LessonsʿIlm al-Maʿānī: Khabar, Inshāʾ and the Purposes of ReportingQuiz

Suppose one person says “الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ” (“The door is open”) with full confidence, although it is closed. Another hesitantly says “الْبَابُ مُغْلَقٌ” (“The door is closed”).

The first report is false despite its confident delivery. The second report is true despite the hesitation.

We must distinguish the truth of the report, the speaker's manner, and the listener's belief. Rhetoric may examine how confident or hesitant speech suits the listener, but the definition of a report depends on its capacity for truth or falsity.

Opening interactive controls...

Truth of content versus confidence of the speaker

ʿIlm al-Maʿānī: Khabar, Inshāʾ and the Purposes of Reporting

Suppose one person says “الْبَابُ مَفْتُوحٌ” (“The door is open”) with full confidence, although it is closed. Another hesitantly says “الْبَابُ مُغْلَقٌ” (“The door is closed”).

The first report is false despite its confident delivery. The second report is true despite the hesitation.

We must distinguish the truth of the report, the speaker's manner, and the listener's belief. Rhetoric may examine how confident or hesitant speech suits the listener, but the definition of a report depends on its capacity for truth or falsity.