Research Article

The Problem of Superiority of Language Deviations in Terms of Literary Value: Poetic Necessity in the Period of Jāhiliyah

Volume: 25 Number: 2 December 15, 2021
EN TR

The Problem of Superiority of Language Deviations in Terms of Literary Value: Poetic Necessity in the Period of Jāhiliyah

Abstract

Standard language, which follows rules of dictionary and grammar, undergoes various changes when it is the subject of literature, especially poetry. These changes, called linguistic deviation, are due to the poet’s expression of his feelings and thoughts by forcing the possibilities of language. In this direction, language deviations can be defined as the dispositions where the author goes out of the standard language, as in the examples of changes in the pronunciation (ṣavt), form (ṣarf) or spelling (kitābet) of the words, the derivation of new words that are not used in the language (irticāl) and the deterioration of the syntax (naḥv). According to many literary critics such as Ibn Hishām al-Ansārī (d. 761/1360) and ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Baghdādī (d. 1093/1682), this language used by Arab poets who were not influenced by foreign languages, namely the Cāhilī, Muḥaḍram and Islāmī poets (ḳudemâ), was acceptable and it is considered as ḍarūrātuş-şiʿriyye (poetry necessities). In this context, deviations that do not comply with the standard language are tried to be explained with dialect differences, different variants of the couplet or various interpretations. However, some scholars such as Ibn Fāris (d. 395/1004) and Abū al-Ḥasan al-Jurjānī (d. 392/1001-1002) argue that these usages are laḥn (linguistic mistakes). According to these names, it is not correct to explain the poets’ use, which are contrary to the standard language rules, with excessive interpretations (takalluf). Assuming that linguistic deviations are laḥn, they cannot represent a superiority in terms of literary value, but when considered as a necessity, they represent a superiority within the framework of certain criteria. But any specific criteria have been determined before about which linguistic deviations represent the superiority. Therefore, in our study, the theories put forward about the accuracy of linguistic deviations that exceed the standard language rules will be examined and the necessary criteria for them to represent a superiority will be determined. In this direction, the difference in meaning and form that this deviation adds to the expression becomes important. If the language deviation, which is contrary to the standard sentence structure, does not comply with the language rules in any aspect and does not add any superiority to the poem in terms of meaning and form, it does not seem possible for such uses to represent a more fluent and persuasive language (al-Balāgha). However, the language deviation reveals a new meaning or form that is not found in the standard expression, and if this usage complies with the standard language rules, it represents a more eloquently language. The degree of violation of the purity and perfection of language (faṣāḥa) of a statement is related to the violation of qiyās (analogy?) and grammatical incongruity mentioned in the rhetoric books. The contravention of common language rules of these uses, which are not considered faṣīḥ, varies. As a matter of fact, some of these were seen as minor mistakes that could be ignored, while others were considered as major mistakes. For this purpose, a conceptual framework about linguistic deviations is drawn at the introduction of the article, and the literary theories on the subject are examined in the first chapter. In the second part, it is argued that linguistic deviations represent a superiority depending on certain criteria by giving examples from the poems of the period of Jāhilīyah.

Keywords

References

  1. ʿAbîd b. Ebraṣ, Ebû Ziyâd el-Esedî. Dîvânu ʿAbîd b. el-Ebraṣ. thk. Eşref Ahmed ʿAdre. Beyrut: Dârü’l-Kitâbi’l-ʿArabî, 1414/1994.
  2. Aksan, Doğan. Şiir Dili ve Türk Şiir Dili: Dilbilim Açısından Bakış. Ankara: Engin Yayınevi, 1995.
  3. Alûsî, Ebü’l-Meʿali Cemalüddîn Mahmûd Şükrî b. Abdillâh b. Mahmûd. ed-Ḍarâir ve mâ yesûġu li’ş-şâʿir dûne’n- nâs̱ır. Mısır: el-Matbaʿatü’s-Selefiyye, 1341/1923.
  4. ʿAynî, Ebû Muhammed Bedrüddîn Mahmûd b. Ahmed b. Musa el-Hanefî. el-Maḳâṣıdü’n-naḥviyye fî şerḥi şevâhidi şürûḥi’l-Elfiyye. thk. Muhammed Bâsil ʿUyûn Sevved. 3 Cilt. Beyrut: Dârü’l-Kütübi’l-ʿİlmiyye, ts.
  5. Baġdâdî, Abdülkadir b. Ömer b. Bayezid Abdülkadir. Ḫizânetü’l-edeb ve lübbu lübâbi lisâni’l-ʿArab. thk. Abdüsselam Muhammed Harun. Kahire: Mektebetü’l-Ḫancî, 4. Basım, 1417/1997.
  6. Başkan, Özcan. Bildirişim :İnsan dili ve ötesi. İstanbul: Altın Kitaplar Yayınevi, 1988.
  7. Bişr b. Ebî Ḥâzim. Dîvânu Bişr b. Ebî Ḥâzim el-Esedî. thk: Mecîd Ṭarâd. Beyrut: Dârü’l-Kitâbi’l-ʿArabî, 1415/1995.
  8. Cürcânî, Ebû Bekr Abdülkahir b. Abdirrahmân Abdülkahir. Delâilü’l-iʿcâz. thk. Mahmûd Muhammed Şakir. Matbaʿatü’l-Medenî, 3. Basım, 1413/1993.

Details

Primary Language

Turkish

Subjects

Religious Studies

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 15, 2021

Submission Date

January 8, 2021

Acceptance Date

June 14, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 1970 Volume: 25 Number: 2

ISNAD
Cengiz, Mehdi. “Edebî Değer Açısından Dil Sapmalarının Üstünlük Problemi: Cahiliye Dönemi Özelinde Şiir Zaruretleri”. Cumhuriyet İlahiyat Dergisi 25/2 (December 1, 2021): 893-907. https://doi.org/10.18505/cuid.856471.