سیده سکینه حسینی

One of the theories in cognitive linguistics research, which was first proposed by Mark Johnson, is image schemas. The main point in this theory is that due to human activity, movement and physical presence in the outside world, we gain experiences through our body and living environment that help us organize our thoughts in abstract fields. The language of the Qur'ān contains valuable themes and messages, some of which are organized by means of image schemas, and the audience can achieve a deeper understanding of abstract and intangible concepts by visualizing the ayahs. Therefore, the present descriptive-analytical research aims to investigate Johnson's image schemas, that is, containment schema, force schema and path schema in Surah An-Nisa and to identify the most frequent schema and their abstract concepts according to the function of each of them in the interpretative study of the Qur'ān. The findings of the research show that containment schemas indicate concepts such as heaven, doubt and suspicion, while force schemas show concepts like disbelief, atheism, and avoiding sins, and path schemas, with the highest frequency, signal concepts such as happiness, dignity and status, respect and descending of revelation and the Qur'ān.

The contemporary achievements of linguistics indicate that in addition to conveying reflective themes, language represents cognitive themes and induces mental themes. Accordingly, cognitive semanticists have conducted studies in this regard and have given in some theories. One of these theories is George Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s conceptual metaphor theory. Our study set out to examine the conceptualizations of the abstract concepts existing in the Repentance Chapter based on the container metaphor – as one of the source domains of ontological metaphors – via a descriptive-analytical approach. Our analysis of the obtained cases demonstrated that each of the abstract concepts is formed based on the conditions of the verse – i.e., the theme and objective of the verse is formed based on the container or the inside matter – and the conceptualizations are not accidental at all. For instance, with regard to the abstract concept of fitna, we see that the conceptualization is based on both the container and the inside matter (object/material), which is a small example of the infinite knowledge and wisdom of the sublime God. Likewise, the conceptualizations in other verses are totally related to the requirements and station of the theme and purpose of the verse. The frequencies obtained from the Repentance chapter reveal that the conceptualizations based on the container are more than the conceptualizations based on the inside matter. The reason for this is the emphasis on the precise selection of the source domain and its relationship with the verse theme and purpose.

Introduction

In semiotics, it is attempted to analyze texts and search for hidden meanings. Structuralist semioticians place great emphasis on the relationship between elements and semiotic studies and focus on the role of the semiotic texture in meaning and content formation. Semiotics was used by Saussure as “a science that deals with the examination of signs within social life”. Semiotics refer to the study of symbolic systems such as languages, symbols, codes, and signals. Language is an independent concept among symbolic systems; “… and contents and meanings are constructed exclusively through an active process of interpretation. In the area of structuralism, connections should inevitably be made between signs and codes where they become meaningful”. The reflection of patriotism is a fundamental aspect manifested in Shawqi’s poetry, having become an influential element at the content and language level of his poems. Given their semantic extensiveness, his poems can be examined through a variety of dimensions. His images and poetic meanings can be achieved using the science of semiotics.

Theoretical Framework:

Semioticians pay attention to the recognition of mechanisms that shape discourse such as metaphors, symbols, and other rhetorical techniques. In addition to their explicit meanings, each word may bear an implicit meaning as well which involves social, cultural, personal, ideological, and emotional associations. Shawqi’s patriotic poems were selected among his other works as the subtlety of his emotions and affections are manifested in these poems to a higher extent than his other works. The poet uses these affections to produce highly influential pieces. As a vital part of poetry, affection brings about certain spiritual beauties to the reader. Examination into poetry through such means offers a different, new perspective towards texts. The entire selected poems in this study were discussed in terms of aesthetic symbols, symbols of time and space, symbols related to syntactic norm deviation, and text analysis through vertical and horizontal views. In his 2005 dissertation, Hamid Valizadeh examined Shawqi’s thoughts, expressions, meanings, and how they are employed to create imageries and literary devices. In another study in 2000, Navazallah Farhadi investigated aspects of poetic relationships and similarities between Malek al-Shoara Bahar and Ahmed Shawqi in subjects including praising national heroes, addressing social situations, fighting against tyranny, calling for solidarity, and remembering former prominent figures. In their 2012 study, Sakinah Malmir and Firouz Harirchi conducted a comparative examination of the views of these two poets and attempted to express points of similarities and differences between the poets’ opinions regarding the love of the East.

Using the descriptive-analytical method, the present study is an attempt to examine manifestations of the poet’s sense of patriotism in four subjects including aesthetic symbols, symbols of time and space, symbols related to syntactic norm deviation, and text analysis through vertical and horizontal views. The study was conducted to provide answers to the following questions: What symbols are employed in the poet’s patriotic poems in order to present new readings? What are the aesthetic aspects of Shawqi’s patriotic poems? What are the concepts within hidden meanings in patriotic poems?

In his poetry, Shawqi has employed numerous symbols such as semiotics of title and text as well as semiotics related to intertextuality and aesthetic symbols, symbols of time and space, symbols related to syntactic norm deviation, and text analysis through vertical and horizontal views. In the area of semiotics, the poet expresses symbols such as metaphors, metonymy, simile, hyperbole, etc. His symbols related to time and space such as al-layl, al-Fajr, al-qad, al-sabah, and khatir are majorly used to reflect his longing for his home country. Certain instances of syntactic norm deviations in Shawqi’s poems involve delays and dedications, redundancies, omissions, and briefness. Syntactic norm deviations or evading the rules governing language is normal in poetry; Shawqi does not disrupt language combinations considerably and attempts to connect to the audience mostly in a friendly, ordinary manner. As for text analysis in terms of vertical and horizontal aspects, the choice of signifier out of a set of alternative element depends on factors such as codes, contracts, denotations, rhetorical intentions, personal limitations, etc. The analysis of replacement relationships demonstrates the value of a particular notion in a literary text; replacement analysis involves conducting comparison between each present signifier in a chain of words or hidden signifier that could have been chosen instead of the existing signifier. Therefore, given the employed signifiers, it can be inferred that Shawqi’s work shines best in the semantic area in which aesthetic elements are used to offer beauty and a special literary level to his poetry.

These four symbols were used not only to the purpose of literary showcasing and poetic imagery creation, but also in line with producing meanings and highlighting the poet’s spiritual, emotional thoughts and experiences. The use of these semantic symbols has resulted in increasing emotions, image creation, manifestation of words and provoking a sense of nostalgia and numerous readings in the minds of the audience. Rhetorical techniques such as metaphor, metonymy, simile, hyperbole, etc. as well as substitution, companionship, and norm deviations are symbols that play an influential role in recording the poet’s emotional experiences. Using these symbols, the poet seeks to present concepts such as sense of patriotism and nostalgia and express his thoughts and emotions. Shawqi employs these symbols-meanings and create literary imagery in order to offer dynamism to the symbols used in poems, setting them free of his explicit implications. Denotations used in these poems are mostly dependent on personal, emotional, and social aspects of a single signified, while each symbol has helped increase the emotional load and beauty of Shawqi’s poetry.

Planting date is one of the important issues in agronomy that could be changing quantitative and qualitative characteristics of crop seeds. Planting date changes seed quality by providing different environmental conditions such as temperature, relative humidity, day length, radiation, and incidence of pathogens. It is also effective on seed yield. It affects duration of growth and development. A suitable planting date leads to optimal utilization of climatic conditions such as temperature, humidity, day length. It is also important for flowering and grain filling period to take place at the same time with favorite environmental conditions. As a result, it can improve seed yield and seed quality. Some factors such as high temperatures, frequent wetting and drying of air, high relative humidity, and continuous rainfalls have a significant negative effects on seed quality. These conditions during seed development reduce seed quality in the field. It is obvious that such conditions can be occurred on both early and late planting dates. Thus, according to an important role of planting date in determination of seed yield and quality, in this study the effects of environmental conditions during seed filling period on seed yield and quality of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) were evaluated by implementing different planting dates in field conditions. This experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications at Agricultural Research Station of Gonbad during 2010, which is located at three kilometers northeast of the city, with latitude and longitude of 37˚16́ N and 55˚12́ E, respectively, and a height of 45 meters above sea level. In this study, the genotype VC-1973A was cultivated in five planting dates. The planting dates included April 21, May 10, June 3, June 20 and July 12. The mungbean developmental stages were divided into three stages includes planting to flowering (PD-R1), flowering to beginning of seed filling (R1-R5), and beginning of seed filling to seed maturity (R5-R7). Afterwards, the relationship between the length of these developmental stages and environmental factors (temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and photoperiod) occurring during these stages were evaluated in terms of yield and seed quality. Seed quality was determined via germination, accelerated aging, Electrical conductivity tests, and field emergence percentage. Data analysis was performed by SAS 9.1.3 (Institute, Inc), and Excel 2007 was used to draw figures. The results showed that seed quality increased as a result of delayed planting date, whereas seed yield decreased. Germination of the aged seeds increased by 0.23% per day of delay in planting. On the other hand, the electrical conductivity per day of delay in planting decreased by 0.43 µs.cm-1.g-1 which reflects the increase in seed vigor. Delaying the planting date led to an increase in field emergence percentage of about 0.23% per day. In fact, in this study the lowest seed quality was observed for planting date April 21 (first planting date). The reason for this occurrence can be related to occurrence of very high temperatures (more than 40°C) and rainfall during seed development (R5-R7). Although the average air temperature during R5-R7 increased in the next planting dates, but the number of days that temperature was more than 40°C decreased, which consequently led to increased seed quality. Also, the length of R5-R7 decreased by delay in planting date, so filling period (R5-R7) was exposed to environmental factors (particularly high temperatures) for a shorter period. In contrast to seed quality, seed yield decreased linearly with delay in planting date. The highest seed yield (1144.4 kg.ha-1) was achieved in the first planting date (April 21). Then, for each day that planting date was delayed, seed yield decreased by 10.84 kg.ha-1, and finally in the last planting date (July 12) reached the lowest amount (299 kg.ha-1). Reduction of the length of developmental stages (especially R5-R7) was the most important cause of seed yield loss. Although, delay in planting date increased seed quality of mungbean, this delay reduced seed yield. Seed yield in the last planting date decreased 845.4 kg.ha-1 compared to the first planting date. In fact, delay in planting date decreased seed quantity, but increased its quality. The optimum planting date is the date that maintains the seed quality at a satisfactory level and produce high seed yield, simultaneously. Therefore, planting of mungbean in mid-June may lead to higher seed yield, as well as production of high-quality seeds