1887
Volume 50, Issue 4
  • ISSN 0521-9744
  • E-ISSN: 1569-9668
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Abstract

AbstractThis paper discusses a particular type of Arabic word combinations, where basically two words, either antonyms or synonyms, are coordinated in fixed phrases or ‘coup lings’ that are of frequent occurrence in the language. Depending on whether the semantic relationship between the component parts of a given coupling is one of antonymy or synonymy, the study identifies two subtypes of these phrases, namely ‘Antonymous Couplings’ and ‘Synonymous Couplings’, respectively. Both types of couplings are here subjected to a close examination with a view to pointing out their main characteristics and identifying the various types of constraints governing the positioning of their components in relation to each other. The study also sheds light on some cross-linguistic similarities and differences of these couplings, their relevance to human experience, and their translatability from one language into another. It is concluded: (i) that both types of couplings are characterized by brevity, forcefulness, symbolism, and structural harmony; (ii) that the particular order in which the two components of a given coupling are arranged is not haphazard; rather it is governed by one or more of a number of considerations; (iii) that both types of couplings lend themselves well to functional and dynamic translation due to the fact that the pairing of words in such couplings is a linguistic universal, which in turn is attributable to the similarity of human experience. RésuméCet article traite d’un type particulier de combinaisons de mots en arabe, dans lesquelles deux mots, soit antonymes, soit synonymes, sont associes dans des phrases fixes ou jonctions., qui apparaissent frequemment dans la langue. Selon que la relation semantique entre les composants d’une jonction donnee est du type antonyme ou synonyme, l’etude identifie deux sous-types de phrases, a savoir respectivement, les jonctions d’antonymes. et les .jonctions de synonymes. Les deux types de jonctions font ici l’objet d’un examen approfondi, en vue de montrer leurs caracteristiques principales et d’identifier les differents types de contraintes qui regissent la position de leurs composants les uns par rapport aux autres. L’etude eclaire egalement certaines similitudes et differences inter-linguistiques de ces jonctions, leur rapport avec l’experience humaine et leur traductibilite d’une langue a l’autre. Elle conclut en disant que: (i) les deux types de jonctions se caracterisent par la concision, la vigueur, le symbolisme et l’harmonie structurelle ; (ii) l’ordre particulier dans lequel se trouvent les deux composants d’une jonction donnee n’est pas du au hasard, mais il est plutot determine par une ou plusieurs considerations; (iii) les deux types de jonctions se pretent bien a la traduction fonctionnelle et dynamique, en raison du fait que le groupement de mots dans ces jonctions est un univers linguistique qui, a son tour, est attribuable a la similitude de l’experience humaine.

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/content/journals/10.1075/babel.50.4.05sah
2004-01-01
2025-02-18
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/content/journals/10.1075/babel.50.4.05sah
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  • Article Type: Research Article
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