Comparing Lexical Diversity in the Oral and Written Style of the Nahjolbalaghah according to Johnson’s Theory (Case Study: Political-Moral Sermons and Letters)

A writer’s personal style is determined by his/her lexicon. Imam Ali’s political and ethical sermons are written in different situations with different audiences in mind. This has led to different texture and lexical choices. We have used Johnson’s theory to compare and contrast the lexical variety in different sermons and political letters of Imam Ali. An important result of this investigation is that, although the letters’ content are applicable in all different sorts of societies, but at the time it was written, it had had a specific audience in mind, thus the ideology in the letters has led to their having less lexical variety compared to the sermons.