JJMLL » JJMLL Issues
Influence of Symmetry Theory on Understanding the Qur'anic Ayas
Abstract
Symmetry theory is a well-known mathematical theory, which has been applied to physics and chemistry as well as other scientific disciplines. Here, we apply the symmetry theory to language in general and to the Holy Quran in specific. We argue that there is ample evidence for this theory in language such as the X-bar theory, parallelism and the mirror image derivation across languages. We show that there are vertical as well as horizontal types of symmetry, some of which have a line of symmetry while others have a virtual point. The data is analyzed from a semantic angle with some reference to syntax. We focus on symmetry at the Aya (verse) level. The paper found that symmetry can help interpret Ayas of similar wording or similar structures. It also found that symmetry theory presents a solution for the either-or-pause Ayas. Further, it showed how symmetry theory help solve ellipsis in the Holy Quran. Finally, the paper revealed that there are symmetry-less sentences that communicate propositions without the need for a symmetrical image.
Keywords: Symmetry Theory, the Holy Quran, X’ Theory, Semantics, Discourse Analysis.
Authors: Ayman Yasin
, Aiman E. Al-Rawajfeh
Doi: https://doi.org/10.47012/jjmll.14.3.3
Cited by: Jordan Journal of Modern Languages and Literatures (JJMLL) 2022, 14 (3): 495-516
Full text
References
Al-Dgour, Suliman & Aiman Al-Rawajfeh. 2019. Symmetry in the Qur'an: Setting Foundation and Application. Islamiyyat Al- Ma'rifah 96: 19-54.
Al-Rawajfeh, Aiman. 2018a. The theory of Set Point Net in the Holy Qur'an: The Principle of The Theory. Al-Utroha (Humanities) 3 (9): 11-22.
Al-Rawajfeh, Aiman. 2018b. The Theory of Set Point Net in the Holy Qur'an: An Approach to Innovation and Recreation. Al-Utroha (Humanities) 3 (13): 11-26.
Al-Rawajfeh, Aiman. 2018c. The secrets of the Interconnections in the Holy Qur'an: Cementing Phrases. Al-Utroha (Qur'anic studies) 3 (7): 9-20.
Al-Rawajfeh, Aiman. 2019. Group theory and Set Point in the Holy Qur'an: Set Point in verses, Sentences and Words in Surah (Chapter) Al-Baqarah as a Model. Quranica 11 (1): 107-122.
An’am. 2017. Contextuality of symmetries in the Quran. Nasser University- Yemen. 9: 81-103.
Baker, Mark. 1985. The Mirror Principle and Morphosyntactic Explanation. Linguistic Inquiry 16: 373-415.
Baker, Mark. 1988. Incorporation: A Theory of Grammatical Function Changing. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Benmamoun, Elabbas. 2000. The Feature Structure of Functional Categories: A Comparative Study of Arabic Dialects. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Brody, Michael. 2000. Mirror theory: Syntactic representation in perfect syntax. Linguistic Inquiry 31 (1): 29-56.
Chomsky, Noam. 1970. Remarks on Nominalization. In Jacobs, RA and PS Rosenbaum (eds.) Readings in English Transformational Grammar, 184-221. Waltham: Ginn.
Chomsky, Noam. 1993. Lectures on government and binding: The Pisa Lectures (No. 9). Amsterdam: Walter de Gruyter.
Fairclough, Norman. 2001. Critical discourse analysis. How to analyze talk in institutional settings: A casebook of methods, 25-38. In McHoul, Alec & Rapley, Mark (eds.) Continuum, New York.
Fairclough, Norman. 1989. Language and Power. London and New York: Longman.
Ghazali, Kamila. 2004. The Rhetoric of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad: A Critical Discourse Perspective. Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya Press.
Halle, Morris & Alec Marantz. 1993. Distributed morphology and the pieces of inflection. In Kenneth Hale and S. Jay Keyser (eds.). The View from Building 20: 111-176. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Halliday, Michael Alexander. 1971. Language in a Social Perspective. Educational Review 23 (3): 165-188.
Halliday, Michael, Alexander, and Ruqaiya Hasan. 1976. Cohesion in English. London: Routledge.
Hünig, Wolfgang. 1998. Discourse Analysis: The State of the Art. Gerhard-Mercator-Universität Duisburg, Gesamthochschule
Imani, Aliakbar & Habil, Hadina. 2015. Discourse Analysis of Dr. Mahathir’s Business Speech. Global Advances in Business Communication 4 (1): 1-38.
Itani, Talal. 2014. Quran in English: Modern English Translation. Clear and Easy to Understand. ClearQuran. com.
Rashid, Haleema, and Muhammad Lodhi. 2020. Stylistics Analysis of the Two Translated Versions of the Holy Quran with Special Reference of Surah Al-Noor. Sciences 6 (2): 88-110.
Van Dijk, Teun. 1993. Principles of Critical Discourse Analysis. Discourse & Society 4 (2): 249-283.
Van Dijk, Teun. 1998. Ideology: A Multidisciplinary Approach. London: Sage.
Van Dijk, Teun. (Ed.). 1997. Discourse as Social Interaction (Vol. 2). London: Sage.
Van Dijk, Teun. (Ed.). 2011. Discourse Studies: A Multidisciplinary Introduction. London: Sage.
Widdowson, H. G. 2004. Text, Context, Pretext: Critical issues in Discourse Analysis. New York: Blackwell.
Wodak, Ruth, Rudolf De Cillia, Martin Reisigl & Karin Liebhart. 2009. Discursive Construction of National Identity. Edingurgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Wodak, Ruth. & Norman Fairclough. 1997. Discourse as Social Interaction. Van Dijk, T. A. (ed.), 258-284. London: Sage.
Wodak, Ruth & Michael Meyer. 2009. Critical Discourse Analysis: History, Agenda, Theory and Methodology. Methods of Critical Discourse Analysis 2: 1-22.
Yumin, Cheng. 2007. An analysis of style features of inaugural speeches given by American Presidents based on the functional theory of Han Lide. MA thesis. Tai Yuan science University
Zardini, Ahmad & Mojtaba Moghaddam. 2020. A Comparative Study of the" Tasrif" Verses in the Holy Quran in Al-Mizan and Majma Al-Bayan Commentaries. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding 7 (2): 56-66.
Zhuang-lin, Hu. 1988. A Course of Linguistics. Peking: Peking University Press.
Copyright © 2006-2022. All Rights Reserved, Yarmouk University
