Parallels and Points of Convergence Between Classical Arabic Rhetorical Thought and Modern Pragmatics: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Classical Arabic rhetorical thought flourished largely as
a result of a growing interest in investigating the various aspects of Qur’anic inimitability (iʻjāz) and uncovering meanings implicit in sentences and discourse. Arab rhetoricians went beyond
expressive forms and rhetorical figures to explore meaning, consider the circumstances of speakers and addressees, and examine the role of situational context in shaping meaning and identifying communicative intentions. These issues overlap in several respects with the central concerns of modern pragmatics. This study therefore seeks to demonstrate the richness of this heritage by relating it to some of the foundational concerns of modern pragmatics. Using a descriptive, analytical, and comparative approach, it highlights points of convergence between classical Arabic rhetoric and modern pragmatics and examines the analytical tools employed by Arab rhetoricians to investigate meaning in greater depth and elucidate how it is constructed and shaped. The findings reveal points of convergence in the attention given to speaker intention and situational context and in the inference of implicit meaning. This convergence is partial and does not establish that the two theoretical frameworks are identical.