Antanagoge

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ænˌtænəˈɡəʊd͡ʒi/

Definitions

1. A rhetorical approach that combines a criticism with a positive remark to soften the overall message is described by this term
2. This expression signifies the technique of pairing an adverse comment with an encouraging statement to reduce its weight in communication
3. A rhetorical strategy is employed when a negative point is juxtaposed with a favorable observation to mitigate the impact of criticism

Etymology: Antanagoge is a rhetorical term from ancient Greek, borrowed from "antanagōgē," meaning "a leading or bringing up." The Greek word was built from "anti-," "against," and "anagōgē," a leading up, so its literal sense is a counterweight: a pleasant point placed opposite an unpleasant one. In the ancient handbooks of rhetoric, the device was the practice of offsetting bad news or criticism with something good, so that the listener's mood is lifted before the hard part lands. The English term keeps that original logic while narrowing it. Today it names the compliment that cushions a criticism, the kind of praise a manager gives before pointing out a flaw. The word stayed largely within technical rhetoric, which explains why it still sounds like a specialist's term rather than everyday vocabulary.