Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

An Analysis of the Linguistic Functions in Surah Nūḥ Based on Jakobson’s Communication Theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
abdollah hoseini 1
Ali asvadi 1
amin omrani 2
1 Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Literature, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
2 Master’s Student, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Kharazmi University, Karaj, Iran
10.22034/sshq.2024.461118.1468
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
As a divine and transhistorical text, the Holy Qurʾān possesses a highly rich linguistic and communicative structure, and each of its Surahs (Chapters) can be analyzed from the perspectives of linguistics, discourse, and communication. Surah Nūḥ (Qurʾān 71) is one of the important Surahs of the Qurʾān that primarily focuses on the communication between Prophet Nūḥ and his people and the dialogues that occur between them. As one of the Meccan Surahs of the Holy Qurʾān, Surah Nūḥ represents a prominent example of prophetic discourse in which the processes of invitation, persuasion, and communication between a divine prophet and his people are presented in a concise yet profound manner. In this Surah, numerous themes are raised, particularly the power and influence of the verbal communication of prophets with people, including that of Prophet Nūḥ. According to Qurʾānic teachings, God has granted His prophets, including Prophet Nūḥ, the full ability and awareness to make optimal use of language and communicative tools so that they may speak to people more effectively. The central theme of this Surah is the account of the speeches, invitations, reactions, and complaints of Prophet Nūḥ toward his people; speeches that were formed over a long period and reflect the perseverance, patience, and diversity of the communicative methods of this divine prophet.
Research Objective
Since language is regarded as the most important means of conveying the message of revelation and establishing communication between prophets and people, examining the linguistic functions in this surah can open new horizons for understanding Qurʾānic rhetoric and effective methods of religious communication. God Almighty has equipped the prophets with special communicative and linguistic abilities in order to present the divine message in accordance with the intellectual, cultural, and psychological conditions of their audiences. In Surah Nūḥ, Prophet Nūḥ also employs various linguistic strategies to convey the message of monotheism to his people in an effective and enduring manner. Therefore, analyzing the pattern of verbal communication in this Surah constitutes a scholarly necessity for linking Qurʾānic studies with modern linguistic theories.
Research Methodology
The present study is conducted on the basis of Roman Jakobson’s theory of verbal communication, which considers linguistic communication to consist of six main elements (sender, receiver, message, context, code, and channel) and six corresponding linguistic functions: referential, emotive, conative, phatic, metalingual, and poetic. The research method employed in this study is descriptive–analytical. The data were extracted from the verses of Surah Nūḥ and subsequently analyzed according to this theoretical framework. In this analysis, each verse was examined with regard to its semantic context, audience, communicative purpose, and type of linguistic influence.
Findings
The findings of the research indicate that Surah Nūḥ, despite its brevity, contains all the linguistic functions proposed by Jakobson, and in many instances more than one function becomes active simultaneously within a single verse or expression. The referential function has the highest frequency, reflecting Prophet Nūḥ’s emphasis on clarifying realities, warning about the consequences of disbelief, and directing the audience’s mind toward fundamental doctrinal concepts such as monotheism, resurrection, and divine traditions. Following this, the emotive function plays a prominent role; this function strengthens the emotional connection between the sender and the receiver of the message through the expression of the prophet’s sorrow, compassion, complaint, and concern for the fate of his people.
Next in prominence is the conative function, whose aim is to exert a direct influence on the behavior of the audience and invite them to faith, seeking forgiveness, and returning to God. In this function, Prophet Nūḥ employs methods such as encouraging the seeking of divine forgiveness, promising worldly and otherworldly blessings, and warning of divine punishment. In contrast, functions such as the metalingual and phatic functions appear less prominently, indicating the priority of the message and its content over the explanation of the linguistic code or merely maintaining the communication channel. Nevertheless, the limited presence of these functions also contributes to the coherence and dynamism of the discourse of the Surah. Examination of these functions shows that Prophet Nūḥ, in his speech, paid particular attention to directing the audience’s mind toward various themes and to the process of encouragement and persuasion. Furthermore, in Surah Nūḥ, the observance of politeness and respect in addressing the audience is particularly prominent, since this feature is essential for motivating and persuading the audience. Prophet Nūḥ rarely addresses his audience directly, in such a way that each individual benefits from his words according to his own capacity and understanding.
Conclusion
Overall, the predominance of the referential, emotive, and conative functions in Surah Nūḥ indicates that the discourse of this surah is a persuasive and guiding discourse whose aim is to transform the attitudes and behavior of the audience through a combination of rationality, emotion, and practical invitation. By observing verbal courtesy, patience in invitation, and diversity in expressive methods, Prophet Nūḥ presents a comprehensive model of effective religious communication. The limited use of symbolic and sign-based expression also allows the message of the surah to be interpreted and understood at different levels, enabling each audience to benefit according to their cognitive capacity. This study demonstrates that analyzing Surah Nūḥ on the basis of Jakobson’s theory of verbal communication not only reveals the linguistic richness of the Holy Qurʾān but also confirms the applicability of modern linguistic theories in Qurʾānic studies.
Keywords
Surah Nūḥ
Verbal Communication
Jakobson
Holy Qurʾān
Linguistic Functions
Subjects
Holy Quran.
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Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran
Volume 10, Issue 18 - Serial Number 18
Volume 10, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1۸,Spring&Summer 2026
May 2026 Article ID:110-133

  • Receive Date 04 June 2024
  • Revise Date 03 August 2024
  • Accept Date 27 October 2024
  • Publish Date 21 April 2026