So what’s the difference? Well, according to at least one online dictionary claptrap is ” Pretentious, insincere, or empty language” where as a Clap Trap is a trick used to generate applause: it’s an old theatrical gimmick… apparently now obsolete.
Except, of course, that we know it isn’t – because Clap Traps are still used in presentations an public speeches left, right and centre around the world. This is particularly, I’ve noticed, in the political arena: in fact, I’d go so far to say that they pretty much only work in the polictical arena – that’s the area where people’s emotions are allowed vent.
Sure, you can get passionate in a business presentation but not in the way people do at a polictical rally – in any case, I don’t think Claptraps work in the kinds small and/or reserved audiences you tend to get there. They only work when the audience can get into the “mentality of the mob” – by which I mean they feel free to forget their inhibitions, in the way they might do at a football match or a big hockey game. People in big crowds can (and do) behave in ways they’d not even think about if they were working as individuals!
But hang on a minute! What is a claptrap then? Well, there are books on the subject (Atkinson, 1984 for example as well as serious online articles) but in short, they’re rhetorical tricks to elicit a (positive) response from the audience – such as clapping. They include things like
- lists of three – “education, education, education” is a bit of a cheat (Blair), but you get the idea – or “…a time for sadness, a time for struggle, a time for rebuilding ” (Bush)
- high contrast phrases – ”
Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few"
