Rhetorician

A rhetorician is a person skilled in rhetoric, the art of persuasive communication. They study, teach, or practice the strategic use of language to inform, persuade, or move audiences. Rhetoricians analyze how discourse appeals to audiences through ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as structure, style, and delivery.

Historically, rhetoric originated in ancient Greece, with Aristotle articulating the modes of persuasion; the Sophists emphasized argumentation; Roman thinkers such as Cicero and Quintilian shaped rhetorical theory. In later periods, rhetoric evolved within philosophy, education, and critical theory, and in modern times it has become a core part of communication studies, linguistics, and media studies.

In practice, rhetoricians work as teachers, researchers, or advisers. They may study political speeches, legal arguments, advertising campaigns, or online discourse; they develop models of argument, analyze effectiveness, and critique rhetorical tactics. Ethical considerations are common, addressing manipulation, truthfulness, and audience responsibility.

Notable figures include Aristotle, Cicero, and Quintilian as early foundational theorists, with later scholars such as Chaim Perelman and Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca, Stephen Toulmin, and Kenneth Burke contributing to contemporary theory. The term also extends to practitioners of persuasive speaking, writing, or messaging in education, politics, and media.

See also: rhetoric; oratory; argumentation theory; discourse analysis.