Explaining the Argumentative-Persuasive Function of the Rhetorical Technique of ‘Adaptation’ based on the Argumentative Technique ‘Argument from Authority’

The rhetorical technique of “Adaptation” refers to the process of taking the sacred word [divine word/the words of religious leaders] and applying it to the speech of humans. This technique, like many other innovative techniques, is generally considered a decorative tool due to the dominance of the ornamental approach over novel science and its other functions have been neglected. The present study has tried to distance itself from this approach in a descriptive-analytical way both theoretically and practically. In this regard, on the one hand, by designing and examining the ideas of rhetoricians regarding the technique of adaptation, and on the other hand, by presenting and analyzing several examples from both the Arabic and Persian languages, it has tried to highlight the argumentative-persuasive function of this technique. Furthermore, based on one of the arguments presented by Perleman and Tyteca titled “argument from authority”, a model of the function of the technique of adaptation is presented. The conclusion of the discussion is that the speaker, based on this model, uses the sacred texts as an argument, proof, and a valid reason to confirm and prove his claim, and through it, he convinces his believing addressees. Introduction Adaptation technique is one of the rhetorical techniques included in the textbooks of Islamic rhetoric under rhetorical science with the aim of teaching the methods of beautification of speech, a beauty which, unlike the beauty resulting from the other two rhetorical sciences, semantics and utterance, is temporary and not inherent. Of course, such a belief does not assign a place to rhetorical science in the semantic processes of speech and lowers the status of rhetorical techniques to the level of a decorative tool that can be removed at any moment, without creating the slightest defect in the speech. Materials and Methods The current research is based on the descriptive-analytical method and is based on library sources. In order to provide a clear picture of the argumentative-persuasive function of the technique of adaptation, it has paid attention to one of the contemporary linguistic-cognitive theories under the title of ‘argumentation’ and based on one of its argumentative techniques ,the exploration of what and how this type of adaptation works has been discussed. Finally, while examining examples of this rhetorical technique in both Arabic and Persian languages, a model of its argumentative-persuasive function has bee