Linguistic levels and their semantic manifestations in Ka‘b ibn Zuhayr’s poem “Banat Su‘ad”

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the linguistic levels and their semantic manifestations in Ka‘b ibn Zuhayr’s poem “Banat Su‘ad”, through a linguistic and analytical approach that examines the interaction among phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical, semantic, and rhetorical levels, and explores their contribution to meaning construction and the formation of the poetic experience. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, complemented by a contextual approach, by analyzing linguistic phenomena within their textual contexts, identifying their semantic, aesthetic, and psychological functions, and relating them to the overall structure of the poem. The findings demonstrate that the poem is based on an integrated linguistic structure in which its various levels interact to produce meaning. The phonological and rhythmic dimensions contribute significantly to expressing the poet’s psychological transformations, while morphological forms and syntactic structures organize the temporal and semantic movement of the text. The lexical and semantic analysis further reveals the multiplicity and interrelation of semantic fields, particularly those associated with separation, longing, journey, fear, strength, apology, praise, security, and reassurance. The study also demonstrates that rhetorical imagery does not merely serve an aesthetic function; rather, it plays a fundamental role in intensifying meaning and embodying the poet’s psychological experience. The study concludes that the multiplicity of poetic purposes in “Banat Su‘ad” does not undermine its organic and semantic unity, as its various sections are integrated within a gradual psychological trajectory that begins with separation and longing, proceeds through journey, fear, and anxiety, and ultimately culminates in apology, hope, security, and reassurance. The study argues that analyzing linguistic levels provides an effective approach to uncovering the deeper structure of poetic texts and illuminating the interaction among language, meaning, context, and psychological experience in classical Arabic poetry.