This in-depth article makes interesting points and I need to read it again to get the author’s full thesis, I’m sure. I did not see him point out what I believe to be obvious about the ancient Greek concept of the Trivium (Logic, Grammar, Rhetoric) is that one does not stand without the support of the other two. Using rhetoric as a cudgel to beat logic and grammar into submission is certainly beyond the pale.
As for his closing thought on blaming the English departments for this situation, it’s going to require Doc Brown & his DeLorean to address this element. I was a college freshman in 1973 when I found out I was in a very small minority of students who had been taught anything like the Trivium in high school. The blank looks told the story in Freshman Comp I classroom when the concepts of rhetorical structure in expository writing were the subject of the day. Many were run over by that rhetorical truck.
I've been reading a lot of Orwell's essays lately regarding the use (and abuse) of linguistics, and the critical nature of language in the formation and transmission of thought. This article is a very good extension of those writings.
Many were run over by that rhetorical truck.
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Interesting post. Thanks.