Recently introduced to ideograph, I’ve been giving them some thought. I am of the opinion understanding and awareness of ideographs can be helpful in navigating our rhetorically contentious culture. Here are some quotes and references to introduce ideograph:
An ideograph is a word or phrase with a vague definition which represents an ambiguous and vast set of ideas. This causes ideographs to be able to be used without sending a specific message while still appealing to pathos. In other words, when audiences encounter an ideograph, they aren’t usually affected by it because of its definition, but because of how the ideograph makes them feel. This means ideographs can be very useful for rhetoricians because of their ambiguity. Not only can they be used as substitutes for complex ideas, but since ideographs tend to have several different connotations attached to them, they have the potential to increase the effectiveness of a rhetorician’s pathos. http://webservices.itcs.umich.edu/mediawiki/DigitalRhetoricCollaborative/index.php/Ideograph
Since it’s election season, you’re probably reading a ton of stories about Politician X appealing to Voting Bloc Y with Z-ish rhetoric. Journalists, political strategists and even politicians themselves deliver much of this information in a kind of code — terms and phrases that show up only in coverage of politics. Here’s a guide to the election-speak — and a plea to move on from it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/09/19/decoding-political-phrases-midterms-perry-bacon/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F37f73d3%2F632894f9f3d9003c58e23fb4%2F61a4ce85ae7e8a03b1f82fec%2F18%2F72%2F632894f9f3d9003c58e23fb4&wp_cu=d1cc33a327617bdd69d13a9762f694bf%7CD1EDE88A6B5E09BEE0530100007FDA27
The bias in the use of these terms isn’t the only problem with them. They are vague. Their meanings are not universally shared. They often obscure more than they explain (perhaps intentionally).
I suspect that lack of clarity is why some people like using these terms. Slamming wokeness allows people to oppose left-wing views on very fraught issues without spelling out their specific objections.
But if you’re a reporter or just a regular voter, you don’t have to speak in code. Say what you actually mean.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideograph_(rhetoric)
Four defining characteristics of ideographs; These include:1) they are ordinary language terms in political discourse;2) they are high order abstractions representing collective commitment; 3) they warrant the use of power, guiding inappropriate behavior into acceptable channels; and 4) they are culture bound.
McGee,Michael Calvin.“The‘Ideograph’:A Link Between Rhetoric and Ideology.”Quarterly Journal?of Speech?60:1(February 1980)
https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1060&context=communication_theses
Ideographs are mostly associated with political rhetoric, both historically and currently. They are used in any rhetorical context where the goal is persuasion. As a tool of persuasion, ideographs avoid arduous and often painful work of intimate, meaningful communication. Perfectly suited to a culture characterized by ambiguity, relativity and utility, they have metastasized into most arenas of communication, religious, business, personal, et al; rhetorical critics use chevrons or angle brackets (<>) to mark off ideographs. Ideographs can positive and negative.
Interestingly, emojis and memes are digital surrogates for ideographs.
Emojis are ideographic; meaning that they represent ideas or concepts that are independent of a specific human language. Like road signs or warning notices at swimming pools or tourist locations, these attempt to communicate concepts that are language-neutral and can be understood by anyone.
Here are some ideographs used in political rhetoric:
* Liberty
* Freedom
* Justice
* Terrorism
* Rule of law
*Fidelity
* Equality
* Progressive
*Liberal
Some religious rhetoric ideographs:
* Unity
* Faithfulness
*Biblical
*Inerrant
* Love everyone
Ideographs in conversation:
Employing ideographs in conversations is not unlike TV ads for prescription drugs, beautiful, promising but vague. Perhaps the most used ideographic word is LOVE. Not to imply that using love is a bad thing, the point is that it has become an ideograph, as such, it is devoid of meaning “used without sending a specific message while still appealing to pathos” Casual expressions of love, though sweet (it’s nice to be nice), are meaningless, absent relational connection.
Ideographs are rhetorically effective, tapping into the ethos of an audience; they produce emotional allegiance without substance; catalyst for mob mentality.
In personal communication, ideographs can impede conversation. For example, injecting “unbiblical” or “unchristian” can shut down a conversation that otherwise has potential for understanding and deepening relationship. Christ followers, called to love neighbor can ill-afford the use of ideographs.
We might challenge one another to move away from inciting tweets and self-righteous rants and from a discourse rooted in the sharing of memes and surface level connection to joyful and meaningful conversations.
Holleman, Heather. The Six Conversations (pp. 15-16)
Much to think about, words matter.
