Mechanisms of arguments in the Petra sermon of Ziyad bin Abih

Abstract

The argument is a pivotal aspect of contemporary deliberative theories, primarily concentrating on examining the speaker's approach to persuading the audience on a given subject. This article endeavors to explore the mechanisms of argumentation in traditional literary discourse, specifically focusing on Ziyad bin Abih's sermon in Petra to the people of Basra. This sermon is emblematic of a broader discourse wherein the preacher endeavors to convince the audience of his ideas and opinions,  substantiating them with arguments and evidence. To achieve this, we employ a descriptive-analytical approach to identify the linguistic and rhetorical mechanisms employed in the sermon and examine how the argumentative function is manifested within it.