COMPLEX ARGUMENTATION IN THE CONTEXT OF RHETORICAL STRUCTURE THEORY IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE

Abstract

The idea of the article is to provide the reader with some material on representation of S. Toulmin’s argumentation model with regards to rhetorical structure theory. On the ground of this model the concepts of argument and plea are determined. The former is viewed as a single semantic complex. The fundamental notions of discourse analysis associated with rhetorical structures theory are reviewed. The features of rhetorical relations are mentioned. Much attention is given to the distinction between subject matter and presentational relations. The layout of all rhetorical structures corresponding to S. Toulmin’s model is discussed. The category of evidentiality is taking into account as a factor to influence the type of rhetorical relation. The difference between deductive, inductive and rhetorical argumentation with regard to syllogism is analyzed. In order to specify the nature of rhetorical relations implicit discursive units were used. The definitions of different complex argumentative types are given. The author draws reader’s attention to the difference between the structure of convergent argumentation and several types of linked one. The role of implicit elements in rhetorical structured is determined. The paper is illustrated with fragments of scientific papers in the field of acoustics.