Repetition 2: Making the Message Powerful with Anadiplosis

Yoda - from Star Wars - must have been a student of rhetoric. Take this as an example of what I mean:
''Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.''
(from the Phantom Menace)
This Yoda quote is remarkably similar to the writing of another great, William Shakespeare, in Richard III:
''The love of wicked men converts to fear, that fear to hate, and hate turns one or both to worthy danger and deserved death''
Not only are they similar in content, they are also similar in that they use the same rhetorical technique: anadiplosis.

Anadiplosis? Once again we have a rather strange sounding word. A strange sounding word that is rhetorically powerful. Powerful because it builds drama. Drama that makes your presentation stronger. Stronger because of the technique: anadiplosis.

A Greek word, anadiplosis means to use a word at the end of a sentence or clause, and then repeat it at the beginning of the next sentence or clause. Here's a famous example from the movie ''Gladiator'' (spoken by Joaquim Phoenix) :
''They call for you! The general who became a slave; the slave who became a gladiator; the gladiator who defied an emperor! Striking story!''

Like anaphora (see Repetition 1), anadiplosis often comes across better in the spoken form. It works well in short bursts; two or three sentences is enough.

Try using anadiplosis here and there in your presentation or pitch, preferably for key ideas. Key ideas that you want the audience to notice and remember. It's really simple to do and makes a noticeable difference. A difference that will get you noticed. 

And to finish off, here's a funny quote from the often very funny Ann Landers, the famous advice columnist:
''The poor wish to be rich, the rich wish to be happy, the single wish to be married, and the married wish to be dead.''
('Ann Landers' was actually a pen-name).

Have fun with anadiplosis. Anadiplosis is tough to say. But say it well and your next pitch will have greater impact on the audience.

If it works for Shakespeare and Yoda, it will surely work for you.
To paraphrase Yoda:
''May the Force - and anadiplosis - be with you!''

All the best, and happy trails,
Rob