In certain registers of Persian religious (viz. Shiite) discourse, additional vowel duration conveys several pragmatic meanings. Such additional duration is exerted, for example, on the second vowel in the name Muhammad, the last vowel in the title ?emam ‘Imam, and the first vowel of the title Qa:?em. The duration here serves two purposes: it conveys the preacher’s reverence and politeness toward the dignitaries mentioned and also makes the audience (hearers as well as bystanders) give a variety of appropriate non-,)verbal responses. On the other hand, the phenomenon may well be regarded as a joint-and-collective, hybrid speech act with a short-circuited implicature, too. Additionally, it has an informative as well as an expressive function on the part of (lie preacher, and a directive function for the audience.
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