Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 18، number In Volume 4، July 2025 ، issue Number 110

Analysis and examination of the stylistic features of the manuscript of Khutab with a layered stylistic approach

Hossein Sabzi , Seyyed Mahmoud Seyyed (Author in Charge), Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In literary texts, there are specific artistic capacities in the way potential linguistic resources are employed at various layers. One method for systematically examining and critiquing these linguistic possibilities is layered stylistics. According to layered stylistics, language consists of two layers or levels: surface structure and deep structure. Surface structure encompasses all information related to the phonetic manifestation of the text, while deep structure includes all information related to meaning. With this approach, we analyze and examine the phonetic, lexical, and syntactic layers in the domain of structure and form (surface structure) and the ideological and rhetorical layers in the realm of imagination and theme (deep structure) of the manuscript "Khutab."

METHODOLOGY: In this study, we have described, analyzed, and explained the phonetic, lexical, syntactic, ideological, and rhetorical layers of the handwritten version of "Khutab" using a descriptive-analytical method with a layered stylistics approach.

FINDINGS: The book, in terms of surface structure, exhibits characteristics of a hybrid prose style. The stylistic type of the book is of the Transoxanian (Mawarannahr) kind. Lexically, considering the realistic nature of the text, the author has not directed the words in a specific way in conveying his concepts, nor has he caused the audience to ponder and reflect on the meaning. The syntactic structure of the work is a diverse collection of conventional and fluent structures in the Persian language, where the order and precedence of components depend on the speaker"s thoughts. The ideological and intellectual characteristics of the text reflect the prevailing thought system in the Sufi texts of the sixth and seventh centuries, with a focus on the contemplation of death at the center of this intellectual framework. The literary devices employed in the book have more of a discursive and persuasive approach than a decorative and aesthetic one.

CONCLUSION: The main factor in the variations and phonetic differences of the "Khutab" version is the geographical region. The type of vocabulary used in the text has a specific correspondence with the type of thought and mental concepts of the speaker. The arrangement of the components of the sentences in this book reflects the author"s mental continuum and the logical continuity and sequence of thought and expression. The dominant theme in the author"s mind and imagination is contemplation of death. Among the literary devices, there is extensive use of figures of speech. The most prevalent figures of speech are sensory similes, which illustrate the connection between form and content.

Keyword
Discourses , layered stylistics , phonetic layer , lexical , syntactic , ideological , and rhetorical.

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• Without date, (without title). Khutab. Image of manuscript "K", number 86252, the original manuscript belongs to the California Library.
• Without date, (without title). Khutab. Image of manuscript "Kh", the original manuscript likely belongs to the School of Oriental Studies in Beijing.
• Without date, (without title). Khutab. Image of manuscript "P", the original manuscript likely belongs to the School of Oriental Studies in Beijing.