The Subtle Meaning

Overview & Synopsis

How does syntax interact with context to convey subtle meanings beyond expectations? A branch of the Arabic-Islamic study of rhetoric known as ‘the science of meanings’ (ʿilm-i maʿānī) discusses this point. This volume is an introduction to the Persian science of meanings as it appears in a selection of textbooks published in Iran over the last century. It examines basic concepts, clarifies jargon, and comments on dozens of examples, mainly taken from classical Persian poetry. It also offers insights into how the Arabic model was adapted to Persian and eventually transformed into a literary theory of how Persian poets made the best use of syntactical possibilities.