Lexical Cohesion in Letters of Nahj al-Balagha (Case Study: Imam Ali's Letter to Malik al-Ashtar Al Nakhai)

The study’s aim is to analyze the significant role of lexical cohesion in text and its possible associations with repetition and collocation. To meet the goal, the study also focuses on the importance of formal and substantive issues in the transmission of the intended concepts to the recipient. Central subject to the entire discipline of lexical cohesion is continuity, which is achieved via logical connections between the parts of speech. To this end, connection analysis between words in the sentences and phrases are at the heart of our understanding of the continuity issue. Relatedly, the collocation preserves the existing relations between various words in the language; in this regard, Relations of Contradiction can be a remarkable instance. Imam Ali wrote this letter when Malik al-Ashtar was chosen as the governor of Egypt. It is the longest and most common letter including social and political matters. In fact, the letter contains issues (e.g., Leadership Ethics, Avoidance of bad characteristics, Justice and urbanization of the country, Warnings of selfishness and hypocrisy, Identify text cohesion in this Government letter) that are worthy of remark. Hence, the current article will give an account of this letter to address the point that Imam presented his influential speeches through repetition and collocation. Providing evidence, the article follows the descriptive-analytical and library-based approach to analyze Imam Ali’s letter.