What Does Stylistic Variations Mean?
Stylistics is a branch of linguistics which studies the features of the varieties of language within a given situation, context and meaning. Stylistics also tries to develop principles to explain the particular choices made by the author. (52) Stylistic variation is the use of different features of language in a myriad of ways. To illustrate this take the following two Qur’anic verses which are structurally identical but stylistically distinct, “These are the limits set by God, so do not approach them” (53) “These are the limits set by God, so do not transgress them” (54) The first verb “approach” occurs in the context of the following very serious prohibition in the previous, “…but do not associate with your wives while you are in spiritual retreat in the mosques.” (55) The second verb “transgress” of the second verse entails flexibility signified by the conjunctions in the previous phrases “either” and “or” (56), “A divorce is only permissible twice: after that, the parties should ei
