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An Examination and Analysis of Linguistic Functions and the Interrelation of Language and Action in the Formation of Characters in Bahram Beyzai’s The Hazar o yek shab, Based on the Theories of Manfred Pfister
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Farzaneh Forouzani   |
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Abstract: (8 Views) |
Language is one of the foundational elements in narrative and dramatic storytelling, and its significance within narrative literature is indisputable. Particularly in drama—where all events unfold through linguistic expression—the analysis of linguistic components plays a crucial role in understanding and interpreting characters. Accordingly, this study adopts an analytical-descriptive approach to examine the speech system, linguistic functions, and the interplay between language and action in the formation of characters in The Hazar o yek shab, a play by Bahram Beyzai, a prominent figure in Iranian dramaturgy. Drawing upon Manfred Pfister’s theoretical framework in The Theory and Analysis of Drama, the research investigates various linguistic functions in the play, including referential, expressive, appellative, phatic, metalinguistic, and poetic functions.
The findings indicate that among the multiple linguistic functions, the appellative, expressive, phatic, and poetic functions are more prominently manifested across the three main episodes of the play. These functions have enabled the playwright to construct the protagonist, supporting characters, and antagonist with greater precision and nuance. Notably, language in this play serves not merely as a vehicle for meaning transmission, but as a decisive factor in shaping character conflicts, power structures, and the mythological narrative of the work. The study further reveals that in Beyzai’s oeuvre, language—beyond its surface-level roles such as contributing to form, conveying information, advancing the plot, generating rhythm, and enhancing aesthetic quality—also embodies historical, political, and cultural ideologies rooted in Iranian civilization. Through his strategic use of language, Beyzai embeds profound and deeply rooted concepts within the narrative framework, allowing language to function as a bridge between history and thought.
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| Keywords: Play, Bahram Bayzai, Manfred Pfister, Language, Function, Characterization |
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Full-Text [PDF 844 kb]
(3 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/08/17 | Accepted: 2025/09/13
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