RHETORIC AND ELOQUENCE IN ARABIC: A PRAGMATIC THEORY APPROACH
Abstract
Arabic rhetoric, known as balāgha, and its subfield of eloquence, bayān, have been central to the language’s literary and communicative traditions since pre-Islamic times. Balāgha encompasses the art of effective and persuasive expression, while bayān focuses on clarity and eloquence in conveying meaning (Abdul-Raof, 2006). These concepts, deeply rooted in classical Arabic texts such as the Qur’an and the poetry of figures like Imru’ al-Qays, rely on linguistic precision, cultural context, and speaker intent. Pragmatic theory, which examines language use in context, offers a valuable framework for analyzing how balāgha and bayān achieve communicative goals (Sperber & Wilson, 1995). This article applies pragmatic theory to explore Arabic rhetoric and eloquence, using examples from classical sources and discussing their relevance in modern contexts.
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References
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