English abstract
This study aims to tackle the Conceptual Blending Theory developed
by Gilles Fauconnier and Mark Turner, and to apply this knowledge in
analyzing metonymys and metaphors in Al- Isharat Al-Ilaheya "Divine
Invocations" book by Abu Hayyan At-Tawhidi in a manner that reveals the
theory's principles and examines its scope of application. The study adopts
the Network Model, as the model representing this theory, since it is more
appropriate for description, analysis and representation. In addition, it has a
lower-degree abstraction than the theory and includes a practical side. This
paper falls within the scope of cognitive semantic studies.
The study assumes that analysis of metaphors in Al- Isharat Al-Ilaheya
"Divine Invocations" Book according to the Network Model gives room for
exploring beyond the superficial structure of this phenomenon and have and
in-depth understanding of the elements that formulate these metonymys and
metaphors, in addition to investigating the dominant awareness in human
speech, by answering the following questions:
1. What is the relation between the Conceptual Blending Theory,
Mental Spaces Theory and Conceptual Metaphor Theory?
2. How can the Network Model elements be employed to tackle
metaphors in Al- Isharat Al-Ilaheya "Divine Invocations" book?
3. Can the theory be extended to build a model for tackling metaphors in
the Arabic Language?
The study's significance can be clarified from two perspectives, the first
of which is related to the theory itself. In fact, this theory has been discussed
by several researches globally, however its existence is still rare in Arabic
studies. To my knowledge, there is no specialized Arabic study that discusses
metaphors according to the Network Model. Accordingly, it is necessary to
introduce this theory and build a model for analysis of metonymys and
metaphors according to the Network Model in order to help with upgrading
scientific Arabic research. The second side, on the other hand, is related to
the corpus we adopted in the analysis. The book is rich in metonymys and
metaphors and didn't receive due attention. So, we hope that this study
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reveals dimensions and depths of metonymys and metaphors from
perspective of the modern theory.
The main findings and conclusions of the study can be summarized as
follows: the spaces network may never come into existence without the
concept of mental space, as the multi-space model in the blending network
is but an elaboration of the bi-space model in the Mental Spaces Theory. This
conclusion led us to find out that the relation between the Blending Theory
and Conceptual Metaphor Theory is based on the bi-space model, since
Fauconnier was influenced by Lakoff and Johnson. The study concludes that
the brain recalls the input spaces through finding the clear relation that links
both compared items and forms a stimulus for building the network.
The study finds that application reveals that metonymy in language is
based on blended space cohesion, and accordingly its significance will be
formed on two phases, by making the first network's blending an input to the
other network. The study also reveals the three types of intensification
common in metaphors: intensification as a way of shortening the chain,
intensification by joining both parts of the vital relation and metaphorical
intensification. Finally, the study provides a practical evidence of the
efficiency of single network with harmonious frameworks in analyzing the
metaphor and its important role in the metaphorical structure.
