Nušić i retorika
Nušić and the Rhetoric

Summary/Abstract: In this paper the author analyses characteristics, importance and achievements of Retorika (Rhetoric), the well-known book by Branislav Nušić from 1933. In outlines works on rhetoric among Hungarian Serbs, but also in Serbia. It singles out work by Jovan Sterija Popović from 1844 as the most important work on rhetoric among Serbs before Nušić. That work, however, was not published till the second half of the 20th century. The author analyses the state of rhetoric and works of rhetoric in the world. He starts from the crisis in which classical rhetoric found itself due to formalised and increasingly sterile approach, and ends with „new rhetoric“ in wider sense (which is different from Perelman’s „new rhetoric“ in narrower sense), and with the emergence of the modern public speaking trend of Dale Carnegie. Analysing the book of Nušić the author lists several examples demonstrating Nušić’s adherence to classical rhetoric, but also his important excursions to modernise it. His efforts to „modernise“ classical rhetoric, something that he did with caution and in a moderate way, turn out to be his most important advantage and virtue. He considers that reasons for vitality and popularity that Nušić’s rhetoric has kept till today are to be found mainly in its good conception, and in its harmonious combination of classical rhetoric with additions of certain achievements of new rhetoric from the period when he lived. The author compares Nušić with the leading modern American author Edward Corbett who considered that classical rhetoric was still useful and effective, perhaps even more than different courses that had replaced it. The author singles out disadvantages of the ill refined public speaking trend and advocates, following Nušić, that rhetoric and education in rhetoric should be based on the combination of values and insights of classical rhetoric with experiences of the new applied rhetoric.

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