The Concept of Text from the Perspective of Heritage and Modernity: Its Impact on Formulating the Theory of a Literary Text

Abstract

This research aims to discuss the problem of the textual concept in the Arab critical heritage and the Western critical thought and to show its impact on formulating the contemporary literary textual theory. It is the problem that stems from the assumption that Arab critical thought has originated in the components of this theory, which we find have roots and references in our critical, literary, rhetorical and philosophical heritage. Hence, the textual theory in the contemporary critical thought is an extension of this legacy, benefiting from the achievements of philosophers, linguists and critics, and the achievements of contemporary critical approaches. The research attempts answer some important questions such as: was the critical study concerned with theorizing the text? Does the critical heritage have the mechanisms for dealing with the text? What is the role of this critical heritage in the formulation of contemporary literary textual theory? To answer these questions, we follow a procedural plan that falls into three axes. The first one is dedicated to the analysis of the components of textual theory and its references in our critical and rhetorical heritage. The second one is devoted to the components of the textual theory in the Western critical thought. The last one is dedicated to the effect of the concept of the text in formulating the features and dimensions of the literary textual theory. Keywords: Problematics of Concept, Critical Heritage, Referential, Components, Textual Theory.