An Analysis of Shath by ‘Speech Act Theory’

Abstract

The application of linguistic theories to the analysis of literary texts is fruitful to the achievement of new insights and aspects in both areas of study. Therefore, in this inquiry the ‘Speech Act Theory’ is applied to the study of a well-known Persian literary style called ‘shath’ (ecstatic expression). Firstly, it explains Speech Act Theory’s advancement and principles. Then, it provides a review of its application to the analysis of literary texts. Later, it classifies forty shaths selected from Sharh-i Shathiyyāt (Commentary of Ecstatic Sayings)by Rūzbihān Baqlī Shīrazī by means of Searl’s Pentagon Theory. To the best of my knowledge, this inquiry is the first attempt in the application of Speech Act Theory to the study of a Persian literary text.

Keywords

• key words: linguistics
• pragmatics
• shath
• speech act theory