Functions and Variations of Pragmastylistic Features in English and Arabic Religious Texts: A Focus on Rewarding

Subject Areas :

Narmin Abbas Lutfi Baqqal ¹ , Atefesadat Mirsaeedi ² , Ahmad Kareem Salem Al-Wuhaili ³ , Fatinaz Karimi ⁴

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Received: 2024-06-03 Accepted : 2024-07-11 Published : 2024-07-22

Keywords: Pragmastylistics, rewarding, religious texts, Biblical sayings, Prophetic Hadiths, functional analysis,

Abstract :

This study aimed at an in-depth examination of the different functions and the various forms of pragmastylistic features in religious texts in both the English and Arabic languages. The central focus of this research is on the fascinating aspect of rewarding. This research further develops the groundwork presented in Narmin Abbas Lutfi Baqqal's dissertation, which provides a substantial framework for analysis. To effectively guide the research, two core research questions have been developed: (3) What are the specific functions that can be observed in the use of these pragmastylistic features in the two different sets of data? and (4) How do the uses of pragmastylistic features differ and converge in the religious texts in both English and Arabic? Through a careful examination and analysis of a total of 20 verses from the Bible and 20 prophetic Hadiths, this paper tries to identify and explain the communicative and rhetorical functions inherent in the pragmastylistic features found in these texts. In so doing, it highlights the vital ways in which these features play a role in shaping the meaning of concepts related to rewarding in religious discourse. The findings of this study yield an interesting observation: both the English and Arabic texts employ pragmastylistic features as instruments of persuasion, instruction, and inspiration to their respective audiences effectively. However, it is also worth noting that each language demonstrates different functional focuses in the use of such features. This comprehensive study makes important contributions to a number of key academic fields: pragmatics, stylistics, and religious discourse analysis. It makes very important contributions to the vital role that language plays in the complex process of shaping and communicating religious messages.

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