Text Certainty and Author’s Decisiveness in Ghazali’s Letter-Writing Style

جستارهای نوین ادبی

Article 3, Volume 46, Issue 2 - Serial Number 181, September 2013, Pages 73-92   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/jls.v46i2.14558

Author

Maryam Dorpar^*

Abstract

In stylistics, analysis of syntactic categories is very important especially in the branches that examine the power relationships such as critical stylistics. The present paper considers the question of text certainty and author’s certitude in Ghazali’s letters. Using statistical methods, the study analyzes modality and examines the impact of this stylistic feature on the interpersonal relationship of the author and his addressees. The results show how the high percentage of both cognitive and imperative modes asserts the authority of the author’s position vis-à-vis the power institution. The high certainty of the texts surely emanates from Ghazali’s position as a high-ranking Shafi'i scholar and, in turn, enhances his authority. The purpose of this study is to show the role of stylistic features in a contextual study of Ghazali’s letters.

Keywords

stylistics; types of modality; Ghazali’s letters