Semantic Interference of Synonymous Words in the Jāhilliya Literature and the Qur‘ānic Terms

علوم قرآن و حدیث

Article 2, Volume 42, Issue 1 - Serial Number 84, June 2010   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/naqhs.v42i1.11806

Authors

A‘ẓam Parcham^* ; Naṣrullāh Shāmilī

Abstract

Synonymy is a common phenomenon among different languages. The linguists of the world have had various views about it. Thus, first this issue is put to survey among Arabic linguists and then its scope in the Holy Qur’ān is discussed.
The phenomenon of synonymy has its proponents and opponents, each having their own reasons. This disagreement stems from the lack of a comprehensive and exclusive definition of synonymy. On the other hand, the Arabic vocabulary in the Qur’ān has undergone extensive developments because of the context of the verses.
Searching into the meanings of some synonymous words in the Qur’ān, this writing seeks to bring up the semantic intermingling of the related words in place of synonymy, which in turn has caused the semantic reproduction. For example, khawf (fear) and khashiyat (awe) are semantically intermingled but due to their conceptual contrast, they cannot be quite the same; but, in human beings such as the Divine Prophets, who are manifestations of Divine Attributes, khawf and khashiyat are united in terms of applicability.
Appearance of the semantic networks of vocabulary in the Qur’ān is the result of semantic intermingling, which brings forth organized sets with high interdependence. These semantic networks clarify the doctrines (ma‘ārif) hidden in the verses and reinforce the idea of these doctrines as being highly organized.
Keywords: the Qur’ān, synonymy, semantic interference, linguists, semantics, context, words of fear, pagan (jāhiliyya) literature.