The Pragmatic Foundations of Al-Jāḥiẓ’s Theory of Communication : A Reappraisal in the Light of Contemporary Pragmatics

Abstract

Contemporary linguistic research has shown increasing interest in revisiting the Arabic linguistic heritage to uncover its contributions to the foundations of modern linguistic theories, particularly pragmatics. Within this context, the present study examines Al-Jāḥiẓ’s (159–255 AH / 776–869 CE) pragmatic conception of communication, considering him one of the foremost scholars of the Arabic linguistic tradition who developed a comprehensive account of communicative processes and the functions of discourse long before pragmatics emerged as an independent field of inquiry. The study aims to identify the pragmatic foundations underlying Al-Jāḥiẓ’s theory of communication and to analyze its core concepts in light of contemporary pragmatic theory, with particular emphasis on the components of the communicative act, context, intentionality, situational appropriateness, the relationship between speaker and hearer, and the effectiveness of discourse in achieving communicative purposes. Adopting a descriptive-analytical approach, the study is based on a close reading and analysis of Al-Jāḥiẓ’s texts in comparison with key concepts in modern pragmatics. The findings reveal that Al-Jāḥiẓ articulated a coherent model of communication grounded in the integration of discourse components with contextual determinants, highlighting the centrality of intentionality, contextual appropriateness, and audience awareness. These principles demonstrate significant conceptual affinities with several foundational assumptions of contemporary pragmatics.

The study concludes that re-examining the Arabic linguistic heritage from a pragmatic perspective not only underscores its intellectual originality but also enriches contemporary linguistic scholarship by revealing the historical depth of pragmatic thought within the Arabic linguistic tradition.