to most readers is perhaps that the idea being advanced in this submission is likely inseparable from the language employed by the authors, the language of persuasion. Ornatowski (2007) is in agreement with the above submission, arguing that ideas and language are inextricably linked and intertwined. The scholar further explains that ideas do not exist in some neutral space, but they emerged in response to circumstances.…”

“…What these scientists should perhaps understand is that science involves a language, inescapably entails rhetoric. Ornatowski (2007) noted that whatever makes functional use of words and phrases is likely to be involved in the technical problems associated with words, including rhetorical issues. Ornatowski (Ibid) likewise argued that the rhetorical outlook of science anchors at the bottom on the premises that science is nature, but science only represents it, of course, any representation entails strategies of representation.…”

“…To ensure that their finding is acceptable, a claim is shown as consistent, systematic, standardised and seems measurable. Ornatowski (2007) contextualised this observation by saying that scientific discourse tends to exhibit an increased persuasive orientation, and prefers contextualisation that Preli (1989) refers to as the period for symbolic inducement.…”