How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Exergasia

Techniques > Use of language > Figures of speech > Exergasia

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Exergasia is restating a point in different words.

Example

We must return. We need to go home now as it is the end of the holidays.

I think they should take time to analyze the situation and discover the many variants that they may be discovered and so understand the possibilities and choose the best way forward. In other words, they should explore all options.

Discussion

When we say something, we may not be sure that the other person has fully understood what we said, so we repeat ourselves. Using different words has several benefits:

It helps the other person save face (they would be embarrassed if we insinuated they were unable to understand the first statement).
It avoids the embarrassment of us looking silly or insulting.
It gains the benefit of repetition, hammering home the point.

Restatements are often in the form of elaboration, adding new information. This supports the saving face and allows you to first give a headline to let the other person get the big picture, then provide fill-in information.

Restatement may also be with a summary at the end, especially after a longer initial exposition. Another form is when jargon has been used, translating this into 'plain English'.

Classification: Repetition