Rhetorical triangle based reading of the southern side of the Kul Tigin Monument

Abstract

The subject of this study is the examination and the evaluation of the southern side of the Kul Tigin Monument of the Orhun Inscriptions, which is significant in Turkish cultural history in many aspects, with regard to the Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle.

The introduction and the following two chapters present persuasion, Aristotle’s triangle and the inspected monument, respectively. In the examination chapter, the text is evaluated with respect to the performer, the setting and the time of the performance, the addressee, the circumstances of the addressee and the knowledge of the narrator by asking questions to the text with reference to the triangle. It is concluded that the narrator of the text is aware of its qualifications, possesses knowledge about and presents examples from the past and makes suggestions and warnings for the future; tries to persuade the audience by appealing to their reason and to their emotions.

The examination enables the text to be interpreted as an ideal example of the art of rhetoric. From this point of view, the text is considered as exemplary in numerous fields such as Turkish language, Turkish ethnology, Turkish history and rhetoric, public relations, communication and diplomacy.