Concessive Constructions

Question 1

Which move of the party conference speech can you identify in the opening part of Cameron’s speech?

Answer 1

Thanking the predecessors

Question 2

What are concessive constructions?

Answer 2

Concessive constructions assert two situations which would normally, on logical or conventional ground, be considered incompatible

Question 3

What is the typical rethorical effect of concessive constructions?

Answer 3

They allow to accept the opponent’s premise (yes, Labour undermined social responsibility) without also accepting its conclusion (but it’s not their fault if people were sitting on their sofa waiting for benefits)

Question 4

How can we recognize a dissociation?

Answer 4

Through this operation a contradiction or paradox is resolved because now a proposition can be considered true in one interpretation of the original term and false in the other