A Cognitive-Semantic Approach to the Interpretation of Death Metaphor Themes in the Quran

Abstract

In previous literature, conceptual metaphor has been used as a comprehensive cognitive tool to explore systematic categorization of concepts in the Quran. Death metaphor themes have either been studied from rhetorical or conceptual perspectives, but metaphor interpretation needs both linguistic and conceptual knowledge. This paper will explore the function of both linguistic and conceptual knowledge in metaphor interpretation in the Quran. This paper has used the technique of key words and phrases for data collection and metaphor identification procedure (MIP) for metaphors identification. Thirteen conceptual metaphors were found in the data. The key conceptual metaphors were analyzed through the lexical concept cognitive model theory (hereafter LCCM) to find out the functions of linguistic and conceptual knowledge in metaphor interpretation. The findings reveal that conceptual metaphor gives only relational structure to the linguistic metaphoric expressions, whereas interpretation needs integration of both linguistic and conceptual knowledge. Conceptual simulation of metaphoric expressions is a multilinear process of multiple conceptual schemas and language. The findings also reveal that LCCM needs the tool of intertextuality for clash resolution of contexts in text interpretation. This paper holds that meaning construction depends upon multilinear processing of conceptual schemas and language. Furthermore, it asserts that the gap in LCCM may be resolved through the tool of intertextuality in metaphor comprehension. This study suggests further studies on relationship between conceptual schemas and lexical behaviour and an elaborate model for text interpretation, combining LCCM and intertextuality. 
 
 Keywords: Cognitive model, cognitive semantics, conceptual metaphor, fusion, lexical concept
 
 Cite as: Sardaraz, K., & Ali, R. (2019). A cognitive-semantic approach to the interpretation of death metaphor themes in the Quran. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 2(4), 219-246. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol4iss2pp219-246

The Semantics of the Preposition “alā” in the Quran: A Conceptual Metaphor Perspective

“…In other words, metaphor comprehension may involve more than one CM and linguistic context. Similar findings have also been reported in previous literature (see Evans, 2013 ; Sardaraz and Ali, 2019 , 2021 ). Therefore, this paper suggests further research into spatial relationships across languages to explore the structure of the mental lexicon and CMs in diverse cross-cultural contexts.…”

“…According to Lakoff and Johnson ( 1980 ), human perceptual system helps in unconscious configuration of an object within the space, with reference to another object, and it generates the spatial prepositions. However, the analysis also found that language in its contextual use shows extensive semantic complexity, which requires a more elaborate mechanism for language comprehension, as discussed above, and advocated in the literature (Sardaraz and Ali, 2017 , 2019 , 2021 ). Besides the basic sense of support or contact, “ alā ” also reflects senses of covering and occlusion, proximity, control, elevation or higher than, more, superiority, and examining.…”

The importance of a semantic approach in understanding the texts of the Holy Quran and Sunnah

“…However, there are researchers in the contemporary scholarly field who question the rationality of using linguistic analysis in the study of understanding the Quran. K. Sardaraz (2017) in his scholarly dissertation considered the dichotomy of language and thought. This phrase suggests a division or contrast between the processes of language and thought, implying that they are separate and distinct aspects of human cognition.…”