A Meta-Analysis of Studies of Contrastive Rhetoric in Iran

A Meta-analysis of Studies of Contrastive Rhetoric in Iran
Z. Jalali, N Fallah,
Supervisor: A. Zare-ee

Abstract
The present work briefly summarizes the history of research in the area of contrastive rhetoric. It then summarizes the work in the area of contrastive rhetoric done in Iran. The paper points to the fact that in Iran contrastive rhetoric studies have focused on a) linguistic and rhetorical patterns as reflected in L1 and L2 writings of learners, b) discovering writing behaviors, c) meta-discourse in applied linguistics, d) the impact of EFL learners rhetorical organizations in English text comprehension and that they have found that there is a correlation between L1 writing behaviors and L2 writing behaviors and also in most cases L1 writing is longer and more complex . Furthermore, cultural specific factors influence L2 writings. Those who write in meaningful context with potential and practical audience in mind are found to be competent writers. Besides, sufficient knowledge of discourse patterns and markers will also be helpful in text comprehension and writing quality respectively.

Keywords: Contrastive Rhetoric, Iran, Review

1. Introduction

Contrastive rhetoric has its origin in hypothesis of linguistic relativity. Benjamin Whorf, a student of Sapir 's, elaborated on the ideas of Sapir, as the following quotation shows:

This study shows that the forms of a person 's thoughts are controlled by inexorable laws of patterns of which he is unconscious. These patterns are the un-perceived intricate systematizations of his own language - shown readily enough by a candid comparison and contrast with other languages, especially those of a different linguistic family. This thinking itself is in a language - in English, in Sanskrit, in Chinese. And every language is a vast pattern-system, different from others, in which are culturally ordained the forms and categories by which the personality not only communicates, but also analyzes

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