The Generalized Coordinate System for Rhetorical Modes

This paper introduces the Generalized Coordinate System (GCS) as a framework for analyzing and generating rhetorical modes—the conventional patterns of discourse. The GCS is composed of ten axes: Thing, Feature, Quantitative Attribute, Qualitative Attribute, Formal Attribute, Basic Element, Rhetorical Mode, Cognitive Function, Epistemic Purpose, and the Five-Level Expression Staircase. The first six axes represent lower-dimensional components, the seventh serves as the ontological axis for rhetorical modes, and the final three constitute higher-dimensional components. Three types of semantic or modal mapping are defined: low-dimensional mapping (from lower-dimensional axes to the ontological axis), high-dimensional mapping (from the ontological axis to higher-dimensional axes), and full-dimensional mapping. These mappings form a pyramidal hierarchy, progressing from foundational elements (things, features, and attributes) to higher-order cognitive functions and epistemic purposes. By employing three core logical structures—combinatory, parallel, and embedded—the GCS consolidates infinite expressive possibilities within the finite intersections of its axes. The system’s generative capacity, quantifiable by the number of axis intersections (generalized mode number), enables the navigation of nearly infinite expressive variations while steering practical applications toward finite, purpose-driven goals. The GCS transitions rhetorical modes from a static taxonomy to a dynamic analytical system for discourse construction and analysis, offering possibly insights for the development of large language models through the integration of a programmable rhetorical mode system.