new rhetorical relations
Blue Note 12
Jim Davis
begun 9 Nov 1999



Surprise
 S follows in some way from N, but the relation is not
obvious. Eventually, present S, but not right away and not by
accident.  The purpose of the utterance is be to make the reader
expend some effort trying to find S on her own (where this effort is
supposed to be pleasurable in itself.)  Used in  jokes (for the
punchline).  A related form (not yet named) would be used for answers
to e.g. quizzes.

Realized by spatial separation (so S is not easily "scanned"), by
delay, by navigation (deliberate action required to follow the link),
or by "presentation" (e.g. upside-down font)

Jacco adds: is also used in "teletext", e.g. the textual info
encapsulated in the video-signal of most European TV broadcasts (or do
they also have this in the US?).  Most European TV remote controls
even have a special button to reveal this otherwise hidden "surprise
text".  It is used for riddles and jokes, but also for info that is
supposed to be too technical for the average user (apparently the line
of reasoning is: if you can't find that button, you don't wanna know
this :-)


Relationship-focus

 The relationship between S and N, whatever it is, is more more
interesting than either N or S, which are merely examples of it.  Thus
if you want to teach logic, in particular say modus ponens, you have
to provide examples of the major and minor premise and thesis, but
nobody cares whether the student remembers these later.  In particular
they don't even have to be true.

See also MMT notes on "relational propositions" section 7.1 (p37 and following)