Rhetoric in Poland: contexts, subjects, methods

Abstract

The paper offers a synthetic overview of Polish research on rhetoric, including also various non-academic activities within the field of persuasive communication. After preliminary terminological distinctions between ‘rhetoric’ as practice and ‘rhetoric’ as theory, a survey of different forms of activities follows. Various spontaneous practices of persuasive communication, informal courses and workshops, popularization of Rhetoric, formal teaching of Rhetoric and rhetorical scholarship witness a vivid interest in rhetoric in Poland. The paper identifies also major trends in studies by Polish scholars. The analytical framework adopted could be fruitfully applied in comparative research on rhetorical traditions in different countries.