The relative pronoun and its clause in Abbasid praise poetry: A study in the light of the descriptive method

Abstract

Relative pronouns act as connective tools, solidifying the relationship between the praised figure and their attributes. They embody abstract concepts (such as generosity and courage) in a descriptive form, thus amplifying the figure's role. They also contribute to coherence and harmony within the longer poems, lending an artistic quality that blends tradition and innovation in panegyric poetry. Therefore, this research, titled "The Semantic Function of Relative Pronouns and the Relative Clause in Abbasid Panegyric Poetry," aims to highlight the role of relative pronouns in Abbasid panegyric poetry in revealing the mechanisms of connection, textual cohesion, and the formation of an exaggerated significance for the praised figure. These pronouns help link sentences, precisely define the subject, and showcase attributes and virtues in a rhythmic and aesthetically sophisticated manner that reflects the complexities of Abbasid life. The research adopted the descriptive-analytical approach as the most suitable and effective method for advancing the study, given its ability to connect grammatical tools (relative pronouns) to their semantic and aesthetic functions in the context of praise, such as highlighting magnification, comprehensiveness, and affirming attributes, and creating complex artistic images. Among the research findings, we note that relative pronouns and relative clauses are key structural and rhetorical tools for magnifying the praised figure through amplification and elaboration, closely linking attributes to their predicate (the praised figure), and contributing to the intensification of meanings, the generation of rhetorical images, and the affirmation of the praiseworthy facts. This, in turn, lends precision and diversity to the praise of caliphs and ministers.