A Cognitive Study Of Two Subcategories Of Rhetoric

On the basis of the Figure/Ground Theory, this paper, from the perspective of cognitive psychology, reexamines the objects of the rhetoric research and its two subcategories, active rhetoric and passive rhetoric, aiming at classifying the differences between rhetoric and grammar and affirming the significance of passive rhetoric. It proposes that grammar involves only one dimension of language, while the rhetoric relates to the application of grammar under the restriction of context, involving a combination of grammar at the linguistic material level and at the level of dynamic application. At the rhetorical level, the passive rhetoric involves only uni-dimension of familiarization, while the active rhetoric involves bi-dimension of familiarization and unfamiliarization on the basis of it. The figure/ground of passive rhetoric accommodates towards familiarization, keeping a prosaic and simple style; while the figure/ground of active rhetoric towards unfamiliarization, keeping a vivid and picturesque style of performance on the comprehensible basis.The body includes Chapter IV and V, which respectively interprets Cige, Ciqu and the cognitive psychology mechanism of Cigui and Cifeng, in which the original examples are selected typically and non-typically. Chapter V is the focus of our innovation in which 10 regulations for figure of speech, which was put forward and generalized by HU Xizhi, are reexamined in the context of cognitive psychology, maintaining that there in passive rhetoric exist background, small background and figure. As required by background, the small background in every text and discourse is different; furthermore, the highlighted figures in every text and discourse are different as well.The notion of Cifeng exists all along corresponding to that of Cigui. Owning to few research by scholars, there is not a balanced research between the two subcategories of passive rhetoric. This paper presents a pioneering research in Cifeng. At the level of Yinfeng (phonetic style), it is classified into Wenyinfeng and Yuyinfeng on the ground of forms, among which, the former refers to the style of phonetics in written texts, including Yinchangfeng, yinxiangfeng and yinlvfeng; and the latter dignifies the style of syllables in oral forms, including Yinsufeng, tingyanfeng and Yinqiangfeng. At the level of Xingfeng(morphological style), it holds that different font and size implies different figures of speech by referring to GAO Qun, furthering the study of differences and similarities between print form and handwritten form. At the level of Yifeng(paratactic style), it mainly argues the performance style of the conceptual meaning, while Biaodianfeng argues the performance style taking by the correct and conventional uses of punctuation.In breif, this paper, beyond the conventional mode of rhetoric research, probes into the law and nature of rhetoric by intepreting the rhetorical phenomena in the context of cognitive psychology theory, to enrich the theoretical system of cognitive rhetoric. Also, the thesis, to a significant extent, presents a guidance for language practice.