Applying Prototype Theory to Lexical Semantic Analysis: A Case Study of the Arabic Lexeme (Sabt)

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the semantic structure of the Arabic lexeme Sabt as documented in the Taj al-‘Arus dictionary, using cognitive Prototype Theory. It seeks to uncover the semantic network connecting the various meanings of the root and to identify the central prototype that organizes these meanings.

Methods: A descriptive-analytical approach grounded in cognitive linguistics was employed. Meanings of the lexeme Sabt were extracted from Taj al-‘Arus, grouped into semantic categories, and analyzed to determine their relationship to a proposed central prototype.

Results: The analysis revealed that the meaning “cutting” functions as the central semantic prototype from which most other meanings are derived. These include notions such as stillness, time, tanned leather, and even meanings seemingly opposed to the prototype, such as extension and sending forth. These meanings were mapped in a radial semantic network centered on the prototype “cutting,” illustrating that lexical meanings are not isolated units but interconnected cognitive constructs.

Conclusions: The findings affirm the utility of Prototype Theory in Arabic lexical analysis and demonstrate the deep semantic cohesion among derivatives of a single root. The study proposes “cutting” as the core cognitive prototype underlying the various meanings of the lexeme Sabt.