Lexical Collocations in the Dīwān of Imam al-Shāfiʿī: A Semantic Study

Abstract

This study examines lexical collocations in the Dīwān of Imam al-Shāfiʿī and explores their role in shaping and conveying semantic meaning. Adopting a semantic approach, the research analyzes recurring patterns of lexical association and investigates how the co-occurrence of words contributes to meaning construction within the poetic text. The study is organized into a theoretical preface introducing the concept of lexical collocation, its types, significance, and governing principles, followed by two analytical sections devoted to verbal and nominal collocational patterns. Through a systematic examination of collocations across the Dīwān, the research identifies the extent to which lexical items regularly occur together and the semantic effects generated by these associations. The findings reveal a rich presence of collocations at both the verbal and nominal levels, with free collocations constituting the most dominant pattern. Regular collocations occur less frequently but nevertheless contribute to textual coherence and semantic precision. The study further demonstrates that lexical collocations play an essential role in enriching the meanings of words and expressions, facilitating more nuanced interpretation, and reinforcing the communicative and stylistic effectiveness of al-Shāfiʿī’s poetry. Consequently, lexical association emerges as a significant mechanism in the semantic organization of the Dīwān.