REBUTTAL ANALOGY IN POLITICAL COMMUNICATION - ARGUMENT AND ATTACK IN SOUND BITE

Analogy in its various forms has been central to political philosophy, political reasoning, and political language for centuries. Yet resear ch fails to account fully for its function in political discourse. Thi s article identifies and describes a unique form of analogy-rebuttal a nalogy-used in the verbal sparring that characterizes modern mediated political discourse. Rebuttal analogy is a tightly constructed linguis tic form that serves to counterargue. Its enthymematic structure invit es audience participation in a ''common sense'' argument. Its structur e as a rhetorical device draws on sources of humor to generate audienc e support while it simultaneously launches an attack on an opponent. B ecause rebuttal analogy creates a personalized confrontation in just a few words, it meets the requirements of sound bite news. This essay s uggests the importance of rebuttal analogy in political communication and recommends further study of the rebuttal analogy.