INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced firom the microfilm master. UMT films the text directly fi’om the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter 6ce, while others may be fi’om any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing fi’om left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Ifowell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 THE EMERGENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ARABIC RHETORICAL THEORY. 500 C £.-1400 CE. DISSERTATION Presented m Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Khaiid Alhelwah, M.A. * « « * The Ohio State University 1996 Dissertation Committee Approved Professor James W. Hikins, Adviser Professor Mary Garrett —- (— ^ Adviser Professor Michael Zwettler Graduate Program in Communication UMI Number; 9822284 Copyright 1998 by Alhelwah, Khaiid All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9822284 Copyright 1998, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Copyright by Khaiid Alhelwah 1996 ABbTRACr This dissertation is a survey of the emergence and development of Arabic rhetorical theory between c. 500 C.E. and 1400 C.E. It has been undertaken within the framework of the study of rhetoric in the communication field. After an introduction (chapter 0 and a review of the available literature (chapters 2), an investigation is made, in chapter 3, of the early origins of rhetorical thinking among the Arabs. This chapter covers the pre-lslamic penod (c. 500 C.E.) and the early Islamic period to the end of the Umayyad period (c. 750 G.E.). The early Arabs had great appreciation for oral poetry arxi oratory, but did not produce any system of rhetoric m written form In the ‘Abbâsid period (beginning in c 750 C.E.) theorizing about rhetoric began. In chapter 4, the contribution of a variety of scholars to the emergence of Arabic rhetoric is reviewed. Chapter 5, discusses the early philological approach to the study of Arabic rhetoric. The literary approach to Arabic rhetoric is the topic of chapter 6. In chapter 7, the philosophical and theological approaches to Arabic rhetorical theory are explored. Finally in chapter 6, conclusions are drawn about the nature and scope of Arabic rhetoric and implications for the study of rhetoric are offered. Dedicated to my family 111 ACKNOWLEDGiVENTS I wish to thank my adviser, Professor James W. Hikins, for intellectual support, encouragement and enthusiasm which made this work possible. 1 thank Professor Mar} Garrett and Professor Michael Zwettler for their input and guidance during the evolution of this project. I also wish to thank King Saud University and the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission to the U. S A. for their valuable assistance. IV VITA 195» Bom - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 1961 ----------------------------------------------B. A. Communication, Kmg Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 1961-1962 -------------------------------------- Teaching Assistant Department of Communication, King Saud University. 1966 ---------------------------------------------- M. A. Communication, Michigan State University. FIELD Œ STUDY Mapr Field- CommunicatPn T.^BLE OF CONTENTS Abstract- Dedication__________________________________________________________________________lu Acknowledgments ____________________________________________________________ iv Vita_____________________________________________________________________ V A Note on Transliteration----------------------------------------------------------------------------- viii Chapters 1. introduction to the Arabic Rhetoricai Tradition-------------------------------------------- 1 Arabic Rhetoric and the Communication Disciplines Definitions of Rhetoric in the Western Tradition The Significance of the Arabic Rhetorical Tradition Method, Limitation and Division of the Study 2 The State of Scholarship on Arabic Rhetoric-----------------------------------------------29 Histories of Arabic Rhetoric Studies on Arabic Rhetoric as Practice Studies on Arabic Rhetoric as Theory Studies on '//mal-Balâghah The Arabic science of Eloquence) Conclusion 2 The Early Rhetorical Background_______________________________________ 56 The Arabs Before Islam Pre-lslamic Poetry Pre-lslamic Prose Early Rhetorical Awareness The Emergence and Expansion of Islam Rhetorical Developments in Early Islam Conclusion Vi 4. The Emergence of Arabic Rhetorical Theory --------------------------------------------- 93 Philology and Grammar Writing The New Poetry iahBadJ^ Philosophy and Greek Logic The Eloquence of the QurSn The Science of Eloquence ('i/mahBalâghah) Conclusion 5. The Early Philological Approach to Arabic Rhetorical Theory ______________ 119 aEAgman 1 bn Sallâm ahJumabî Abu 'übaydah Tha'lab aEMubarrad Conclusion 6. The Literary Approach to Arabie Rhetorical Theory ----------------------------------- 156 The Literary Approach (The Corxiept ofAdab) al-Jâiii? Ibn (^taybah IbnaEMu'tazz 7. The Philosophical and Theological Approaches to Arabic Rhetorical Theory____ 197 (^udamah ibn Ja'far Isfiâq ibn Wahb 'Abd aEQahir al-Jurjânï S. Summary, Conclusions and Implications_________________________________ 226 Summary Conclusions Implications Bibliography------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 246 vu A NOTE ON TRANSLITERATION There is no universally accepted system of Arabic transliteration. However, one of the most common methods is the one used by M. G. S. Hodgson in his The Venture of Islam series, adopted here with small modifications as the list below shows. ’ glottal stop; as between the two words in me?! angry?' b English b t like English t th English th in thin j English j h pharyngeal h (guttural’) kh German and Scots ch, Spanish j (nearer h than k) d like English d dh English th in this r rolled (trilled) r z English z s hissed s (in this ) sh English sh S velar s (emphatic’) d velar d ('emphatic’) t velar t ('emphatic’) Z velar z (emphatic’) Vlll ' glottal scrape, to Anglophones difficult to pronounce, sometimes omitted gh voiced equivalent of kh above f English f q uvular k ('guttural’) k English k 1 English 1 (in live ) m English m n English n h English h w English w y English y (as consonant) Short Vowels: a short a as in cat or ask (according to position) I short I as in bit u short u as in full Long Vowels: â long as in father, sometimes as in fat (but held long) i long i as in machine (but held long) Û long u as in rule (but held long) Note All translations are mine, except otherwise noted. ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE ARABIC RHETORICAL TRADITION In recent decades, scholars of rhetoric have shown a growing interest in rhetorical theories across cultures. A growing body of research is being devoted to the study of the rhetorics of non-Western societies such as India, China and Africa, among others. However, one of the world’s major rhetorical traditions which is yet to be fully- introduced to this discussion is the Arabic system of rhetoric, known as ^ilm ahbalàghah (The Science of Eloquence). The Arabs not only had a long tradition of rhetorical and linguistic studies but they also helped preserve and transmit ancient Greek scholarship. In fact, the Arabs consider their language and rhetorical arts to be their highest cultural achievement and main contribution to world culture.* Therefore, the lack of knowledge among Western students of rhetoric regarding the Arabic tradition is indeed unfortunate. This dissertation seeks to bring this little-known topic to the attention of rhetorical scholars in the English-speaking world. In the field of speech communication and journalism, very little research has been done on Arabic rhetoric and a comprehensive study is needed. It is hoped that this dissertation will be an introduction to the topic and lead to more research in this area. A review of the literature outside the communication field indicates that considerable * * Bernard Lewis, The Arabs in History, new ed. (Oxford: Oxford UP. 1993) 146. research on Arabic rhetorical theory exists but it is scattered among many humanistic disciplines such as linguistics, literary studies, political science, and philosophy, among others. This dissertation integrates some of this research along with original translations of Arabic writings on the theory of rhetoric to present in one place