can you help me to identify any rhetorical devises and its function in this sentence "I trust you have seen Janet's file and noticed the "university" she graduated from
The rhetorical device is using quotation marks around university. That implies that you question the academics or reputation of the university.
Certainly! In the sentence "I trust you have seen Janet's file and noticed the 'university' she graduated from," there are a couple of rhetorical devices at play.
1. Rhetorical Question: The sentence begins with the rhetorical question, "I trust you have seen Janet's file...?" A rhetorical question is asked not to seek an answer but to make a point or emphasize a statement. In this case, it is used to imply that the speaker assumes the listener has already seen Janet's file.
2. Air Quotes: The phrase "university" is enclosed within quotation marks, which are known as air quotes. This is a figurative device used to express skepticism or irony. In this sentence, the air quotes around "university" suggest doubt or disbelief about the legitimacy or quality of the institution from which Janet graduated.
The function of these rhetorical devices in this sentence is to subtly convey the speaker's suspicion or skepticism about the university from which Janet graduated, while also assuming or expecting that the listener is aware of the information in Janet's file.