本文借助语用论辩学的研究框架,从论辩角度分析和评价了外交部前发言人刘为民 对中美稀土贸易摩擦问题的应答,以此探讨外交部发言人应答话语的语用论辩研究路 径。该路径由论辩话语重构、策略操控分析和批判性评价三个有机相连的研究环节组 成。研究结果显示,为在合理性范围内使论辩结果对自己更为有利,刘为民在其应答的 冲突、开始、论辩和结束四个批判性讨论阶段均实施了策略操控。这些策略操控突出体 现于刘为民在界定意见分歧、选取共同出发点、设计论证组成以及明确结论时对潜在话 题、受众需求和表达方式三个方面的运筹帷幄。对照语用论辩学中的批判性讨论规则, 结合中美稀土贸易摩擦的相关案件背景可以发现,刘为民对征兆型和因果型论证图式的 把握尚有一定不足。个案分析表明,对外交部发言人应答话语的分析和评价必须有机融 合论辩合理性和修辞有效性两个理论视角。

Based on the research framework of Pragma-Dialectics, this paper analyzes and evaluates the Foreign Ministry’ former spokesperson Liu Weimin’s reply to a question concerning the Sino- US tombarthite trade friction. Through this case study, we intend to develop a pragma-dialectical study approach to the spokesperson’ replies at the press conferences of China’s Foreign Ministry. It is comprised of three interrelated parts: reconstruction of argumentation, analysis of strategic maneuvering and critical evaluation. Our research disclosed that Liu exerts strategy maneuvering all through the four period of critical discussion in order to keep a balance between dialectical reasonableness and rhetorical effectiveness, Liu’s strategic maneuvering is reflected prominently in his proper manipulation of potential topic, audience demand and means of presentation in redefining the disagreement, selecting common points, designing the demonstration and reaching conclusion. Comparing with the regulation of critical discussion in pragama-dialectics, take the Sino-US tombarthite trade friction as background, we found that Liu Weimin’s manipulation on argumentative replies stills exists weakness. Our study makes it clear that the spokesperson still need to integrate both on dialectical and rhetorical perspectives.