Psycholinguistic Parameters of Discursive Eloquence

Abstract

This article explores the phenomenon of discursive eloquence within psycholinguistic, rhetorical, and cultural frameworks. Eloquence is examined not merely as a skillful use of language, but as a complex interplay between cognition, language, and speech, deeply embedded in individual psychology and socio-cultural context. The study emphasizes the triadic model of communication, wherein thought (cognition) governs verbal expression and speech acts as the realized form of meaning-making.

Theoretical foundations include Speech Act Theory (Austin, Searle), which interprets language not solely as a vehicle of information, but as a means of action. In this view, discursive eloquence functions as a context-dependent, action-oriented linguistic event that unites grammatical correctness with emotional charge and stylistic richness. The article also draws on discourse theory to explain how communication settings and interlocutor characteristics shape verbal content and form.

A key focus is the structural elements of eloquence—tropes (metaphor, epithet, litotes), rhetorical figures (antithesis, parallelism, rhetorical questions), and phonetic euphony (alliteration, rhythm, intonation)—which collectively produce persuasive, aesthetically resonant, and emotionally engaging speech.

The paper foregrounds the contribution of Nikoloz Kandelaki, who pioneered the scholarly study of Georgian eloquence as a carrier of national identity and oral tradition. His work positioned eloquence as a representational mode of collective consciousness that fuses logic, emotion, and ethnic expression in speech.

The final section analyzes Zurab Gorgiladze’s poem “Ballad of the Fisher Boy” as a poetic embodiment of discursive eloquence. Through vivid imagery, rich metaphors, and rhythmic harmony, the poem demonstrates how emotional experience is encoded and transmitted via stylistically enhanced discourse.