Stasis Theory And Its Application In Argumentation

Western classical rhetoric consists of five parts:invention, arrangement, style, memory and delivery. Stasis theory plays an important role in invention. Classical stasis theory originated from courtroom debate. A classical rhetorical stasis refers to the disagreement or conflict between the prosecutor and the defendant. Hermagoras, the inventor of stasis theory, divided stases into four types:issue of fact, issue of definition, issue of quality, and issue of procedure. His division of stases has created the most influential variant on his later rhetoricians. Contemporary rhetoricians have interpreted stasis theory from a broad sense, and have justified stasis system. Stasis theory has been analyzed from multi-cultural perspectives. The universal applicability of stasis theory has been discussed. Although western rhetoricians have been discussing stasis theory and its applications, Chinese scholars are quite unfamiliar with this theory. The reason is that Chinese xiuci is not an equivalent to western rhetoric. Chinese xiuci emphasizes the stylistic characteristics or rhetorical devices. However, western rhetoric analyzes phenomena from a macro level. Because of different ways of thinking, Chinese scholars might find it difficult to understand stasis theory and its applications. Understanding stasis theory could accelerate cultural exchange, and can assist contrastive rhetoric. In addition, it can help us understand the linguistic characters of courtroom debate.The title of the study seems broad. The reason is that it is necessary to introduce stasis theory, since Chinese scholars are quite unfamiliar with this theory. This study mainly consists of two parts:The first part is the study of stasis theory from theoretical and practical angles. The purpose of this part is to help Chinese scholars understand this theory from the origin of western rhetoric. The second part is the exploration of stasis theory from the studies of linguistics and applies this theory to argumentation. This study firstly proposes the procedures and methods of stasis in argumentation, and discusses the necessity, feasibility and significance of applying stasis theory to argumentation. This study consists seven chapters:Chapter 1 is a general introduction. This chapter proposes the research questions of the study. Purpose of the study, data collection and methodology are summarized. The organization of the study has been outlined.Chapter 2 is a literature review of classical and contemporary stasis theory. An overall perception of this study is generalized. The approaches of the study are pointed out.Chapter 3 is the study of classical stasis theory. The meaning of a classical rhetorical stasis, the classification of classical stasis system, and the terminology variation are discussed. Elements that influence the determination of a classical rhetorical stasis are generalized. The application of classical stasis theory in forensic oratory and its status in rhetorical invention are stated.Chapter 4 is the study of contemporary stasis theory. Contemporary rhetoricians have interpreted stasis theory from an interpersonal and cultural perspective. Contemporary rhetoricians have interpreted the issue of conjecture from a cultural perspective. The fourth stasis has been extended. All this has made great contributions to the development of the universal applicability of stasis theory. Contemporary stasis theory can be applied to interpersonal communication, social science, and even natural science. The status of contemporary stasis theory has been extended from invention to arrangement.Chapter 5 summarizes the enlightenment of stasis theory on linguistic studies. Only if we discuss the enlightenment of stasis theory on linguistic studies can we explore the significance of this theory. Questions are analyzed from the perspectives of discourse analysis, pragmatics, cognitive linguistics and writing teaching.Chapter 6 applies stasis theory to argumentation. The necessity and feasibility of applying stasis theory in argumentation are analyzed. The significance is also discussed. Stasis theory not only provides a framework for argumentation, but also emphasizes technical uses of language. The balance between words and the whole structure is focused on. This study extends the status of stasis theory from invention and arrangement to style, and proposes three stasis procedures in argumentation:invention, arrangement and style. In the first procedure, this study proposes the concept of hierarchy of stases by modeling on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. In this procedure, the major and minor stases are reflected by a pyramid of stases. In the procedure of arrangement, stases are distributed in a certain order. Stasis order and stasis shift are focused on. Each stasis is depicted with the rhetor's technical uses of language. Proper rhetorical strategies are important for the rhetor. Style of each stasis is emphasized. This chapter analyzes 3 cases to show stasis procedures in argumentation.Chapter 7 is the conclusion of the study. The significance of the study is generalized. The limitations and future directions are pointed out.