Semantic Network of a Modern Persian Preposition: " Az in a Cognitive Semantic Framework

The present research aims to examine the behavior of a widely used preposition in Modern Persian (Farsi), namely ‹az› within the framework of cognitive semantics. The analysis is geared towards determining the prototypical and various distinct senses of this preposition and proposing a semantic network for it. The nature of the research is descriptive- analytical and the type is corpus-based. The selected corpus is Farhang-e Sokhan (Sokhan Dictionary) and the tools applied are those of cognitive semantics e.g. categorization tools, prototype, cognitive schemas, semantic predominance, semantic network and protoscene. ‹Az› shows that it fits the criteria for the determination of the prototypical sense of a linguistic item e.g. highest frequency of occurrence and composite formation. The prototypical sense of ‹Az› constitutes the core sense within a semantic network, which is presented. This network makes it possible to establish and explain the differences between the concrete and the abstract (metaphorical) functions of the preposition under study.