An Investigation to Semantic Fields of a Poem (Banat Su’ad) By Ka’b Bin Zuhair

Abstract

The theory of semantic fields can be considered as a modern semantic theory which appeared in the west in the twentieth century. The purpose is to study meanings behind the words and sentences. This field has also roots in the Arabic linguistic heritage, especially in dictionaries related to linguistic subjects. The purpose of this research is to investigate this theory and its application it to the poem of (Banat Su’ad) that Ka’b bin Zuhair recited in front of the Messenger of Allah Mohammed (Peace be upon him). The prophet Mohammed was astonished by the poem and he blessed him and granted him peace.

This study was based on the descriptive analytical approach, as it tracked the vocabulary in the poem, and collected them into specific groups - semantic fields - and explained their meanings in the context in which they appeared. Then, at the end of each field, a light has been shed on semantic relationships between the vocabularies of that field.

The studied material has been divided it into four main sections, an introduction, which includes the explanation semantic field concept and their significance, as well as a brief regarding the poem (Banat Su’ad) and its writer. The first section deals with vital rational beings, the second with significance irrational beings, the third with unimportant beings, and the fourth section with abstractions. Finally, the researcher has reached the most significant results which have been mentioned as conclusions.