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The Conceptualization Pattern of Time in the Qur’an: A Cognitive Analysis and Its Reflection in Persian Translations
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Asiyeh Zou Elm   |
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Abstract: (5 Views) |
| Time is an abstract yet fundamental concept that, in many languages, is typically represented through more concrete domains such as space and through the use of directional metaphors. Cultural and linguistic differences in the perception of time lead to the formation of distinct conceptualization patterns. This study adopts a descriptive–analytical approach to explain how time is conceptualized in Qur’anic Arabic and to examine how this conceptual pattern is reflected in several Persian translations of the Qur’an. In Persian, English, and even contemporary Arabic, time is commonly conceptualized through similar directional metaphors centered on the notion of “forward movement.” However, in the established vocabulary of classical Arabic—where certain words possess both spatial and temporal meanings—and in their usage in the Qur’an, a different conceptualization emerges. This model is based on the element of “visual presence,” depicting the past as positioned in front and the future as behind. It appears that the conceptualization of time in Arabic has evolved from the period of Qur’anic revelation to the present, largely due to cultural interactions and linguistic borrowing. An examination of six Persian translations of the Qur’an shows that none demonstrates a consistent approach in rendering temporal expressions derived from the spatial domain, indicating insufficient attention to differences in cognitive patterns between languages. |
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| Keywords: Conceptualization of Time, Directional Metaphors, Qur’an, Cognitive Approach, Translation. |
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Full-Text [PDF 493 kb]
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/07/1 | Accepted: 2026/07/1 | Published: 2026/07/1
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