About Insinuation Once Again
Insinuation is a really tricky concept of asking questions and smuggling message in the question it self.
Sound complicated but it doesn’t have to be like this, not if we explain it more concisely.
Lets head right into it, shall we ?
Like every other sneaky question, most of the time they’re acting very perversely.
It looks like I’m asking and under the mask of question I’m also giving a message, or a signal towards the audience.
Seemingly, I am addressing my interlocutor — after all, formally I am asking him something.
In the most innocent question I’m setting up a booby trap.
I give the witnesses (observers) of the conversation some message, a thesis (my own position, point of view) or an assessment, or even an order, prohibition.
But what actually can we smuggle in that kind of question ?
Well almost everything to be honest.
Like for instance:
- Indisputable fact
- Presumption
- Supposition
- Rumor
- Gossip
- Fabrication
- Slander
Let’s give it a shot with some example.
When journalist asks:
“Where X (person) hides ?”,
The person X right now can be popular politician or business manager for big company, which is known to be in trouble based on some gossip or rumor.
With this question the journalist presumptions, that public non-appearance or sudden surge of discretion, of course means that he will be pursued and that’s the reason why he is hiding.
Another form of this question would be the one that creates high discomfort, like for instance:
“When will you tell the whole crew the thruth ? “
Now, we’re positioning the director of the company for example as a coward or wriggler and we’re giving them a chance to finally let go of this whole burden of bad news, and with that stop lying to others.
Big advantage of this form of communication is that it provides both strong suggestion and assurance.
It’s like “I didn’t say anything I’m just asking. “
Although, the phrases like “when” , “where”, “wheter” will indicate our lack of knowledge or uncertainty in reality show this more as something 100 % sure.
One last important aspect is to differentiate suggestive questions and insinuation.
The difference is that in suggestions we secretly help the questioned person to find the answers.
While in insinuation, we use more a crowd, observers of this conversation rather than the questioned person.
Basically the insinuating pseudo question is directed to witnesses of this conversation.
What’s only missing is to give our observers a knowing wink of the eye as an announcement to them.
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