Pragma-Rhetorical Strategies in Zainab’s Speech at Yazid’s Court

This paper aims to investigate the pragma-rhetorical structure of Zainab’s (Peace be upon her) speech, which is well-known of its historical importance. To achieve this aim, Al-Hindawi and Al-Temimi’s (2012) eclectic model is utilized. Among the important conclusions which the study comes up with are: The rhetorical question is used as an umbrella strategy that extends over the other figures of speech and argumentative appeals. Besides, the argumentative appeals represent a house of cards: if any card is pulled, the rest of the house will collapse. This reveals the neat texture of the orally recited text. Finally, figures of speech have been used in a roughly parallel manner. This leads to the conclusion that they have not been used for aesthetic purposes, that is, decoration; they are used a means for a further end – clarification and facilitation