Istifham in the stories in Alquran from the perpective of Speech Act Theory

Abstract

One of the most effective ways to attract an audience in order to influence him is through question. Many kinds of question. Questions in arabic terms known as istifham are also found in the stories. This study will make an attempt in affirmation of how istifhams, which is then simplified into the terms of questions, are clearly highlighted to enhance the connectivity of the components of the Quranic texts. Specifically how questions in the stories in Alquran found and understood using contextual frameworks. The content analysis is employed through speech act theory. It is found that Istifham serves as question words, either to inquire about something of understanding, or not, the past and the future. Istifham are specifically used to ask about the place, time, circumstances, number, case dubious and uncertain. Sometimes question words come out of its original meaning to another meaning that can be seen through the sentence structure, so the function istifham here not as a question word again. Therefore, the sentence does not allow it to be interpreted as an interrogative sentence. Key words: istifham, stories, speech act.