An Analysis of the Textology of Imam al-Rizā (A.S.)’s Ziyārat Nāma Based of the Theory of Speech Function

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Muhammad Rizā Pahlavān Nijād
• Mahdī Rajabzāda

10.22067/philosophy.v42i2.11255

Abstract

The theory of speech function is one of the most significant theories affecting on the two fields of the philosophy of language and the language of religion. Austin, the developer of this theory, named the application of language for such acts as announcing, promising, expressing [an opinion], threatening, etc. as speech function. He proclaimed lingual communication unit as speech functions; i.e., lingual communication takes place when the speaker makes speech function. Based on this theory, John Searle has divided speech function into five categories: expressive, declarative, dedicational, persuasive, and emotional functions. A study of the textology of Imam al-Riḍā (A.S.)’s ziyārat nāma (prayer book for pilgrimage) based on the above categorization showed that out of 107 speech functions used in this text, emotional functions with 38 instances are rated as the highest and declarative functions with 22 instances as the lowest in number; while no dedicational speech function has been used in this text. The above results indicate the formation of a deep emotional relation in the speaker to the addressee or the addressees of ziyārat nāma. In a word, the speaker of the text tries to share his emotions such as devotion, appreciation, and friendship with his addressee by means of this text. The very small difference between the numbers of the other functions used in the text does not seem meaningful comparing to the sum total of the existing functions.

Keywords

• textological study
• speech function theory
• Austin
• Searle
• Imam al-Riḍā (A.S.)’s ziyārat nāma

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