«مر» مخفف مگر/ ویژگیِ سبکی

One of the mysteries that has always been raised in dictionaries and stylistics books is the use of the word "mar" in ancient texts. This word appears in dictionaries in such a way that uncertainty has been expressed about its definitive meaning, and only by considering evidence and context have they attempted to find its semantic boundaries. Upon examining dictionaries, no firm meaning was found for it. In Bahar's stylistics book, no definitive information is given about this word, and it deals with semantic boundaries and conjecture. This article, with due research caution, proposes that "mar" in all instances can be an abbreviation of "magar" (except/ unless). Just as "ar" is an abbreviation of "agar" (if). This "mar" (abbreviated form of magar) is still used in today's local dialects. In Kurdish, Laki, Luri, and Bakhtiari dictionaries, "mar" is considered an abbreviation of "magar" (except/ unless). Furthermore, "magar" (except/ unless) has been used in ancient texts in various meanings such as emphasis, doubt, question, exception, limitation, etc. Precisely, "mar" has also been used in these meanings. The present research, based on various examples, aims to seek and prove this matter.
Extended Abstract
1.Introduction
In Iran, The stylistics of texts began with the valuable work of Mohammad Taghi Bahar. Stylistics or the history of the evolution of Persian prose is considered a significant step towards understanding ancient texts. In the book, Bahar examined the linguistic aspects of texts and presented with great precision everything that had frequency in linguistic topics (phonetic, lexical, syntactic). Sirous Shamisa has also written three separate volumes on the stylistics of poetry, prose, and general topics in this regard. One of the most important characteristics of stylistics is the frequency of a subject. Bahar defines style in this way: "Style in literary terminology is a special method of perceiving and expressing thoughts through the combination of words, choice of vocabulary, and manner of expression. The style of a literary work conveys its unique aspect in terms of form and meaning." (Bahar, 1393/1: D). Farshidvard points to the importance of form and meaning in determining style: "Style is created from the combination of spiritual and formal characteristics of a literary work." (Farshidvard, 1387/2: 219). Mahjoub also implicitly defines style and believes that: "In short, one's style is the method they choose to express their thoughts, provided that they have invented this method themselves and have not borrowed it from anyone." (Mahjoub, n.d.: p49). Among contemporary scholars, Shamisa considers style to be the result of three factors: "1. special perspective 2. selection 3.deviation from the norm." (Shamisa, 1387: 17). "When we examine the works of a particular time period, we notice common aspects between them in terms of meaning, language, and rhetorical issues, which collectively distinguish the works of that period from those of other periods. These common aspects, or in other words, the distinguishing factors of the features of the norm of that period, or in other words, define the style of that period." (Ibid: 88-89). Therefore, what is of high importance in stylistic studies is the frequency of a subject. This is very important and practical in this research. The use of the word "mar" (mar) in Khorasani style literature has a high frequency. This usage is such that "mar" (mar) has been considered an undisputed linguistic characteristic of Khorasani. However, no independent and codified study has ever been conducted to discover its semantic complexities. Therefore, the present study aims to be useful in examining and discovering its meaning.
2.Theoretical Framework
Numerous studies have been conducted in the field of text stylistics. The research that has addressed stylistics and stylistic analysis of works is countless. However, for what this research aims to find, which is the semantic analysis of the word "mar" (mar), nothing was found. Also, in both ancient and modern dictionaries, no suitable meaning was found for this word. Perhaps it can be said with certainty that this research is the first independent work related to this topic.
3.Research Method
This research has been conducted using a descriptive-analytical method. Accordingly, first, the desired materials were noted, and then by analyzing and breaking down the data, the research was examined and compiled. In this research, stylistics books and ancient prose and poetry texts have been used.
4.Research Findings
Based on the definitions of style, what is of high importance is the high frequency of an element in poetry or text. It doesn't matter whether it occurs at the level of language, literature, or thought. The high frequency of an element establishes the basis of style. Such frequency is found in the word "mar" (“magar”/ if). In our literary history, this word is abundantly found in prose and poetry texts, and a definitive and clear meaning has never been presented for it. What is clear is its stylistic feature, which its high frequency has proven. However, to simply pass by it and assume that it is redundant or used for the beauty of the text does not convince minds. The present study, with due caution in research, proposes that "mar", in all positions, could be an abbreviation of the word "magar" (magar/ except or unless). The acquired results of this important topic are based on three principles: 1. the use of the word "mar" (mar) meaning "magar" (magar/ except or unless) in ethnic and local cultures from ancient times to the present; 2. the semantic use of "mar" (mar) in positions where "magar" (magar/ except or unless) is used; 3. the closeness of the reduction of "ar" and "agar" with "mar" (mar) and "magar" (magar/except or unless). Of course, it should be noted beforehand that the present research is the beginning of an important topic, and for its completion, one can hope for more research.
5.Conclusion
Although the word "mar" has been speculated upon many times in various books, it can be acknowledged that almost none of them reached a specific meaning for it. The present study proposes that in all cases where "mar" appears in ancient texts, it could be an abbreviation of "magar" (magar/ except or unless). In all the meanings where "magar" (magar/ except or unless) is used, "mar" has also been used with the same meaning. This research indicates that just as "agar" has been reduced to "ar", "magar" (magar/ except or unless) has also been reduced to "mar". Moreover, in all the meanings where "magar" (magar/ except or unless) is used, "mar" has also been used, and this word is probably the same abbreviation of "magar" (magar/ except or unless). Furthermore, in many dialects today, "magar" (magar/ except or unless) is still pronounced as "mær" (mar).
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