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RHETORICAL QUESTIONS ON THE RISE

Or Are they?

 A study released by the Center for the Study of Rhetoric and Applied Communication (CSRAC) shows that rhetorical questions are on the rise throughout the United States. The study looked at every form of written communication by decade through the 20th century, including newspapers, pamphlets, scholarly articles, novels, and other popular forms of written communication.  These communications were then compared to communications from 2001 through 2004, specifically counting rhetorical questions posed in print and television media. Sounds like a lot of work? What do you think?

The study found that more questions than answers have accumulated over the last decades, rendering more questions rhetorical in nature.

"It's been a kind of major shift in the way we communicate, don't you think?" said Frank, the leader researcher of the project. "Is this what we expected to find? No. Is it surprising? Yes."

Most of the rhetorical questions have fallen into the "Why" category, approximately 54%. "What" questions came in second at 37%. Interestingly, only 2% of the questions fell into the "Who" category.

"Is it a phenomenon?" asked Joe. "Well, yes and no. Aren't there fewer answers today than in the 1950's?"

Whether or not this trend will continue is unknown. At the current pace, all questions of any nature would be rendered rhetorical by the year 2036, according to Bob and his assistant, Bob.

"What do you think will happen to human interaction by then?" asked Bob.

"No one knows?" added Bob.

The CSRAC plans to trend this data for another four to five years, after which they will publish the complete study.

"Problem is," said a guy associated with the study, "you can ask all the questions you want, but if there are no answers, then you're just blowing in the wind. Does that mean we'll just stop studying this problem?"

The ramifications for teaching communication is enormous. Considering the student-teacher interaction, many sessions are taught in a Q & A format. But this might change.

"We're looking at a sea-change in education that moves the Q & A to the Q & Q!" remarked Tashina, intern assigned to this project. "Then what? Are we supposed to stop and answer questions with questions? What will our students gain? Should I shudder to think of the consequences?"

The study lists several popular formats in danger of not only extinction, but of being indecipherable to future generations.

"For example," remarked Bob, "should we imagine a world where even Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will be meaningless to the reader?"

The CSRAC has a lot of work ahead of them. How will their work effect public policy to stem this rising tide? Who knows?
 

CSRAC Research Group. For real?

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