Analyzing the Role of Sensory Lexis in Constructing Emotional Experience in Surah Ar-Rahman: An Embodied Semantics Approach to the Interaction Between Language and Emotion

Surah Ar-Rahman has long garnered the attention of commentators and linguists due to its sophisticated imagery and novel sensory descriptions. This study aims to investigate the role of sensory lexis in creating emotional experiences for the audience of this Surah through the lens of Embodied Semantics. This approach posits that meaning is not an abstract entity detached from bodily experience; rather, it is the product of the interaction between the mind, body, and environment, emphasizing the role of sensory-motor experiences in conceptual formation and emotional arousal. Using a descriptive-analytical method, data were collected by conducting a comprehensive review of the verses of Surah Ar-Rahman to identify lexis and phrases denoting the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch). Subsequently, drawing on the theoretical foundations of embodied semantics, the study analyzes how these terms activate image schemas and mental simulations, and ultimately, how they influence the elicitation of emotional responses, such as awe (Khashyat), hope, gratitude, and joy, in the listener. Findings indicate that Surah Ar-Rahman—through the strategic and dense application of sensory lexis, particularly in describing the blessings of Paradise and the torments of Hell—reconstructs vivid sensory experiences in the mind of the audience. This sensory reconstruction is directly linked to the brain’s emotional systems and significantly contributes to a deeper understanding of abstract concepts such as Divine Mercy, Justice, and God’s Omnipotence.

کلیدواژه ها:

Surah Ar-Rahman ، Sensory Lexis ، Emotional Experience ، Embodied Semantics