تقاطع اللسانيات الوظيفية مع مرحلة تأسيس البلاغة العربية

Abstract

This study aims to explore the connection between modern pragmatic and functional linguistic approaches  and the early development of classical Arabic rhetoric—without making foundationalist claims or engaging  in arguments about precedence or appropriation of heritage. The study adopts a qualitative methodology that  combines description, analysis, extrapolation, and comparison. It analyzes rhetorical and critical texts by prominent Arab scholars such as Al-Jahiz, Ibn Qutayba, Abu Hilal Al-Askari, and Abd al-Qaher Al-Jurjani, linking their insights to contemporary models in functional linguistics, including the natural language user model, functional grammar, and discursive functional grammar. The study concludes that classical Arab rhetoricians, though not theoretically explicit, demonstrated a practical commitment to principles closely aligned with modern discourse analysis—especially the notion that "every context has its discourse." This reflects an early pragmatic-functional awareness that has not received adequate scholarly attention. The study recommends re-examining Arabic rhetorical heritage using modern linguistic frameworks to uncover its depth and potential contributions to contemporary linguistic theory.