A Metadiscourse Analysis of 'A Common Word between us and you' Persuasion Strategies

The present study examines critically metadiscourse resources in relation to persuasion strategies and persuasive proofs of classical rhetoric of Aristotle in its three elements of persuasion: logos, pathos and ethos. The data of examination is a highly rhetorical text entitled 'كلمةٌ سواءٌ' 'A Common Word between Us and You'(i.e., ACW) which is an authentic open call or letter from religious grand muftis and leaders, figures and intellectuals of Muslims to the leaders of the Christian churches all over the world. Metadiscourse in this study is taken as a concept based on writing as being an act of 'social engagement'. Writers engaging in this act are aware of how they situate themselves and their readers in a coherent and convincing unfolded text created in a particular social context. Therefore, metadiscourse acts on 'persuasive objectives'. The aim of the current study is to examine these resources in ACW as far as rational, credible and affective appeals are concerned. The main hypothesis is that this ACW, though it helps to guide readers through the text interactively, does not highly focus on the ways through which writers achieve interaction, hence involve them in the text. Hyland's model (2019) is adopted here. The study ends with some concluding points related to its main purpose.