Semantics

This͏͏͏͏ study͏͏͏͏ investigates semantics. It considers semantics as one of the labels for the same science – science about meaning in its numerous forms and about the preconditions of genuine meaning.͏͏͏͏͏͏ Thus,͏͏͏͏ the͏͏͏͏ subject͏͏͏͏ matter͏͏͏͏ of͏͏͏͏ semantics͏͏͏͏ includes͏͏͏͏ everything͏͏͏͏ that͏͏͏͏ has͏͏͏͏ meaning͏͏͏͏ or͏͏͏͏ that͏͏͏͏ serves͏͏͏͏ as͏͏͏͏ a͏͏͏͏ sign͏͏͏͏ or͏͏͏͏ symbol. Indeed, one of the major advances in the linguistic investigation of semantics has been the development of generative semantics which brought matters full circle as far as the textual analysis is concerned. It is important to note that semantics cannot be separated from several auxiliary sciences such as phonological, morphological, syntactic, and lexicographical studies.
Semantics is closely linked to what may be termed the theory of communication, which requires a tripartite system: the speaker, the listener, and the linguistic event. To this is added the linguistic symbol in its semantic dimensions, whereby it activates the mental image of the linguistic repository within the field of discourse.
The theory of naẓm (structural arrangement) can be regarded as the most significant effort made in the Arabic tradition to integrate syntax into the field of semantics and to consider it an effective means of transmitting meaning from speaker to listener—especially within the realm of literary creativity. The scientific͏͏environment͏͏of͏͏that͏͏time͏͏enabled͏͏‘Abd͏͏al-Qāhir͏͏to͏͏present͏͏his͏͏theory,͏͏drawing upon both the psychological and spoken dimensions of speech on one hand, and syntactic studies on the other.
Similarly, a syntactic inclination emerged in the West, represented by Chomsky, who rejected the descriptive approach that remains confined to surface linguistic structures. Instead, he focused on the creative aspect of language as expressed in use, implying that the nature of the speaker possesses a kind of generative grammar through which the individual attains mastery of their own unique linguistic system.