Paging Wordsmiths

I needed a word yesterday, but unfortunately I forgot it. It was word of the
day or something ages ago and I thought I had committed it to memory. The
word describes a statement or question that is made/asked to someone but the
main intention is to evoke an emotional reaction in the audience who are
watching the discussion. Particularly used in mud slinging sessions in
parliament.

 

****

 

Rhetorical?

 

No, he really wants to know.

 

Provocative?

 

And a good way of winding someone up is to answer the question as
seriously as you can. Throws them right off their stride.

 

But hardly a word I would struggle to remember.

 

That's a question which needs no answer. Provocative is the nearest I can
come up with but I don't think it's the one you're looking for.

 

porl emerged from their own little world to say

affective

Concerned with or arousing feelings or emotions

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=affective

 

Showboating?

A quick google gives

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/12/29/131804.shtml

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/editorial/12640762.htm

which suggests that usage.

It sounds horrible though.

 

I've no idea how good your memory is.

 

No, that's just a rhetorical question. "Rhetorical" itself is to do
with the application of rhetoric - "expression with a view to
persuasive or impressive effect" as my dictionary puts it.

 

Point of order. I know it's not the word that porl's looking for, but
rhetoric IS all about manipulation. The phrase "rhetorical question"
has evolved into the much narrower meaning of "question which the
listener is not expected to answer".

 

The answer to Porl's question may be here:
http://humanities.byu.edu/rhetoric

 

You bastard. I'm going to waste hours on that site.

 

Nah I might as well forget it.

 

Lovely site, thank you.
--
Lady Nina
For a short while longer.
Language is a cracked kettle on which we bang out
tunes to make the bears dance, when what we long for
is to move the stars to pity. Flaubert

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, porl

GAAAH!

You bastard!

I know (knew) the word, and I've been trying to think of it ever since
your post.

If you do find it, FFS post it back here.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets
and Ducati Race Engineer.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
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Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

"Trolling" ;-))