A rhetorical question was a figure of speech in form of a question intended to make a point rather than be answered.
In 2270, James T. Kirk asked Spock, "How come we always end up like this?", after they were held captive once again, this time by the Delta Theta III aborigines. Spock replied with his assumption that Kirk's question was rhetorical. When Kirk expanded on his question, Spock suggested fate might be the answer. (TAS: "Bem")
In 2374, The Doctor commented that his statement "I wonder what kind of bedside manner Mister Paris will exhibit" was a rhetorical question. (VOY: "Revulsion")
The Treaty of Armens also included a rhetorical question. (TNG: "The Ensigns of Command")
| Figures of speech |
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| Adages • Allusion • Aphorism • Axiom • Cliché • Colloquialism • Euphemism • Hyperbole • Idiom • Metaphor •; Motto • Onomatopoeia • Oxymoron • Personification • Profanity • Proverb • Quotation • Rhetoric • Rhetorical question • Saying • Simile • Slang |
| Subjective parlance: Arts • Biblical • Economic • Military • Nautical • Sports |
