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Volume 8, Issue 4 (12-2025)
JSAL 2025, 8(4): 133-157 |
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Arefi A, Karimpour Kasin R. (2025). The Aesthetics of Conceptual Metaphor in Nahj al-Balagha’s Khutbat al-Qasi’ah According to the Lakoff and Johnson Theory [In Persian]. JSAL. 8(4), 133-157.
URL: http://jsal.ierf.ir/article-1-203-en.html
URL: http://jsal.ierf.ir/article-1-203-en.html
1- PhD in Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran , ahmad.arefi@yahoo.com
2- Master's student in Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2- Master's student in Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (1148 Views)
Nahj al-Balagha, as a religious work with a pronounced literary approach, conveys profound religious and ethical concepts through diverse conceptual metaphors, articulated in eloquent and comprehensible language to facilitate the mapping of abstract concepts onto sensory experiences. This process, aimed at enhancing audience comprehension and impact, is realized by relying on the cognitive structure inherent in these conceptual metaphors. Building upon the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) proposed by Lakoff and Johnson, this research undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the metaphors within Khutbat al-Qasi’ah (Sermon 192), investigating their multifaceted role in strengthening literary aesthetics and effectively transmitting religious concepts. The research methodology is qualitative and analytical, focusing on the extraction and categorization of metaphors based on the Lakoff and Johnson model. Structural metaphors (e.g., ‘Divine Honor as Garment’), ontological metaphors (e.g., ‘the Arrow of Warning’ as a threatening object), and orientational metaphors (e.g., ‘the Fire of Fanaticism’ and ‘the Darkness of Ignorance’) have been analyzed as the primary components. These mappings transform abstract concepts such as honor, arrogance, and misguidance into tangible imagery, thereby easing their cognitive grasp for the audience. The research findings indicate that the aesthetic quality of this sermon resides in the successful integration of these three categories of metaphors. Through the creation of rhetorical brevity, coherent rhythm, and dynamic visual imagery, these metaphors elevate the discourse to a high level of eloquence. The profound semantic contrasts generated by opposing concepts—such as the garment of honor versus contrary pride, or the light of faith versus the fire of fanaticism—exert a deep emotional and intellectual impact on the listener. From a religious perspective, this concretization directly invites the audience to contemplate the virtues of piety and humility while shunning vices. Cognitively, these metaphorical patterns reflect the prevailing thought structures of the Imam’s era while simultaneously possessing adaptability across different cultures due to their universal nature. Ultimately, the conceptual metaphors in Khutbat al-Qasi’ah serve not merely as rhetorical devices but as pivotal cognitive architectures that play a vital role in moral guidance and enhancing audience perception.
Keywords: Nahj al-Balagha, Khutbat al-Qasi’ah, Conceptual Metaphor, Lakoff and Johnson Theory, Cognitive Aesthetics
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Discourse Analysis
Received: 2025/08/20 | Accepted: 2025/10/31 | Published: 2025/12/1
Received: 2025/08/20 | Accepted: 2025/10/31 | Published: 2025/12/1
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