I have noticed that in the series Andor, evasive techniques are used very actively. Evasive techniques are speech strategies employed to avoid giving a direct answer to a question, to dodge the topic, or to hide information. Here are a few examples.
1. Dodging the Question / Ignoring
This technique involves simply ignoring the question — either by saying nothing, or by shifting the conversation in a different direction.
Example 1:
Cassian’s question: “Who are you?”
Luthen’s answer: “I know all about you.”
Luthen completely ignores the question about himself and immediately shifts the focus to Cassian.
Example 2:
Cassian’s question: “Who is he?” — about Luthen.
Vel’s answer: “He is something we will never discuss.”
Vel flatly refuses to answer and sets a rule.
2. Reframing / Changing Context
Here, the speaker changes the context or frame of the discussion, in order to redirect the conversation in a way that’s advantageous to them.
Example:
Cassian: “I haven’t agreed to do anything but save my skin.”
Luthen: “Seems to me you have two choices. Either I drop you somewhere and you start running—or you come with me and help with something important.”
Luthen changes the frame from “saving your skin” to “choosing between running and an important mission.”
3. Deflection / Redirecting
This technique is similar to reframing, but is often more direct and aggressive — responding to a question with another question, or shifting the blame / focus onto the interlocutor.
Example:
Vel: “We’ve been eating roots and sleeping on rocks for this rebellion and now you’ve got a mercenary on board?”
Luthen: “You're wasting energy. You know I'm right.”
He avoids the moral / ideological question; instead of answering, Luthen asserts his correctness and shifts the conversation to practical necessity.
. Have you been studying rhetoric for writing dialogues? Which rhetorical figures do you use most often?
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I've used Dodging the Question / Ignoring and Deflection / Redirecting, Antony Voronov. I'm not sure if I've used Reframing / Changing Context. Thanks. I'm gonna use all three in a Mystery short I plan on writing. It's my first Mystery script.
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This is very insightful, thank you Antony Voronov for sharing!
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Great example - sort of - “I never did mind about the little things” says an assassin every time somebody makes her very angry
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Lovely reference David Taylor
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Depends on the character - I mostly use dodging the question for people being evasive, redirecting for people gaslighting.
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Michael David You are welcome!
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Maurice Vaughan Reframing is the less conflictual of the two, so it's not always appropriate. It's useful, as in the example, when you need to win over an ally, not attack, but build a relationship.
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Phoenix Black Thanks! Good point. Yes, different characters may have their own communication styles, preferring some figures over others.