Literary Interdisciplinary Research

Language Functions in Major Iranian and Turani Characters' discourses addressed to Siyavas in Ferdowsi's Shahname: A Study based on Communication Theory of Jakobson

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mousa Ghonchepour 1
Zahra Iranmanesh 2
Reza Esfandyarpour 3

1 Language and Literature Department, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran

2 faculty member of Kerman Farhangian University

3 M.A. in Persian Language teaching, Farhangian University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.

10.30465/lir.2025.50047.1923
Abstract
Human beings continuously communicate with each other and they employ language functions to transmit the concepts and meanings in this social relationship. In this research the discourse of major Iranian and Turani characters with Siyavash in Shahname will be analyzed to be clarified to what extent the emotive, conative, phatic, referential, poetic and metalingual language functions are employed to transmit the ideas and concepts. Moreover, the functions having more frequencies will be identified. In this descriptive- analytical study the sampling is purposeful and the instrumentation is the checklist including the language functions of communicative model of Jakobson (1960 & 1995). The results show that the most frequent language function is conative in Iranian discourse (Keykavous, Sudabeh, Rustam) with Siyavash while the phatic function is the most frequent in discourse of major character of Turan (Afrasiab, Piran, Garsivaz and Farigis) with him. The findings also indicate that major Iranian characters in this story use language to influence on Siyavash and to persuade him to accept their ideas while major Turani characters employ language to make solidarity approach him and create a friendly atmosphere.

Keywords

Shahname
Siyavash story
communication theory
language functions
Jakobson

Subjects

Literary Interdisciplinary Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 December 2025

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us