ɪn ɹˈɛɾɚɹˌɪk, ðə kˌæɾeɪstˈɑːsiz ɪz ðæt pˈɑːɹt əvə spˈiːtʃ, jˈuːʒuːəli ðɪ ɛɡzˈoːɹdiəm, ɪnwˌɪtʃ ðɪ ˈɔːɹəɾɚ sˈɛts fˈɔːɹθ ðə sˈʌbdʒɛkt mˈæɾɚ təbi dɪskˈʌst.
In rhetoric, the catastasis is that part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed.