This paper deals with the semantic extensions of verbs of touch in English and Arabic. Verbs of touch, as one type of verbs of sensation, are extended metaphorically in a variety of ways that is different from one language to another. Culture is assumed to strongly influence the semantic extensions of verbs of sensation in general and those of touch in particular. This study comes out with a conclusion that this type of verbs are extended semantically to cover a variety of meanings in both languages, English and Arabic.
Table of Contents
1. Semantic Classification
2. In English
2.1 Touch
2.2 Feel
2.3 Other Verbs of Touch
3. In Arabic
3.1 لمس
3.2 مس
3.3 جس
3.4 Other Verbs of Touch
Objectives and Topics
This study examines the semantic and metaphorical extensions of verbs of touch in both English and Arabic, aiming to demonstrate how cultural factors influence these linguistic developments across different languages.
- Semantic classification of sensation verbs in English.
- Detailed analysis of the polysemous nature of the verb "touch" in English.
- Investigation of English "feel" and its various conceptual uses.
- Comparative analysis of the Arabic verbs "lamasa", "massa", and "jassa".
- Evaluation of shared and language-specific literary uses of touch-related verbs.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Touch
The first verb in this case is touch which has the following literary uses:
1- The first literary use is 'to partake of food or drink':
(6) John hardly touched the food. ((Ibarretxe-Antuñano, 2002: 69)
This sense, 'to partake of food or drink', may extend to have a further extended meaning, i.e., 'to partake of something'. And this gives rise to another literary use:
(7) I didn't touch a penny from your money. (Ibid.)
This sentence is interpreted as 'I did not take any money from yours'.
2- Another literary use is 'to be adjacent to':
(8) The two houses touch.
3- 'To affect' is another use:
(9) Just don't touch anything in my room (AHM).
(10) Who touched me, who touched my dresses?
Summary of Chapters
1. Semantic Classification: Defines verbs of touch within the broader paradigm of sensation verbs and establishes a tripartite categorization based on subject roles and control.
2. In English: Explores the wide range of metaphorical and literary applications of the verbs "touch" and "feel", including physical, emotional, and social meanings.
3. In Arabic: Analyzes the specific semantic nuances of Arabic verbs like "lamasa" and "massa", highlighting their usage in religious and literary contexts.
Keywords
Semantic extension, verbs of touch, sensation verbs, English linguistics, Arabic linguistics, metaphor, polysemy, cognitive linguistics, cultural influence, physical perception, literary usage, comparative linguistics, emotional feeling, agentive verbs, flip verbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the semantic extensions of verbs related to the sense of touch in both English and Arabic, exploring how these verbs move from literal physical meanings to metaphorical applications.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The primary themes include the classification of sensation verbs, the polysemy of touch-related verbs, and the role of cultural perception in shaping language.
What is the central research question?
The study seeks to identify how verbs of touch are metaphorically extended across different languages and how culture influences these linguistic processes.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The study uses a comparative and analytical approach, examining existing literature, linguistic categorization (such as Experience, Activity, and Percept), and literary examples to map semantic usage.
What is discussed in the main body?
The main body details the various uses of English verbs like "touch" and "feel," followed by an investigation into Arabic equivalents like "lamasa," "massa," and "jassa" in both everyday and classical contexts.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include semantic extension, metaphor, polysemy, cross-linguistic study, sensation verbs, and contrastive linguistics.
How does the English verb "touch" differ from its Arabic counterparts?
The study reveals that while both languages use touch verbs for physical and metaphorical purposes, the specific range of these meanings differs, with English showing a distinct set of extensions compared to the Arabic roots.
What is the significance of the "deliberately test" mentioned?
The "deliberately test" is a linguistic tool used to distinguish between verbs involving an active agent versus those denoting involuntary perception.
How does the conclusion summarize the findings?
The conclusion states that both English and Arabic categorize touch verbs into major and minor types, and it notes that English verbs of touch generally exhibit a greater variety of extended meanings than their Arabic counterparts.
- Quote paper
- Hussain Hameed Mayuuf (Author), Riyadh Tariq Al-Ameedi (Author), 2021, Semantic Extension in Verbs of Touch in English and Arabic, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/998243
