A Study of the Rhetorical functions of wa [and] in Nahj al-Balagha according to Hyland`s Model (2005)

Meta-discourse markers have an important role in the organization and production of persuasive writings. Due to the importance of the linguist study of religious texts, this paper focuses on Nahjal-Balagha, the writings of the Imam Ali_ the first Shiite Imam. Studying meta-discourse markers in Imam Ali s (peace be upon him) sermons, we can achieve a deeper understanding of the sermons content representing the thoughts, ideas, viewpoints and social and political events of Imam Ali’s time. So the present study aims to look for the use of the meta-discourse marker of and, methodologically based Hyland (2005) and focusing on four sermons and so their rhetorical functions. This is a descriptive-analytical study and the reason for choosing and is the abundant frequency that it has in the sermons. The results show that in the above-mentioned sermons, based on Hyland s model, and is not just an interactive marker. It has an interactional function, too. When it has an interactional function, it is rhetorically emphatic and is used in oaths and emphasis and reinforcement forms. In its interactive functions, it is rhetorically used as a “connector,” “attributive” and “additive,” and represents concluding and disambiguating relationships. Generally speaking, the meta-discourse marker and helps the reader to interpret discourse communication. The most important use of “and” in these sermons is establishing a relationships between the intertextual ideas that not only help the reader to understand the sermons and accordingly the Imam Ali s ideas, but also Imam Ali’s viewpoints on the sermons content.