Diction and Language Style in Rocky Gerung’s Rhetoric

This study aimed to describe and analyze the use of diction and language style in the rhetoric of Rocky Gerung, a widely known public intellectual in Indonesia. The method used was descriptive qualitative with content analysis technique. The data in this study were transcripts of five videos of Rocky Gerung's speeches and interviews uploaded on the YouTube platform, with a total of 20 transcripts. The results showed that Rocky Gerung consistently used denotative and connotative diction to strengthen his arguments and shape audience perceptions. In addition, he also utilized various language styles, such as metaphor, irony, and repetition, to provide a strong rhetorical effect and emphasize his position in public debates. The findings showed that the right choice of diction and language style are key to Rocky Gerung’s rhetorical effectiveness in conveying messages and building intellectual influence.