The Semantic Features of the Verb

Sheta, Jamal

doi:10.21608/qarts.2025.368143.2187

The Semantic Features of the Verb "Naza’a" and Its Derivatives in the Holy Quran in the light of Cognitive Linguistics

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Jamal Sheta

Assistant Professor of Linguistics Qassim University, K.S.A

10.21608/qarts.2025.368143.2187

Abstract

This study analyzes the semantics of the verb (naza‘a) and its derivatives in the Qur’an through the lens of cognitive linguistics. Cognitive linguistics helps uncover the deep semantic layers of words, as meaning is not merely a lexical definition but an experiential concept based on mental perceptions that reshape the understanding of the text. The verb (naza‘a) in the Qur’an reflects a complex sensory and cognitive experience, encompassing sudden emergence, forced removal, loss of security, power struggles, and intense punishment. These meanings demonstrate how language relies on sensory experiences to conceptualize abstract ideas, making it more impactful in human cognition, Abstract concepts are linked to sensory experiences through cognitive metaphors and mental classifications. The verbs (to withdraw), (to dispute), and (to dispute) in the Holy Qur’an combine material (sensory) meanings with moral (metaphorical) meanings., The cognitive semantic dimensions of this verb and its derivatives go beyond mere physical removal; they also convey deeper concepts related to control, power, choice, conflict, attraction, and competition.

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