The Semantıc Acquısıtıon Of Infınıtıve Wıthın The Framework Of Context

Abstract

In the Arabic language, the signification of a word (lafẓ) is not derived solely from the lexicon. Signification is categorized into six dimensions: lexical, phonological, morphological, syntactic, contextual, and social. Accurate semantic determination requires the consideration of all these distinct types, as speakers employ language not only based on dictionary definitions but also through intonation, grammatical structure, and situational context. Neglecting any of these dimensions inevitably leads to incomplete or erroneous comprehension.

This study demonstrates the insufficiency of relying exclusively on lexical definitions and highlights the pivotal role of contextual signification (siyāq) in shaping meaning, using the verbal noun (maṣdar) as a case study. Although classically defined merely as a word denoting an event, this research reveals that the maṣdar possesses semantic layers extending beyond this basic definition. Through an analysis of evidence from the Qur’ān, Arabic poetry, and various syntactic structures, twenty distinct meanings of the maṣdar were identified, each emerging from specific contextual elements. The findings underscore that context is a determinant factor in comprehending Arabic texts. Reducing meaning to dictionary equivalents significantly diminishes the text’s expressive power and depth. Consequently, this study contributes to the fields of Arabic linguistics, exegesis (tafsīr), and rhetoric (balāghah) by proving that even fundamental elements like the maṣdar carry rich semantic nuances when analyzed through a context-based approach.