Skip to main content
Tweeted twitter.com/StackEnglish/status/740425303512764418
I made a substantial edit, adding content and clarifying the question.
Source Link
DyingIsFun
  • 18k
  • 3
  • 50
  • 74

Is there a term used for statements made by politicians (and others) that are nebulous and allow people to infer what they want from them?

Examples: Christian values... familyFor example, politicians speak about "Christian values", "family values", and "American values", but often seem to purposefully ignore giving examples which would precisify which values.. they are talking about. makeOr they speak about "making America great againgreat", without explaining what this greatness would consist in.

This vagueness seems like a rhetorical trick which allows listeners to project their own fantasies into the words of the speaker.

Is there a name for this kind of rhetorical device? Is there a term for these kinds of statements?

Glancing through Wikipedia's glossary of rhetorical terms does not seem to provide an answer.

Is there a term used for statements made by politicians (and others) that are nebulous and allow people to infer what they want from them?

Examples: Christian values... family values... make America great again...

Is there a term used for statements made by politicians (and others) that are nebulous and allow people to infer what they want from them?

For example, politicians speak about "Christian values", "family values", and "American values", but often seem to purposefully ignore giving examples which would precisify which values they are talking about. Or they speak about "making America great", without explaining what this greatness would consist in.

This vagueness seems like a rhetorical trick which allows listeners to project their own fantasies into the words of the speaker.

Is there a name for this kind of rhetorical device? Is there a term for these kinds of statements?

Glancing through Wikipedia's glossary of rhetorical terms does not seem to provide an answer.

Source Link

Generalized statements, mostly political

Is there a term used for statements made by politicians (and others) that are nebulous and allow people to infer what they want from them?

Examples: Christian values... family values... make America great again...