"What distinctive contributions to rhetorical theory, especially to the theory of public address, did Wilson make?"
His contributions didn't come from original ideas, but more of less from change in concept, in application, or in emphasis just ass we observe among later writers.
The first and most important contribution was the completeness of Wilson's treatise. Wilson was the first to re-assemble, in English, the lost, strayed, or stolen doctrines of rhetoric.
It was Wilson's task to re-assemble, under head of rhetoric, all the scattered principles which in ancient times had been thought indispensable to the complete art of the orator.
He added to this task that of making his rhetoric useful to men in his time by writing it in their native language and by adapting it to their needs. He wrote his book for the use of all, not merely school boys or girls, as he says, "for all such as are studious of eloquence"--for men of affairs and of state, for lawyers and preachers. It was said his book was too advanced for use in schools or even in colleges.
Wilson's is the first rhetoric since Quintillion to give the full and unified treatment of the best of the classical doctrines and to make them really useful in the world of practical affairs.
Wilson conceives rhetoric as the art of discourse. First, it is art, or metho-principles derived from observation of effective speakers, principles for use in real situations. It is not a faculty, nor a science of speaking well, nor a set of static artificial conventions, but pragmatic, dynamic body of principles.
Moreover, it is oral discourse, mainly and typically. Rhetoric is recalled from its close association with grammar, poetics, school composition, and letter writing, to its ancient position as the art of the orator.
Wilson define rhetoric very generally--"the art of setting forth matter at large, by utterance of words." As he uses the word "utterance" we may believe that covers spoken and written language.
Literary historians and critics have regarded Wilson's Rhetorique as a book on style, mainly the style of written prose. It has been called "the first book or system of criticism in our language." The fact remains, that our first rhetoric in English is a treatise dealing almost wholly with the art of public oral address.
Special doctrines of Wilson's selected to exhibit the nature of his contributions focuses on the importance of winning attention. Early in the book, Wilson says that not only must the orator "utter his mind in plain words, such as are usually received, and tell it orderly, without going about the bush."
Closely associated with getting attention is the emphasis on holding attention. Therefore, Wilson makes getting and holding attention the essential principle of effective oral discourse.
Wilson's emphasis on emotional proof marked a new departure and established a modern trend. this concentration is unique in rhetorical theory up to this time.
In reuniting, selecting and adapting the classical principles of public address, Wilson restored the body and, to some extent, reformed the concepts of rhetorical theory. In adapting old doctrines to new times and new needs, he effected far reaching changes which have greatly influenced the theories of public address we hold today.
Christopher D. Murray, cdm7146@uncwil.edu