Words whose apparent meaning is not fully understood in Arabic proverbs: An analytical study

Abstract

Abstract: This research examines a prominent semantic phenomenon in Arabic proverbs: the failure of the literal meaning to convey the intended meaning, despite the clarity and unambiguousness of the words. The study explores the reasons for this disconnect between the apparent meaning and the intended meaning through an analytical examination of examples of Arabic proverbs whose true meaning cannot be grasped based solely on their wording. The research is based on the hypothesis that the ambiguity in these proverbs does not stem from linguistic complexity or verbal obscurity, but rather from a semantic shift from literal to figurative meaning, or from the use of metonymy, metaphor, and allegory, or from references to external stories and events whose verbal clues have been omitted for the sake of brevity. The research employs an analytical approach, analyzing the proverbs in light of linguistic interpretations and elucidating the relationship between the apparent and hidden meanings. The research concluded that the semantic ambiguity in some Arabic proverbs does not stem from the words themselves, but rather from a break in the direct link between the apparent meaning and the intended meaning.