A study of rhetorical devices in articles from national geographic magazine

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INTRODUCTION

Rationale

By serving as the foundation for the majority of our social and political knowledge, magazines today are an essential component of human existence Bell (1991) identified three main kinds in newspaper text: news, commentary, and service information Lists like sports scores, TV shows, share prices, and weather forecasts are included in the service information category The most common text kind in newspaper discourse is news, which provides information about the most recent news occurrences The text of an opinion expresses the publication's personal viewpoints on a subject Newspapers are regarded as a reliable source of information for readers to stay up to date on current events Newspapers are regarded as a trustworthy source of information that keeps readers up to date on current events They are well- known as a non-electronic form of media everywhere

They are currently available in this period online, on their individual news portals Newspapers are not only an inexpensive source of current information, but also a wealth of linguistic knowledge (Shahnaz & Imtiaz,

2014) Different ideas and grammatical styles make up newspaper articles In order to convey the content to readers, writers use a variety of technologies and communication techniques (Rahmat, 2019) Newspaper opinion has been approached from a variety of perspectives in media studies (Elyazale, 2014)

The content presented in different magazines represents the information and ideas of specific interests Each magazine therefore has its own goals and readership One of the most well-known publications in the world is National Geographic, whose mission is "to illuminate and protect." Because the articles stand alone as narratives, National Geographic's method of conveying information differs from that of other periodicals The dissemination of geographic information broadly construed to cover the locations, people, and cultures of the world was the initial aim of National Geographic, according to Magazine Publishers of America (2006) In order to accomplish its goal, National Geographic (NatGeo) employs a number of rhetorical strategies to make its stories succinct, factual, and vivid as well as to provide readers a rich imagination and a wealth of associations to arouse their interest in reading

An essential feature of the magazine is its frequent and extensive use of rhetorical devices, which is a useful technique for making stories appealing

By "creating vivid pictures" for the readers to visualize and arouse their pleasant feelings while reading, rhetorical methods are used in the magazine to attract and catch their attention Rhetorical devices prove their effectiveness in expressing the author's ideas and intention in terms of language and linguistic functions The use of rhetorical techniques is common in a variety of contexts, including the arts, literature, communication, public speaking, and everyday life Numerous linguists and researchers have studied rhetorical or stylistic devices, but in a diverse range of ways

The language employed in magazines, particularly the rhetorical strategies utilized in digital ones, has not been the subject of many comprehensive studies, though I would like to conduct a thorough analysis of the data to help anyone who is interested in learning more about rhetorical strategies in magazines: A study of Rhetorical devices in articles from National Geographic magazine.

Aims and objectives

The aim of this research is to offer a general view on some rhetorical devices in terms of articles from National Geographic magazine Besides, this research has a tendency to investigate into the effectiveness of rhetorical devices in its articles

In order to achieve these aims, the researcher tries to fulfill these objectives:

- Identify common rhetorical devices used in articles

- Find out the contributions of rhetorical devices in terms of making articles persuasive and attractive

The researcher creates the following challenges in the form of questions after taking into account the background information provided in the preceding section:

1 What rhetorical devices are commonly used in English articles from National Geographic magazine?

2 How do rhetorical devices contribute to the persuasiveness and value of the articles?

Scope of the study

This study focuses on the findings of some commonly used stylistic devices namely Simile, Metaphor, Rhetorical questions, Hyperbole, Repetition and Personification in articles from National Geographic magazine These rhetorical devices are examined lexically Moreover, the frequencies of occurrence of each rhetorical device in articles are also expected to be clarified The contents of articles vary from history and culture, science, destinations to activities, travel experience, and so on.

Methods of the study

This study is mainly based on the theory of Galperin, IR (1977) To achieve the aims of the study, this study adopts a mixed method design The quantitative method is used by means of descriptive statistics to calculate the percentage of frequency of each type of rhetorical devices that occurs in the articles The qualitative method is then utilized to analyze specifically demonstrative examples extracted from NatGeo magazine.

Significance of the study

To some extent, the research is hoped to make a humble contribution to the teaching and learning of English rhetoric in general and rhetorical devices in magazines in particular Therefore, learners of English could understand the crucial role of rhetorical devices in literature Besides, the data and the analysis of this research are expected to be worth reading for the readers who take interest in reading English magazines This research would provide learners with precious experience of how to write a magazine As a result, their experience could facilitate their competence of learning language so that they are able to learn more effectively and successfully.

Organization of the study

The thesis consists of 5 chapters: Introduction; Literature Review; Methodology; Findings and Discussion; Conclusion and Implications

Chapter 1: Introduction - provides the rationale for the study, the aims and objectives of the study and research questions, the scope of the study, the significance of the study, and the organization of the study

Chapter 2: Literature Review - presents the previous studies which are closely related to the thesis This is the chapter in which reviews theories related to some common rhetorical devices introduced by Galperin's (1977), mainly lexical rhetorical devices An overview of National Geographic is also introduced briefly

Chapter 3: Methodology – describes research design, research methods, research procedures, description of samples, data collection and data analysis applied to conduct this study

Chapter 4: Findings and Discussion – presents the findings of linguistic features of lexical and syntactical rhetorical devices, their frequency of occurrence of these rhetorical devices in NatGeo articles and their role in making articles appealing

Chapter 5: Conclusion and Implications - gives the summary of the significant findings, draws conclusions and implications The limitations and some suggestions for further research are also discussed in this part.

Summary

An overview of the research, including the justification, the goals and objectives, the research questions, and the study's scope, is intended to be provided in the first chapter This section also presents the framework of the thesis and the significance of the investigation This can help readers understand the main ideas of the thesis and the historical background of the research.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Review of prior studies on rhetorical devices

The rhetorical theory has existed for hundreds of years, and the study of stylistics has been done much in different places in the world so far

Bally's Précis de Stylistique emphasizes the description and examination of a language's generally accessible stylistic qualities (Bally,

1905) According to Bally, literary writings are specific examples of language use; nonetheless, the heart of the general stylistics he emphasizes is not based on an analysis of their style However, the development of contemporary literary stylistics was significantly impacted by Bally's work as well as its later fulfillment in Jules Marouzeau's Précis de Stylistique Francaise and Marcel Cressot's Le Style et ses Techniques (Jules Marouzeau, 1946; Marcel Cressot, 1947) Leo Spitzer, in contrast, adheres to a tradition of textual (and frequently literary-textual) analysis that is more philologically based Instead of being viewed as a universal characteristic of a particular language, style is considered as an expression of a specific psychological, social, or historical sensibility or moment It can be claimed that modern stylistics in Europe saw a divergence between linguistic stylistic description and literary stylistic interpretation

There was still a connection between literary stylistics and structural linguistic analysis in Anglo-American linguistics at this period However, it was Noam Chomsky’s transformational-generative grammar that signaled the establishment of stylistics as a discipline with independent, self-defined goals at least, if not yet a real autonomy Then the establishment of the two major Anglo-American magazines for the subject, Style (1967) and Language and Style (1968), helped stylistics become a legitimate academic field in both Britain and the United States

Later, a number of related books were published, such as Donald Freeman's edited volume Linguistics and Literary Style (Donald Freeman,

1970), Guiraud and Pierre Kuentz's edited volume La Stylistique: Lectures (Guiraud and Pierre Kuentz, 1970), Seymour Chatman's edited volume Literary Style: A Symposium (Seymour Chatman, 1971), Roger Fowler's edited volume Style and Structure in Literature: Essays in the New Stylistics (Roger Fowler, 1975), and Freeman's edited volume Essays in Modern Stylistics (Freeman, 1981), etc Other linguists with a concentration on English stylistics include I R Galperin, H G Widdowson, Sara Thorne, David Crystal, and Derek Davy, etc They include samples that have been carefully examined in addition to giving an overview of English stylistics and grouping English rhetorical devices into various categories

In Vietnam, Cù Đình Tú, Đinh Trọng Lạc, Nguyễn Thái Hoà, Đinh Xuân Quỳnh perform the same job with Vietnamese stylistics All of the foreign and Vietnamese linguists mentioned above do not, however, provide readers with instructions on how to methodically examine rhetoric elements in digital articles on the National Geographic website.

Rhetorical Devices

In actuality, having a worthwhile thought or anything significant to convey is insufficient Everyone wants their messages to be beautiful and effective in reaching the intended recipient(s) Without a doubt, the manner in which something is said is always crucial and necessary And rhetorical devices are what help people use language effectively Therefore, the term

“Rhetorical devices” or "Stylistic devices" simply refers to "pretentious ways of saying or writing something." Those who learn stylistic strategies and employ them skillfully will undoubtedly flourish in speaking and writing

A section of general linguistics known as rhetorical devices (rhetoric) is thought of as a language science It addresses the outcome of the communication act (Galperin, 1971:12) The "output of the act of communication" is taken into account in rhetoric, according to this definition The capacity of writing effectively, correctly, and in a way intended to capture readers' interest is the most common definition of rhetoric (Galperin, 1971:12)

Rhetorical devices, in the words of Harris (2013:3), are tools for speaking or writing Rhetorical device masters will enhance the beauty, focus, and efficacy of their writing and speaking Thus, for example, rhetorical strategies in public speaking will highlight a point or provide an impactful speech

Rhetoric is the art, practice, and study of human communication, according to Andrea Lunsford Other linguists, like Mark Backman, make the following assumption:

According to Maltzev, V A., 1984, the manufactured reality structures that comprise culture are the subject of rhetoric These structures are multifaceted and intricate We are failing it a service if we characterize it as merely communication, etc Rhetoric is the art of organization The components of persuasion include words and images, sentences and paragraphs, arguments and examples, all of which are used to arrange an audience's responses and behaviors As a worldview, rhetoric promotes a number of methods and strategies meant to create order out of chaos

The term "rhetoric" is often connected with vacuous, flowery speech or impressive discourse that is laced with deceit It should be highlighted that a rhetorical inquiry is not actually meant to elicit an answer, and that people frequently view rhetoric as being dubious-looking untrue and dishonest Rhetoric is the study of successful argumentation with the goal of influencing opinion It is also known as the art of oratory or persuasive speaking

Rhetorical devices can be described in a variety of ways, but in general, we can all agree that it is the skill of writing clearly, vividly, and with the intention of directly engaging readers

Rhetorical devices are techniques used by writers to achieve specific effects Rhetorical devices are therefore always thought to have a significant significance in literature The essential role of rhetoric, according to Madison, is human actors' use of language to influence other human agents' attitudes or behaviors, for rhetoric as such has no historical connection to any aspect of human civilization, he continues It has its roots in language's fundamental purpose, a purpose that is entirely realistic and constantly reborn (Madison & Wisconsin, 1998)

Rhetorical devices resemble "an abstract pattern, a mould into which any content can be poured," according to Galperin (1977:30) It addresses the outcome of the communication's action

Rhetoric is the study of the ideas and techniques that make writing more powerful and compelling Language's unique linguistic expression used to achieve certain goals and outcomes through a specific set of tools is known as rhetoric (Harris, Robert A, 2005)

The term "rhetorical" refers to effective language use William Shakespeare defined a device as something that has been imaginatively conceived Simply put, a rhetorical device is a sophisticated method of saying something Not what is said, but how it is said, is important This meant that having a worthwhile thought or something significant to say is not sufficient; one must also communicate with the intended audience in a way that ensures both the message and its significance are heard and comprehended (Harris, Robert A, 2005)

To put it another way, the purpose of rhetorical devices is to: highlight and emphasize the attitude or opinion; pique the interest of the audience and capture their attention; make the remark and statement vivid and unforgettable; help the audience understand a particular line of thought; conjure up vivid and graphic mental images; amuse or entertain the readers; or criticize or satirize.

Classification of rhetorical devices

It's very overwhelming how many rhetorical tactics there are As an illustration, Corbett (1990) notes in his book that the lengthy list of rhetorical devices is essentially a variety of roughly 40 general categories According to McGuidan (2008), there are hundreds of rhetorical devices, ranging from zeugma to anadiplosis As a result, there are many different ways to categorize rhetorical devices

Aristotle (quoted in Griffin, 2012) emphasizes the definition of rhetoric and its application as a persuasion technique He categorizes rhetorical evidence into three categories: logos, pathos, and ethos A rhetorical strategy known as logos uses appeals to reason or logic Pathos is the emotional support for an argument or the audience's motivating appeals Ethos is a rhetorical device used to persuade an audience based on the authority of the speaker or writer

Harris also categorizes rhetorical devices into three groups, primarily focusing on the purposes of these devices The first category includes emphasis, association, clarification, and concentration, according to Harris

(2013) The second group involves physical organization, transition, and arrangement or disposition; the third category contains ornamentation and diversity While devices can fit into one category, rhetorical devices are more likely to function in all three categories due to their ability to produce numerous effects As noted by Harris (2013, 3), it might be challenging to determine whether devices are appropriate for a certain setting or place because some of them can have unidentified impacts He advises practicing them and, in the process, cultivating an inner sense that will guide one in knowing when and how to apply them Harris's Handbook of Rhetorical Devices is composed of 60 devices, each of which has an explanation and an example.

Similarly, based on the three level-oriented methods, Galperin (1977) states the following division of expressive means and rhetoric devices: phonetic, lexical, and syntactical rhetorical devices In three level-oriented techniques, he also provides a list of twenty rhetorical devices

Rhetorical devices are generally divided in numerous ways by academics Scholars differ in how they categorize rhetorical devices In this thesis, the classification of rhetorical devices is adapted from the theoretical background of Galperin (1977) because it is clearly organized, easily approached, and appropriate for the examination of article language

According to Galperin (1977:123), the rhetorical devices of an utterance are not limited to its structure and sense In other words, the sound of a phrase or statement is crucial When taken individually, most word sounds have little to no artistic value However, combining certain words may result in the desired phonetic impact The subcategories of phonetic RDs include Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Rhyme, and Rhythm Đinh Trọng Lạc and Nguyễn Thái Hoà (1993) contend that while the phonetic form itself lacks meaning, it can be transformed into phonetic symbols that increase the expressive force by being placed in particular relation to the content Poems show signs of phonetic rhetorical strategies more often than texts Due to the scope of an M.A thesis, the research will not mention phonetic rhetorical devices in the discussion

One of the most significant areas in rhetorical analysis is the syntactical rhetorical device Language science's section of syntax analyzes different word combinations, phrases, and the gaps between longer utterances

"Stylistic syntactical patterns may be viewed as variants of the general syntactical models of the language and are the more obvious if presented not as isolated elements or unintentional usages," according to Galperin

He contends that readers are affected in some ways by these patterns (1977:202) Because of this, syntactical rhetorical device is considered as an intricate design In his book, Galperin (1977) lists some subtypes of syntactical RDs, including stylistic inversion, parallel constructions, enumeration, climax, and antithesis

Galperin (1977) holds that in addition to the lexical meanings in dictionaries, words also have lexical meanings in context, which fix in a particular context rather than in dictionaries We refer to them as contextual meaning He asserts that there is a connection between lexical meaning found in dictionaries and conceptual meaning The mental meaning will always be somewhat dependent on the dictionary definition We note lexical rhetorical devices when the divergence from the acknowledged meaning is carried to the extent that it results in an unanticipated shift in the recognized logical interpretations Lexical rhetorical techniques come in a variety of forms In this thesis, the researcher will primarily concentrate on typical types of lexical rhetorical devices, including Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Hyperbole, Rhetorical question and Repetition They are presented in detail in the following sections

One of the most elegant and symbolic rhetorical tactics in the area of stylistics is metaphor According to Galperin (1977:139–140), it is a kind of expressive and metaphorical language in which one semantic field of reference is carried over or transferred to another According to him, a metaphor turns into a rhetorical device when it concurrently conjures up two distinct phenomena (i.e., things, events, thoughts, and deeds) by imputing some or all of the hereditary characteristics of one item onto another that is by nature lacking of those characteristics

The rhetorical device based on the principle of identification of two objects is called a metaphor Metaphor is one of the most potent means of creating images in articles Referring to conveyance of the message, it can be said that metaphor evokes the imagination to show what the speech means Without doubt, the core of the speech is difficult to express, therefore, the speaker often uses metaphor through specific, detailed, memorable images to clarify it like the image:

In this example, Hillary Clinton succeeded in showing deep sadness with that expression Besides, metaphor is employed to send the meaning by transferring the emotional content that is already well understood Thus, the audience with different experiences in different contexts can grasp things intuitively As a result, this explains why the use of metaphor can affect the aim of persuading the audience successfully

Tenor and vehicle are the two fundamental components of a metaphor

The vehicle is the metaphorical word(s) or image(s) via which the tenor is communicated The tenor is the implicit notion or the concealed subject of the comparison The vehicle is the language used to describe the tenor Based on their shared characteristics, these two components are blended For example in the following sentence: “Life is a yo-yo”, the tenor of life and the vehicle is yo-yo The commonality between life and a yo-yo is their ups and downs

What makes using these concepts in our literary analysis desirable, then? Decomposing a metaphor into its vehicle and tenor, then, might serve as a helpful reminder to consider the connections and differences between the two concepts The metaphor can function and make sense because of the link between the tenor and the vehicle We are able to explain the success (or failure) of a metaphor by taking into account its tenor and vehicle

The definition of metaphor has been defined by linguists in a number of ways; the most correct ones are enumerated here

“A metaphor is a relationship between literal and logical context-based interpretations that is based on the affinity or likeness of specific characteristics or traits of two related concepts.” (Galperin, 1971:136)

In a metaphor, no function words are employed, according to the

Summary

This chapter focuses on related theories, research, and previous studies on rhetorical devices Common types of lexical rhetorical devices - are introduced in the literature review – including Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Hyperbole, Rhetorical question and Repetition The theoretical framework for categorizing the rhetorical subtypes is developed by Galperin (1977) These kinds, which are typical in NatGeo journals, will serve as my objects of study in this research.

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

Since the goal of this thesis is to analyze frequent rhetorical devices found in NatGeo articles, both qualitative and quantitative research methods are used to conduct this study

To begin with, the primary categories of rhetorical devices used in the data are identified using the qualitative technique This method aims to reveal the role of rhetorical devices (RDs) in articles by describing, analyzing, and synthesizing the key characteristics of the many types of RDs

Additionally, the quantitative approach is used to determine the frequency with which rhetorical devices were used Using this method, it is possible to determine and evaluate the frequency of occurrence of different rhetorical devices.

Research Methods

The current study mainly combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies Descriptive, analytic, and synthetic techniques are useful to achieve its goals, too The primary linguistic components of the rhetorical devices utilized in articles at the discourse level are described descriptively In addition, elements of the articles are analytically categorized and justified In the last stages of the research, the synthesis technique can assist the researcher in synthesizing the results and formulating conclusions.

Data Analysis

50 NatGeo publications published between 2021 and the first half of

2023 are the samples I need for my study, so I first collect them These articles feature a variety of topics, including travel, animals, environment, science and history and culture from articles and foreign periodicals In order to conduct qualitative and quantitative studies, they have been chosen at random The theory by Galperin (1977) serves as the basic foundation for the examination of various regularly employed rhetorical techniques under investigation Then, the rhetorical elements of each article are carefully examined For the sake of analysis and evaluation, the outcome is reported in raw numbers and percentage terms

The analysis results are then grouped and reviewed in an effort to determine how rhetorical elements affect the articles' persuasiveness and worth

At the final step, based on the results of the analysis, I synthesize the findings and then draw out conclusions and some implications for teaching and learning English were made Besides, new thoughts for further researches were also suggested.

Research Procedure

The data for this study is from the official National Geographic website (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine) This study's main methods are qualitative and quantitative in order to discover certain implications for the creation and understanding of written language that contains rhetorical elements The articles' rhetorical devices are described in English as the language of choice The study's theoretical foundation is based on a variety of sources, some of which are given in the reference However, the theory of Galperin IR serves as the foundation for the examination of specific rhetorical devices under investigation The procedure for the study is followed by these stages:

The researcher investigates the frequencies of commonly used rhetorical devices appearing in 50 NatGeo articles and give comments about their percentage

After that, the writer starts analyzing data by pointing out the artistic, aesthetic and persuasive values of each rhetorical device and their contributions to the success of the articles This is the most important step used to analyze the data When the data analysis is complete, the writer concludes the results

Last, the writer puts forward implications for the teaching and learning of English stylistics in general and rhetorical devices in particular.

Reliability and Validity

Since the information's sources are the well-known official website, they are currently trustworthy Additionally, the study adheres to the theoretical foundation of rhetorical techniques found in credible works by renowned scholars including Galperin’s book (1977) and other published articles as well as Galperin's (1971) and Harris' book (2013) Therefore, the data provide excellent reliability

The thesis also adhered to the research approach and process, which produces logical and useful conclusions, in terms of validity Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies are flexibly used and complemented one another As a result, this study is trustworthy and appropriate in every way.

Summary

The data collecting, analytical methodology, analytical framework, data gathering method, and data analysis for the study are all presented in the third portion of the study In this study, both quantitative and qualitative research methods are used for data collecting and analysis.

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

Frequency of occurrence of commonly-used rhetorical devices in NatGeo

In the total number of 50 articles, the study has found different kinds of rhetorical devices in six groups, including Simile, Hyperbole, Personification, Metaphor, Rhetorical questions and Repetition

Table 4.1 Frequency of Occurrence of Rhetorical Devices in NatGeo articles Types of Rhetorical Devices Total numbers of RDS Percentage (%)

Figure 4.1 Distribution of Rhetorical Devices

Table 4.1 and figure 4.1 present the frequency of occurrence of rhetorical devices in NatGeo articles It is noticeable that Metaphor takes predominant use with 501 times (approximately 32.34%); Personification is ranked the second with 464 times (nearly 29.95%) Next is Hyperbole which takes 363 times (about 23.43%); Simile holds a smaller number of 200 times (about 12.91%) Rhetorical question has the minor use with 12 times (at a proposition of 0.77%); and Repetition is the smallest proportion with 9 times (only nearly 0.6%).

Metaphor

By using language that they can comprehend, metaphor helps the audience and the topic content become more connected To the best of my knowledge, a metaphorical sign in the context of the topic-vehicle approach designates its theme as the vehicle by a comparison between the theme and the vehicle Each metaphor has a vehicle and a theme To be more precise, the vehicle is a picture that denotes the topic or a qualifying concept or object for the theme The theme is the purpose or concept that represents the subject of a

MetaphorPersonificationHyperboleSimileRhetorical questionRepetition metaphor Lakoff (1987) asserts that metaphors involve more than simply language; they also involve reasoning and thought

People are more easily moved to emotions and persuaded by well- known imagery because they have the sympathy and experience of those things, thanks to metaphor

[NatGeo44.Met1] - Diwali is India’s most important festival of the year – a time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil

The article is about the legends and ways of celebrating Diwali, which is India’s most important festival of the year For the Indian, this five-day festival plays a significant role in their belief Diwali literally means a row of lights, so it is best known as a festival of lights During this festival, people’s homes are illuminated by lights and oil lamps This is derived from its theme

“the triumph of light over darkness” The Diwali night's light here is the vehicle for the tenors “knowledge”, and “good” as well as consciousness and wisdom Whereas the darkness is the vehicle for the tenors “ignorance” and

“evil” such as wickedness, destruction, violence, lust, envy, injustice, greed, oppression and suffering “Triumph” means a victory when we win a war or fight The word also expresses a feeling of a great satisfaction or pleasure caused by the victory Therefore, the dominance of light on this day refers to the victory of good over evil The light also shows the Indians the way on our journey through life They light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects them from spiritual darkness Through the festival, residents hope for health, happiness or prosperity

[NatGeo26.Met2] - Kansai is the birthplace of the comedy scene in Japan

Under the calm exterior of quiet shrines and geisha teahouses, Kyoto is a mecca for storied live performances including comedy The comedy scene here is Manzai, which is ‘a traditional type of stand-up comedy, usually two people in a conversation’ Manzai is comparable to American stand-up comedy in that both involve comedic performances in which the comedian stands in front of the audience and amuses them without the need for cues However, Manzai has considerably stronger ties to Japanese history and culture Moreover, “it has rhythm, a slow and fast speed” Contrary to the popularity of Western comedy, Manzai is quite unfamiliar to readers; therefore, they might be curious about where it comes from “Birthplace” means the house, town, etc where a person was born In this sentence,

“birthplace” is the vehicle for the tenor which is the origin of Manzai Kansai is confirmed to be the place where Manzai originally came from Instead of revealing its origin by the boring sentence “Manzai is from Kansai”, the original and vivid connection between the vehicle and the tenor makes the statement more appealing, and this also emphasize the origin of Manzai more effectively, helping readers gain the information better

What is more, metaphors are also entirely unexpected and belong to language-in-action as indicated in the following examples:

[NatGeo9.Met3] - With its sprawling vineyards and countless pintxos bars, this region of northern Spain is ripe for culinary adventures

Rioja, long recognized as the leading producer of quality wines in Spain, is also known for its superb cuisine, which is sometimes disregarded in favor of the region's time-honored vines and wineries NatGeo9 is the author’s journey of experiencing the cuisine of Rioja, from trying croquetas with just both hands since we could not get the same feeling if we use cutlery to enjoy it, to directly drinking robust vintage wine made predominantly from Grenache and Tempranillo, two famous species of wine grapes in Spain at the winery ‘Ripe’ is a typical adjective of fruit or crops They are ripe when they completely develop and are ready to be collected and eaten The word ‘ripe’ is borrowed to illustrate the level of the development of Rioja cuisine

Therefore, ‘ripe’ is vehicle and development of Rioja cuisine is tenor in this circumstance The vehicle is used here to clarify how mature Rioja’s cuisine becomes and it is waiting for people to come there, discover it and get hooked on it This metaphor refers that cuisine strongly develops in the region of northern Spain – Rioja and this place is absolutely an unmissed selection for gourmets to experience

[NatGeo26.Met4] - The city’s counterculture has long been brewed in the city’s music venues

The author of the NatGeo26 seems to favor metaphor more than the others Brewing is the production of beer, especially one made in a particular place or at a particular time If you brew tea or coffee, you add boiling water to it to make a hot drink, and if it brews, it gradually develops its flavor in the container in which it was made ‘Brew’ is a word in terms of making drinks Obviously, the city’s counterculture is not a kind of drinking, and we cannot get the counterculture which is an abstract state brewed in a teapot literally In this case, the word is the vehicle for the lifestyle, which is the tenor In details, ‘brewed’ might be understood that a very different way of life has been accepted by a group of residents in Kyoto for a long time That Kyoto lifestyle, which is modern and active in the background of Jazz music, only occurs as dusk fells That culture is becoming stronger in ‘taste’ and having a big influence on the society By using the word “brewed”, Kyoto appears with a colorful image, not only owning an ancient charm with very Japanese shrines, but also a vigorous style that is suitable for the youth

Metaphor is an essential and basic structure of human comprehension, a fundamental and irreducible unit of mental processes Since metaphor has a close-knit relationship with human perception, this device becomes the most reliable factor for the authors of these 50 NatGeo articles to enhance connection between readers and key content of the articles in a full of elegant ways We organize and make sense of experience through metaphor, which also helps us create fresh perspectives of the outside world.

Simile

Simile is a magic tool which totally appears 200 times in the data, accounting for 12.91% in general In the construction of simile, the comparative element specifies the standard of comparison and identifies the comparison as equational or differentiating The comparative element is linked with the subordinate clause by a correlative sequence

Equational comparison is the most popular choice of writers in terms of simile to attract the reader’s attention, and encourage their imaginations to understand what is being communicated in articles If the markers include some words such as like, as, resemble, similar to, as … as, they are grouped in this type

In equational comparison, the most frequent marker is as with 72 times in all 50 NatGeo articles Here are some nice examples:

[NatGeo34.Sim1] - The farmers don’t deserve all the blame says Dhand, as many of them see the animals as family members

[NatGeo30.Sim2] - The city was known to Ancient Greeks as ‘the hidden port’

[NatGeo28.Sim3] - Known as the jewel of the Borneo banks, coral diversity is astounding

[NatGeo40.Sim4] - They carry a receptor that can recognize and bind to proteins present on tumor cell surfaces – as a lock fits a key

NatGeo34 is about the issue that India has to face That is “wayward cattle”, which are causing traffic accidents, disease spread, and crop tramples

They are revered as well Indian authorities have to find a variety of solutions to deal with them Since the cattle bring problems including spreading infections to India, a state in northern India suggested ear tags for cattle,

‘which would ideally lead to nabbing the owners who deserted them’ However, some of them might rip the tag off along with the cattle’s ear as they consider their cattle as members of their family They might not want the cattle to be recognized and then abandoned This simile shows how much farmers love their cattle

Regarding NatGeo30, the article is an adventurous trip throughout Oman Today, the nation might be quiet and not attract a great deal of attention, but some of the most wild landscapes in the Middle East bear the scars of its past Muscat, which is the capital and the most populous city in Oman, is an example The city is considered as ‘the hidden port’ due to its location and its past role Muscat, which was the key area of Indian Ocean trade, hides under the cliffs The coral diversity of the Borneo banks in NatGeo28 resembles the jewel, which emphasizes its rare charm

In spite of the minor contribution, the two-time marker as … as is also very effective devices which tend to describe objectives visually Due to these similes, readers can imagine things in articles easily and specifically

[NatGeo20.Sim5] - The Marathon de Sables is as much a test of mental streng thas it is of physical endurance

The Marathon de Sables is widely considered as ‘the most difficult footrace in the world’ because it involves 156 miles of running across hot sand What’s more, racers must carry sufficient food, water or supplies to survive ‘the six-day event’ Therefore, readers may have a clearer illustration of the severity of the event - this challenge is nothing more or less than a test of both physical endurance and mental strength

Apart from the regular use of the word as, another simile marker found in NatGeo articles is the word like, which appears 68 times in total Although it has a bit lower contribution to the data, it plays an integral part in attracting the readers’ attention with specific images

[NatGeo38.Sim6] - Like addictive drugs, eating food releases dopamine [NatGeo37.Sim7] - The pain of the COVID headache was like when the dentist’s drill hits a nerve …

[NatGeo15.Sim8] - Or are singing dreams more like algorithms running without conscious awareness?

[NatGeo30.Sim9] - The national emblem of Oman is the khanjar – a curved dagger, shaped roughly like the letter ‘J’

‘Eating food’ is compared to ‘additive drugs’; ‘the pain of the COVID headache’ and the feeling when a drill hits a nerve in the head; ‘singing dreams’ of the songbirds and algorithms; ‘the national emblem of Oman’ and the letter ‘J’ By employing simile in the articles, the objects are illustrated through vivid pictures, and the sentiments are conveyed, too Therefore, the messages in the articles are connected with readers better For instance, in the article NatGeo37, an infection with the coronavirus can cause many kinds of unpleasant headaches, and each of them demands a suitable treatment The author describes how painful is the COVID headache by comparing it and the moment when a drill hits our head, thereby helping the readers feel its pain more clearly From NatGeo38, a growing amount of our food is produced to be alluring to us Experts claim that there are long-term health effects to this trend Like is used to compare ‘eating food’ and ‘addictive drugs’ because they both release dopamine which is a naturally-made chemical substance in the brain that makes us feel good and may also be given as a drug

NatGeo15 finds answer for the secret of animals’ dream and how the dream may happen if they dream in their sleep In search of whether songbirds can dream or not, the author predicts that it might be like unconscious algorithms, which means songbirds do not mean to dream and do not relive what they experience before Oman is located on the Arabian Peninsula's southeast corner Because of its history ingrained in some of the most untamed landscapes in the Middle East, the nation leaves a lasting imprint on the writer in NatGeo30 By comparing with the letter ‘J’, the shape of Khanjar, the traditional dagger originating from Oman, appears more clearly in reader’s mind

Differentiation, another sub-type of simile, includes the markers such as become, be called, seem, as if, consider They can make descriptions more emphatic or vivid too

[NatGeo45.Sim10] - Tatooine and the forest moon of Endor may seem like they’re in a galaxy far, far away …

[NatGeo11.Sim11] - The city becomes a living canvas

NatGeo45 suggests 8 fairy destinations if you are a big fan of ‘Star Wars’, which is worldwide American media franchise Tatooine and Endor are some of these places ‘Tatooine’, which is a fictional dessert, is a beige- colored, desolate world orbiting a pair of binary stars, and inhabited by human settlers and a variety of other life forms ‘Endor’ is an unreal moon in the Star Wars universe, known for its endless forests, savannahs, grasslands, mountain ranges, and a few oceans ‘The forest moon of Endor’ first appears in Return of the Jedi, in which it is the body in whose orbit the second Death Star is constructed, and is the home of a race of furry aliens called Ewoks These destinations don’t exist in the real world, as if ‘they’re in a galaxy far, far away’ By using the word “galaxy”, readers can imagine how far these fictional places stay from us

NatGeo11 is a collection of annual occasions along the world's coastlines are worth noting down in your calendar, from utilizing the ocean's power and natural richness to just framing celebrations in that coastal backdrop Each summer, Senegalese capital is full of vitality with the visit of the Dak’Art Biennal, which is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years Canvas is a piece of this cloth used by artists for painting on, usually with oil paints, or the painting itself On this occasion, the capital is adorned with an array of galleries and spaces, so it’s like a giant colorful canvas where artists can show off their endless creativeness

The authors also use the ordinary structural comparison with more than or less than to draw lively pictures for readers For example:

[NatGeo13.Sim12] - The beauty of the world is important, but it is less fascinating than its mysteries

Actually, there are some cases which have the markers but are not the simile Here are some instances:

[NatGeo40.Sim13] - A few vaccines are preventative as they teach the body to kill cancer-causing viruses like hepatitis B and human papillomavirus

[NatGeo22.Sim14] - For a history-meets-haunted excursion, join in on one of the candle-lit Ghost Tours of Philadelphia and visit Benjamin Franklin’s haunts, as well as secret gardens and a spooky cemetery

[NatGeo15.Sime15] - … a reset of the neutral connections that prepares our nervous system for the coming day through processes like memory consolidation and cognition optimization

We can misunderstand that the markers in these sentences are similes, but they actually something else In these sentences, comparative structures are the ordinary ones because they stress the one that is compared These markers mean ‘such as’

[NatGeo1.Sim16] - … her spontaneous mirth points to an interplay between memory and emotion that would suggest a more complex inner life than we might have imagined

The above statement is just a common comparison, not simile because it compares two things belonging to one type, comparing the actual interplay between memory and emotion with one we imagine

Hyperbole

Hyperbole appears very frequently in the NatGeo articles Its frequency is ranked just after metaphor and personification, taking up 23.43% with 363 cases in the 50 articles A hyperbole is a figure of speech in which NatGeo writers purposefully highlight a certain aspect of your argument by exaggerating it Generally, they are mostly employed to draw attention to differences and emphasize points in the articles

Authors frequently employ hyperbole in their writing to exaggerate or embellish a scenario to catch the reader's interest and make it more compelling According to the research, a variety of phrases, including words, comparison structures, indefinite numbers, and other expressions, can be used to signify exaggeration

Writing hyperboles may require absolute words such as really, none, never, all, so, too, always, everything, very and so on, which almost always exaggerate the situation The contribution of hyperbolic words is 102 times in the data Here are some typical examples of hyperbolic words:

[NatGeo21.Hyp1] - Noiva do Cordeiro, you may know it as the village where everything is dominated by women, the women are all young and beautiful, …

Noiva do Cordeiro, meaning “Bride of the Lamb”, is located in Brazil The village is well-known all over the world because all its residents are women It is significantly different from the rest of the nation-women hold the power here Noiva do Cordeiro is free of privileges, hierarchies, violence, and churches It is like “a refuge from life’s toxic ways” Nevertheless, behind that peace, the village has witnessed a long-term history in which women, who was disregarded, then became the powerful residents and reformed the village step by step The word “all” in the article means the whole number or amount: all the women here are not only beautiful, but also young This thing seems to be hard to happen in the real life Although they are actually gorgeous, all of them cannot be young Youth, according to the United Nations, are those who are roughly between the ages of 15 and 24 In fact, female inhabitants of the village are mostly between the ages of 20 and 35 As we know, 35 years old is not considered being young This exaggeration enhances the similarity among women in the village, thereby creating unique reading experience for readers

[NatGeo13.Hyp2] - Amid this same inhospitable environment a marine pantopod, or sea spider, appears Its long legs converge toward a body so tiny it’s almost nonexistent

So is also an impressive hyperbolic word It is used to sharpen the credibility of what is told in the article NatGeo13 is a journey to the land off the coast of Italy, the Mediterranean The incredibly unstable volcano system is naturally a hot spot when talking about a place “so hostile to life” as the Mediterranean Nevertheless, what surprises the author much more is how marine life can cling here Within the same harsh surroundings, a marine pantopod, also known as a sea spider, emerges It has long legs, but its body is incredibly small The phrase “so tiny it’s almost nonexistent” is a hyperbole, since every visible living organism on the planet must exist The hyperbolic so here aims to emphasize its unique size This is so small that we even find it hard to see with our real eyes and we might not find the same size on other animals

What is more, comparison structure contributes to building up the attractiveness of articles, taking up approximately 18.46% with 67 times If there is superlative, there must be comparison and superlative form can indicate hyperbole Through the research, the superlative one appears much more commonly than the other type

[NatGeo8.Hyp3] - While every island has its own stunning viewpoints, many say Anacapa’s Inspiration Point is the most breathtaking, even on a foggy day

NatGeo8 is about a national park located in California That is Channel Islands National Park The term "North American Galapagos" is frequently used to describe Channel Islands National Park This is a tourist destination that we should miss when travelling because the park teems with species that is specific to Earth What is more, there are also 5 remote islands here; each of them owns different distinctive attractiveness One of the islands is Anacapa, which offers extraordinary chances for photography and bird- watching As we know, foggy days may not be good time for travelling since the visibility is too bad and it can fade the beauty of places However, Anacapa’s Inspiration Point is so charming that many people have to admire its unbelievable beauty that is still remained even on these days It is undeniable that superlative makes something sound so excessive and extreme, therefore it leads to overstatement

Numerical hyperbole is also a great way for authors to create hyperbolic meaning However, its frequency in the data is quite low, only 15 times For example:

[NatGeo22.Hyp4] - As the second-largest city on the US East Coast, Philly has one of the country’s most impressive art museums, plus hundreds of eye- catching street murals peppered throughout the city

[NatGeo33.Hyp5] - More than 10 million species are found in the high seas, and millions of mysterious creatures unknown to science lie in its depths

The hyperbolic expression appears because the authors make an exaggeration meaning by using the words or phrases “hundreds”,

“thousands”, “millions”, and “hundreds of thousands” in the articles Philadelphia is the emphasis in NatGeo22 This America’s early capital is also a hub for modern art and quirky institutions Not only does Philadelphia boast one of the best art museums in the nation, but it also features striking street murals throughout the city The word “hundreds” intends to highlight that there are so many impressive streets there They exist at all every corner of the city, making the city become much livelier, and we may not be able to know how many street murals there are in the city exactly Similarly, NatGeo33 would like to remind readers of things to know about international waters: an area of uncharted sea full of undersea volcanoes, contemporary pirates, and unidentified marine creatures The hyperbolic word “millions” highlights the secret number of unknown creatures that could not be found in anywhere else but the high seas better There are so many mysterious creatures that we have not discovered yet in deep seas without being able to count

[NatGeo13.Hyp6] - Though this flickering glow is barely perceptible from afar, it has persisted for thousands of years, and we’ve headed straight for it

[NatGeo32.Hyp7] - In 2021, a fossil study showed evidence of genetic flow between extinct North American and Eusian horses, meaning the animals moved back and forth over the land bridge and interbred for hundreds of thousands of years

Not only mentioning the number, but the numerical hyperbole also remarks the length of time, ‘it’ in NatGeo13 means lava explosions from

Stromboli, a volcanic island The lava explosion which is the ‘flickering glow’ has existed for a very long time In the same way, the phrase “hundreds of thousands of years” in NatGeo32 regards two pieces of horses bred extremely long time ago The numerical exaggeration highlighting time duration, therefore, would like to say that these phenomena in the articles exist for a while We cannot find out their origin, just admit and obtain the information

A hyperbole is the deliberate use of overstatement to achieve emphasis NatGeo writers use the figure of speech to illustrate objects mentioned in the articles in an attractive way as possible so as to put their point across to the readers and induce them into continuing with the rhetorical articles and agree with the writers’ stance It is not enough for them to say they are simply

“good”, their articles must contain the words kind of “perfectly, extraordinary, breathtaking, in a different world, magnificent, fascinating”, etc The authors may realize the strong effectiveness of extreme words, so they are used the most commonly with 179 times For example:

[NatGeo37.Hyp8] - I don’t’ remember the days well at all … but I can remember the pain perfectly

[NatGeo39.Hyp9] - But because cancer invades on a cellular level, it can be an extraordinary challenge to remove it definitely …

[NatGeo12.Hyp10] - The world’s oceans are running a fever – sea surface temperatures have been record-breakingly hot in the past few months

[NatGeo2.Hyp11] - You might only be five meters from the entrance, but it feels like you’re in a different world, away from civilization …

NatGeo37 is like a story telling about Heather Schroeder’s experience of headache that she gets after a coronavirus infection The article, then, figures out the right treatment for different types of headaches occurring with coronavirus infection She experiences such an unpleasant feeling that she describes her headaches as “living hell” “Perfectly” can be seen as a hyperbole Thanks to the word, we know that Heather remembers the time of suffering from COVID-19 headache very clearly; therefore, we understand how terrible the pain that she has experienced is NatGeo39 broadens our knowledge of how cancers behave inside our body The author confirms that cancers are really challenging blocks for our body to eliminate even though our body is a “brilliant machine” with a fantastic working system Simultaneously, he gives reasons why it is conceivable that cancer will never be cured Hyperbolic word “extraordinary” in the article clearly illustrates the difficulty of removing cancers That is really a big challenge, and the price of blasting cancers away is health problems that our body must suffer from permanently From NatGeo12, it can be seen that expression of “record- breakingly hot” is hyperbole It helps readers figure out the alarming degree of the heat that the world’s oceans are undergoing This remarkable increase of temperature may result in a negative scenario for marine life, storm intensity, and sea levels The content of NatGeo2 is similar to the one of NatGeo12, mentioning the consequences of global warming In details, the enchanted ice caverns of the Alps could disappear due to global warming Ice caverns are vanishing little by little, and they were “just like a fairy tale”

After finding ice caves left, discovering a 20-mile-long cave in Wales brings Racine, a character in the article a very strange feeling It is so unfamiliar as if he was in ‘a different world, away from civilization’ The hyperbolic phrase

“a different world” obviously describes the remarkable uniqueness of the cave that can enchant anyone coming into there

Personification

In this study, we group metaphors which indicate the action of human into personification It is always a noteworthy device in articles, so the occurrence of personification contributes to the large percentage in the data

By using such technique, the authors bring inanimate things to life, so the expressions become more vivid Personification can be found in 4 parts of speech, namely verb, noun, adjective and adverb

After investigating, verb case takes the lead appearing 391 times In contrast, adverb case is the lowest type used in the corpus with only 5 times, which are preceded by noun case with 41 times and adjective case with 27 times This shows that the distribution of personification mainly relies on the weight of verbs These verbs can bring vividness to articles and increase their effectiveness:

[NatGeo1.Per1] - Rats show kindness, orcas mourn their dead, and monkeys protest injustice

[NatGeo40.Per2] - The COVID-19 vaccine teaches the immune system what the SARS-CoV-2 virus looks like …

[NatGeo29.Per3] - Below ground, plants also communicate with microbes [NatGeo18.Per4] - The Irish coast’s ancient forts, Gaelic legends, and starkly beautiful landscapes provide the magic for many movies, from Star Wars to

As can be seen from the above examples, various verbs which describe human’s normal actions in daily life are added to animals or inanimate objects We have the verbs “show”, “mourn”, and “protest” in NatGeo1 used as personification They are typically seen in human’s behavior but the author uses these personifications to convey his messages so that they are easily accepted by readers These verbs obviously depict that animals still have diverse emotions, they act like us As we known, the COVID-19 vaccine is a type of medicine for killing SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) It is not a human, but the verb “teaches” in NatGeo40 turns it into a teacher with his responsibility of letting our immune system recognize the signal of the SARS-CoV-2 virus inside our bodies and eradicate the virus Similarly, the verb “communicate” expresses the image of a plant connecting with the surrounding environment for its survival The closed relationship of plants and microbes is undeniable since the tiny creatures can boost the resistance of plants to natural threats like disease This image is very usual but it becomes more striking and stimulating thanks to personification In NatGeo18, the author uses the verb “provide” to make Ireland’s western isles into ‘sponsors’ because there are so many magical landscapes here chosen by Hollywood filmmakers for their works

In contrast to the enthusiastic contribution of Verb, Noun, Adjective and Adverb hold much smaller numbers (with 41 times, 27 times and 5 times respectively)

[NatGeo50.Per5] - The knowledgeable ant guides the novice along the route, pausing along the way so that the student can memorize each landmark

[NatGeo15.Per6] - When awake, a rat’s hippocampus, a part of the brain responsible for making and storing memories, remembers the neuron pattern navigating the maze

[NatGeo11.Per7] - The energetic capital city makes an evocative backdrop for introducing African artists to a global audience and inviting international artists onto the streets of the city

It is clear that the adjectives knowledgeable, responsible, energetic are features of human; however, they are used to depict non-human objects The ant coming from NatGeo50 is not a normal insect Although ants are well- known for their unique abilities including their legendary ‘teamwork’ skills that allow their colonies to function as super-organisms, the adjective

“knowledgeable” seems to reaffirm that ants are really good leaders without merely following an instinctive routine themselves They can find out food sources or nest sites, and then they teach others to go to these places Ants even know how to help others memorize the route more easily by pausing for several times In NatGeo15, the word “responsible” helps us to remember the function of brain better That is “making and storing memories” The capital city in NatGeo11 appears with full of liveliness The adjective “energetic” highlights the city like a ‘passionate artist’ during the festival, willingly showing all essence of contemporary African art, not only eye-catching traditional galleries and art spaces but also talented artists

[NatGeo50.Per8] - The teacher relies on feedback from the pupil, which affirms when each lesson is learned; an antenna tap lets the teacher know it’s time to move on

[NatGeo40.Per9] - But early results from clinical trials testing dozens ofvaccine candidates against a variety of cancers look encouraging

[NatGeo30.Per10] - Road signs sternly warn of the dangers of the route, which is accessible only to drivers with the nerves of an iron khanjar

It is cited by Lakoff and Johnson (1980:33) that personification can be considered as “a general category that covers a very wide range of metaphors” That is illustrated by the nouns “teacher” and “pupil” in NatGeo50 In the article, a lively animal class is opened in readers’ mind Like human, animals actually meet the demand for teaching, but just very few However, the non-human animals are really notable guides These nouns help readers follow the content of the article more easily, thereby distinguishing the different roles of animals A vibrant world of animals appears in front of readers It is as familiar as our world, having unique ways for communication Hence, readers could spend more love and awareness of protecting the environment The noun “candidate” in NatGeo40 is common known that a person regarded as suitable for or likely to receive a particular fate, treatment, or position “Vaccine candidates” here means we have several types of vaccines for the prevention of cancers The adverb “sternly” might turn road signs into ‘traffic police’ giving drivers a notice of their threat along their route Besides, the word seems to make the statement more vivid because it gives reader a clearer signal of potential hazards the route owns

The aim of personification is to attract and interest readers, making them get involved in the stories As in NatGeo40, “vaccine candidates” can be replaced by “vaccine types”, but the former is undoubtedly more impressive than the latter Also, this tool makes the plot vivid and flexible In NatGeo50, ants still have distinctive roles: teacher and pupil The vast animal world appears in front of readers like our everyday class Moreover, impersonation is one of the greatest ways to express mood of definite writing without direct description of it The NatGeo authors understand that it is very important not to lose readers and do everything in the direction of keeping them reading In general, people are likely to believe in something alive and have emotional feedback from any reading Personification helps to visualize the NatGeo stories and creates some spaces for human imagination.

Rhetorical question

Rhetorical questions in NatGeo articles have other functions than provide answers, one of them being to attract the potential reader’s attention and create a personal rapport Besides, they are the way of expressing different attitude and sentiments of the writers as well as effectively persuading readers Therefore, it is not easy to say a question is a rhetoric one or not, because it’s in context and with intonation that we can see a question is a rhetorical one Rhetorical question has a great importance in articles

This device is asked merely for the sake of rhetorical effect which includes doubt, speculation, or negative implication Their purposes are to make ideas more effective

Actually, rhetorical question rarely appears in the research data, only accounting for 0.77% in general In fact, rhetorical questions are often used to attract attention by mentioning the matter that concerns the readers most They help to arouse the curiosity of the readers and entice them to read or to find the solution to the problem So it is not surprising that the NatGeo titles often use rhetorical questions for the same purpose

[NatGeo21.Rhe1] - A ‘women-only’ village? The truth is much more complex-and fascinating

[NatGeo6.Rhe2] - Chasing chupacabras? You may find something even more extraordinary here

Sometimes, affirmative sentences can be used as rhetorical questions like “A ‘women-only’ village?” or “Chasing chupacabras?” By using the question mark and raising voice at the end, the authors do not aim at an answer for affirmation, but lays emphasis on the point They would love to show their surprise to the unique village or the legend of chupacabras in Puerto Rico, as well as seek first sympathy with readers

Rhetorical questions are considered questions that need no answers Ladusaw (1980) and Gutiérrez-Rexach (1997) suggest that rhetorical questions should be analyzed as common orthodox questions but no answer setting should be established Therefore, they do not accept the answers that if any, only accept the negative answer But in fact, rhetorical questions can still be answered and their answers are not just negative ones

[NatGeo43.Rhe3] - Are there real ways to fight climate change? Yes

The author gives the title with the Yes-No question to readers and simultaneously gives the answer next to He doesn’t give readers an opportunity to think about an answer By this way, he really would like his readers to agree with his perspectives in this article This also guide readers to what they are reading, the prevention of climate change is very promising [NatGeo23.Rhe4] - Why do we celebrate Memorial Day-and should it return to its roots?

[NatGeo21.Rhe5] - We didn’t have anything; what else could we do?

Throughout the research, Wh-question is a more frequently used types The title of NatGeo23 uses Wh-question to arouse the aim of the article, Memorial Day It makes readers think about its origin and how to celebrate the day correctly The question “What else could we do?” may be an effective rhetorical question, but its function is not used with a view to gaining an answer The question aims to remind female dwellers in the village of their heart-breaking past

[NatGeo15.Rhe6] - If that’s what’s going on, what does it mean?

The Wh-question doesn’t aim to ask readers, but it opens another interesting topic for discussion, what’s going on if animal dreams exist in the real life That is an effective way to attract reader’s attention

The effect of rhetorical questions gets the attraction of readers and creates a profound impression on the objects mentioned in these articles This technique demands a response from the readers A question is asked and the readers are supposed to answer in such a way as to affirm main content of the articles In sum, rhetorical questions used in NatGeo articles are the way of the effective persuasion and also stimulate readers’ thinking about their needs and have attitudes about that as well as gets readers’ attention by appealing to curiosity.

Repetition

In the data, there are a total of 9 repetitions, which takes up a tiny fraction of data

All repetitions in the research belong to Anaphora and Diacope The number of anaphora, which is the repetition of words at the start of clauses of verses, reflects the various purposes of authors As a rhetorical device, Anaphora is used to appeal to the emotions of readers, in order to persuade, inspire, motivate, and encourage them The following extracts are the examples of using Anaphora in NatGeo articles

[NatGeo48.Rep1] - “At first, I was like, the ants don’t give a crap,” Moreau says “And then I was like, wait, the hobbyists are the ones who are successfully rearing up these colonies of thousands of ants, and I’m failing at it …”

NatGeo48 depicts ant-keeping work Although the majority of scientists had not given much thought to the ant-keeping community until lately, they have recently grown more conscious of amateurs The article also reveals the job of an ant-keeper In terms of caring for ants, they are the true masters With time, the population of the colony begins to decline as fewer healthy eggs are laid by their ant queens One ant-keeper has suggested filtering the lights in the area of the nest where the queen lays her eggs, since it was probably brighter than the queen liked At first, the author thinks that the ants are indifferent, but not The result is amazing beyond her prediction The repeated phrase “I was like” illustrates 2 different emotion states of the author, one is a bit disregarded, and the other is surprised She then admits that she is wrong Here, this anaphora allows the writer to display contrasting emotions by linking them to the same beginning sequence of words In spite of repeating the phrase, it does not get readers bored On the other hand, that anaphora draws the readers into the message being delivered, an innovation in raising ants Besides, it also evokes their surprise when reading, thereby appealing them more greatly

[NatGeo6.Rep2] - Whatever becomes of Taíno resurgence moving forward, its survived and rekindled spiritual expressions point to a desired and needed world where the future is ancestral, the future is ancient, the future is Atabey,” one of supreme ancestral spirits in the Taíno religion

NatGeo6 gives us an opportunity to meet small Taíno tribe, originating from “migrating Arawak-speaking communities in South America” The specific words “the future” become memorable to readers or speaker when anaphora is used to repeat them It can be seen that Taíno residents really show consideration for the past life and their belief Their world always tends to these themes even in the future The repetition is useful to emphasize that the Taíno highly honouring the living surrounding not only with the past or the sacred spaces, but also with the planet's continued existence Therefore, it might inspire readers to duties and commitments to their land and their forefathers

Another type of repetition is Diacope which is the repetition of words broken by some other words Diacope is used to express strong emotion or to draw attention to the repeated phrases Therefore, the rhetorical effects are highlighted better

[NatGeo24.Rep5] - “The Miep Gieses of the world-the small lights, the extraordinary ordinary people who did something, who pushed back against tyranny, who pushed back against authoritarians, who pushed back against fascists – remembering what they accomplished, I think, give us some perspective on what we can accomplish.”

[NatGeo24.Rep6] - Miep said yes to Otto Frank, and then you have to say yes every day afterwards, even when it’s hard, even when you’re sick, even when you don’t want to …

In these articles, the repeated phrases “who pushed back against” and

“even when” may depict the images in the articles more strongly Therefore, the images are imprinted in readers’ mind That is the normal people but really brave because they revolt social bad aspects like tyranny orauthoritarians, … That is the constant repetition of “saying yes” in

NatGeo24 It is even a bit obsessing

In brief, repetition is also one of the devices having its origin in the emotive language Repetition used in above examples can help the readers to match the main content of articles since it repeats the key words for many times such as the word “the future” in article NatGeo6 This is also the purpose of authors in creating distinctive features for his work The writers tend to apply anaphora and diacope, as well as other types of repetition in order to create rhythmical effect which can better attract the reader’s attention and at the same time make the author’s words more powerful and persuading.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Conclusion

Rhetorical devices are variations of literal or ordinary form of expressions Because they have the ability to animate and illustrate, they are used to make the idea more stunning and powerful An appropriate rhetorical device draws the reader's interest, conjures up images in their minds, and gives the speech or writing life, impact, and intrigue Because of this, authors sometimes employ literary devices like similes, hyperbole, rhetorical questions, etc to improve the readability and appeal of an article and grab readers' attention Additionally, rhetorical devices are frequently used by authors since they give their work life and encourage readers to find out the messages hidden behind articles Therefore, learning about rhetorical techniques is crucial Whatever genre of copy-writing you choose, you will discover that using rhetorical techniques in multiple ways is a daily necessity

The work on the thesis is done with rhetoric in mind The goal of this study was to describe and analyze stylistic elements found in articles This study is undertaken using Galperin's (1977) RDs framework as a platform In particular, the discussion has illuminated the frequency of some frequently employed rhetorical elements in 50 NatGeo articles and how these devices enhance the articles' persuasiveness The data is lexically gathered throughout the entire study and categorized into six groups According to the study, lexical rhetorical elements consisting of metaphor, simile, personification, and hyperbole, rhetorical questions and repetition, are frequently employed in the

It seems that the main goal of using rhetorical devices in articles is to draw readers’ attention However, as was covered in the section above, each style has a distinct purpose The frequency of occurrence of a few frequently employed rhetorical techniques has been shown using the quantitative data In terms of lexical rhetorical devices, metaphor, which is also the most frequently used rhetorical device in this field overall, has the largest percentage in the articles, coming at about 32.34% Personification occupies the second proportion with roughly 29.95% of the total Following that, hyperbole and simile take up about 23.43% and 12.91% respectively Next, rhetorical question has bigger contribution to the artistic value of NatGeo articles than repetition, with 0.77% Repetition holds the lowest percentage in the whole data, with only approximately 0.6%

This finding supports the idea that lexical rhetorical strategies work well for grabbing readers' interest and enhancing the persuasiveness of stories written by National Geographic authors They also serve a variety of purposes for the writers More precisely, authors can utilize personification to conjure up vivid and striking mental images, or they can employ metaphor or simile to make the point and statement vivid and unforgettable In the meanwhile, hyperbole can be used to draw attention to a viewpoint or an item Rhetorical questions and repetition, which make up a tiny contribution, are still proved to be useful tools to bring direct effects for readers In details, rhetorical questions can stimulate the curiosity of readers and urge them to read the articles to recheck the information In addition to giving words rhythm, repetition can help to emphasize a point and make an article easier to follow, so readers develop a more comprehensive understanding of the topic Repetition strengthens the persuasive power of a text by allowing authors to instill a sense of familiarity in the reader’s mind through repeated use of the same message Even though there is a significant disparity in the distribution among lexical rhetorical devices, they all significantly contribute to the artistic value and the success of the articles

It is certain that rhetorical devices in article language are the fastest and the most successful way to achieve the emotion, sympathy for readers Thanks to them, readers spend more time reading and research articles.

Implications

The results of this study may be applied in the teaching and learning of English rhetorical devices in general and rhetorical devices in articles in particular since rhetorical devices are helpful in education, linguistics, and literature The results of the study have also laid the foundation for suggestions regarding the most effective way to write articles and how to settle disputes while utilizing stylistic elements I hope writers who want to increase readers' engagement with their work will find this theory useful It might serve as a helpful introduction to stylistic analysis as well

For the learning of English, students will be able to improve their comprehension of rhetorical devices and support the development of their English language skills by using one or more types of rhetorical techniques into their writing Students are also introduced to a broad range of fundamental concepts and methods for writing articles easily Their experience will thus surely aid in their more efficient and successful English language learning

For the sake of teaching of English, one of the biggest challenges in the realm of English instruction is figuring out how to help students master rhetorical characteristics and show an interest in reading This study provides suggestions for teaching rhetorical strategies through the use of example articles By doing this, teachers give their students practical examples of how to use rhetorical techniques more effectively in addition to engaging themes from English articles Due to the fact that the samples in this study’s data collection are taken from real articles in NatGeo, a popular online newspaper, teachers can create students' trust in the applicability and practicality of rhetorical devices in daily life, which can increase the motivation for their learning and studying then also bring good results in schooling.

Limitations of the study

The topic under investigation might not have received as much in - depth discussion as it should have because of a lack of time, space, and pertinent resources

In magazine language, numerous rhetorical elements are employed Nevertheless, this thesis just looks into a few frequently used ones There are undoubtedly many more rhetorical devices such as pun, alliteration, metonymy, irony, enumeration, etc that are employed in magazine language but have not been addressed by the research due to the small amount of data available for the analysis Additionally, the use of phonetic rhetorical devices and syntactical ones in article language have not been thoroughly examined yet, and further research is required to determine how these devices contribute to the attraction and persuasiveness of articles

Some deficiencies are unavoidable due to these challenges, limitations in one's own abilities, sources of information relevant to the issue being investigated, and external influences

I would be really appreciative to anyone who is interested in the subject and this work Any feedback, suggestions, and modifications are welcome to make this work more satisfying, varied, and ideal.

Suggestions for further research

This study has been an attempt at presenting, describing, and analyzing rhetorical features in NatGeo articles However, this study is just a minor part in the research on rhetorical devices, so it remains some limitations and more detailed discussions are still needed And during the study of rhetorical devices in magazine language, I have ambition of delving into several interesting aspects of rhetorical devices as well as all commonly used ones in articles If only I had more space, more time and more ability to satisfy my ambition Hence, I now would like to suggest further researches on the following problems:

First, it had better study on phonetic rhetorical devices in NatGeo articles because their artistic value in articles is remarkable The reader is kept interested by the employment of sound devices, which guarantee an aesthetically beautiful and musically varied text Furthermore, a variety of sound effects can be employed to enhance the work's emotional impact, accentuate its tone, or build or release tension They can also help readers comprehend the work on a deeper level

Second, this study is also expected to open the door to further research into a contrastive analysis into linguistic features in NatGeo articles for adults and for children I would like to know whether NatGeo articles for children make use of various rhetorical devices to attract young readers as ones for adults do In addition, I also want to enjoy more authors’ cleverness in using appropriate language for their persuasive purposes

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List of the data under investigation

NatGeo1 What are animals thinking? They feel empathy, grieve, seek joy just like us

Magazine https://www.nationalgeographic. com/magazine/article/what-are- animals-thinking-feature

NatGeo2 The Alps’ magical ice caves risk vanishing in our warming world

Magazine https://www.nationalgeographic. com/magazine/article/the-alps- magical-ice-caves-risk- vanishing-in-our-warming- world-feature NatGeo3 Meet Mexico's

'forgotten panda.' She's the last of her kind

Culture https://www.nationalgeographic. com/premium/article/mexico- last-panda-china-diplomacy

NatGeo4 Climate change’s hidden threat: grief and trauma

Environment https://www.nationalgeographic. com/magazine/article/climate- change-mental-health-anxiety- trauma NatGeo5 Learn to ice climb in one of these thrilling winter spots

Adventure https://www.nationalgeographic. com/adventure/article/ice-climb- learn-lessons-thrilling-spots

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/chasing-

Code Title Type Source may find something even more extraordinary here chupacabras-you-may-find- something-even-more- extraordinary-here

NatGeo7 What’s a ‘dark sky nation’ and why does New Zealand want to become one?

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/new-zealands- quest-to-become-a-dark-sky- nation

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/national- parks/article/channel-islands- national-park NatGeo9 A taste of Rioja, from crispy croquetas to piquillo peppers

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/taste-of-rioja- croquettas-piquillo-peppers

Italy hotels, from Tuscany and Lake

Como to Rome and Milan

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/unforgettable- italy-hotels-tuscany-lake-como- rome-milan

NatGeo11 10 of the best annual coastal festivals and

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/best-annual- coastal-festivals-events-around-

Code Title Type Source events from around the world the-world

NatGeo12 Why are our oceans getting warmer?

Environment https://www.nationalgeographic. com/environment/article/critical- issues-sea-temperature-rise NatGeo13 These violent undersea volcanoes harbor a secret: life

Animals https://www.nationalgeographic. com/premium/article/underwater -volcano-mediterranean-feature

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/paid-content- australia-outback-wildlife-safari

NatGeo15 Animals dream too—here's what we know

Animals https://www.nationalgeographic. com/animals/article/animals- dream-too-heres-what-we-know NatGeo16 Welcome to the polar bear capital of the world: ‘It’s kind of epic’

Animals https://www.nationalgeographic. com/animals/article/polar-bear- capital-of-the-world-hudson- bay-churchill NatGeo17 Where and when to witness cherry blossoms in Japan

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/paid-content- cherry-blossoms-japan NatGeo18 Hollywood’s love affair with Ireland’s western

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/movies-irish- islands-star-wars-banshees-of-

Code Title Type Source isles inesherin

NatGeo19 The best dishes to eat in Brooklyn right now

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/best-dishes- brooklyn-right-now NatGeo20 5 of the world's toughest physical challenges

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/worlds- toughest-physical-challenges NatGeo21 A 'women-only' village? The truth is much more complex—and fascinating

Culture https://www.nationalgeographic. com/premium/article/noiva-do- cordeiro-brazil-matriarchy- feature

NatGeo22 Exciting ways to explore Philadelphia this summer

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/paid-content- best-summer-activities- philadelphia-pennsylvania NatGeo23 Why do we celebrate Memorial Day— and should it return to its roots?

Culture https://www.nationalgeographic. com/culture/article/memorial- day-1

NatGeo24 This ‘ordinary’ woman hid Anne Frank—and kept her story alive

Culture https://www.nationalgeographic. com/history/article/a-small- light-miniseries-anne-frank- miep-gies NatGeo25 How to visit the Travel https://www.nationalgeographic.

Gila Wilderness com/travel/article/how-to-visit- gila-national-wilderness NatGeo26 Alternative Kyoto: how Japan's culture capital became a hotspot for live music

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/alternative- kyoto-japan-culture-capital- hotspot-for-live-music

NatGeo27 This hiking route explores an untouched wilderness in the Western Balkans

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/high-scardus- hiking-trail-west-balkans

5 of the best diving experiences in Sabah, Malaysia

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/paid-content- best-diving-experiences-sabah- malaysia

Science https://www.nationalgeographic. com/science/article/plants-can- talk-yes-really-heres-how NatGeo30 A wild journey through Oman, from epic mountain passes to remote storied islands

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/journey- through-oman-from-mountains- to-sea

NatGeo31 Why Easter is bad for ducks

Animals https://www.nationalgeographic. com/animals/article/why-easter- is-bad-for-ducks

NatGeo32 What makes an animal 'feral’?

Animals https://www.nationalgeographic. com/animals/article/feral- animals-cats-horses-pigeons NatGeo33 Who rules the high seas?

Outlaws and unknown sea creatures

Environment https://www.nationalgeographic. com/environment/article/five- facts-about-high-seas-pirates- mystery-creatures

NatGeo34 They’re destructive, there are 5 million of them—and they’re sacred

Animals https://www.nationalgeographic. com/animals/article/india-five- million-stray-cattle-sacred-hindu

NatGeo35 There’s a true story behind

‘Cocaine Bear’— and it’s no laughing matter

Animals https://www.nationalgeographic. com/animals/article/cocaine- bear-true-story-dangers-animal- drugs

NatGeo36 Are you a ‘lark’ or an ‘owl’? Your body clock holds the answer

Science https://www.nationalgeographic. com/magazine/article/lark-or- owl-your-body-clock-holds-the- answer NatGeo37 How COVID-19 Science https://www.nationalgeographic.

Code Title Type Source headaches are different from others—and how to manage them com/magazine/article/how- covid-19-headaches-are- different-from-othersand-how- to-manage-them- NatGeo38 How sugar and fat affect your brain

Science https://www.nationalgeographic. com/magazine/article/how- sugar-and-fat-affect-your-brain NatGeo39 Our bodies are unique Our cancers are too

Science https://www.nationalgeographic. com/magazine/science/article/ou r-bodies-are-unique-our-cancers- are-too NatGeo40 Cancer vaccines are showing promise Here’s how they work

Science https://www.nationalgeographic. com/magazine/article/cancer- vaccines-are-showing-promise- prostate-colon-breast NatGeo41 How to plan your pilgrimage to Montenegro‘s sacred spaces

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/sacred-sites- in-montenegro

NatGeo42 How overfishing threatens the world's oceans— and why it could end in catastrophe

Environment https://www.nationalgeographic. com/environment/article/critical- issues-overfishing

NatGeo43 Are there real ways to fight

Environment https://www.nationalgeographic. com/environment/article/global-

Code Title Type Source climate change?

NatGeo44 Diwali is India’s most important holiday—and a celebration of good over evil

Culture https://www.nationalgeographic. com/history/article/diwali- history-customs-indian-festival- of-lights

NatGeo45 8 places to visit if you love ‘Star Wars’

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/star-wars- film-movie-locations NatGeo46 How ‘Tiger King’ helped kill the industry it made famous

Animals https://www.nationalgeographic. com/animals/article/tiger-king- cub-petting-illegal

NatGeo47 How the historic climate bill will dramatically reduce U.S emissions

Environment https://www.nationalgeographic. com/environment/article/how- the-historic-climate-bill-will- dramatically-reduce-us- emissions NatGeo48 The unlikely rise of ant-keeping

Animals https://www.nationalgeographic. com/animals/article/unlikely- rise-of-antkeeping NatGeo49 This U.S national park has the world’s longest cave system—and

Travel https://www.nationalgeographic. com/travel/article/these- national-park-facts-will-shock- you