retorikkana

Retorikkana is a term used in rhetoric and communication studies to denote a structured framework of rhetorical devices and strategies for persuading and analyzing discourse. In this approach, rhetoric is treated as a catalog of elements—persuasive appeals, argument structures, figures of speech, and discourse tactics—that can be identified, described, and taught. The term is most common in Norwegian-language scholarship and has parallels in Danish and Swedish usage.

Formed from retorikk (rhetoric) and ana, a suffix used in Nordic academic coinages to indicate a collection, retorikkana signals an inventory of rhetorically relevant features. The concept arose in late 20th and early 21st century writings as educators and analysts sought practical tools for classrooms and media analysis. It is not part of the classical canon of rhetoric, but a modern taxonomy drawing on traditional canons, stylistic figures, and argumentation theory.

Typical components include appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos; figures of speech such as metaphor and parallelism; argumentative strategies like framing, refutation, and audience targeting; and digital practices such as hyperlinking and tone modulation. In teaching and analysis, retorikkana provides a checklist for evaluating speeches, political discourse, advertisements, and online content to identify aims and assess credibility and bias.

Critics argue that the framework can be overly prescriptive or context-insensitive if used without attention to culture and genre. Proponents emphasize its usefulness for critical literacy and practical rhetoric across media. Related concepts include rhetoric itself, the canons of rhetoric, and argumentation theory. See also: rhetoric; canons of rhetoric; argumentation theory.