Arabic Literature

Analysis of Conceptual Metaphors of Time in the Poem “Marthiyyat Yawm Tāfih” by Nazik al‑Malaika

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Kimia Fathi

Ph.D, Graduate in Arabic Language and Literature, Kashan University, Kashan, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22059/jalit.2026.403995.613031
Abstract
The conceptual metaphor of time is one of the most prominent cognitive mechanisms through which abstract concepts are reconstructed within tangible linguistic structures. Time, as an immaterial concept, is not directly perceived through the senses; rather, it is cognitively reconstructed through conceptual mappings grounded in concrete experiential domains, conferring upon it an existential character that can be imagined and engaged with. Based on this framework, and given the remarkable density of conceptual metaphors of time in Nazik al-Malaika's poem "Marthiyyat Yawm Tafih," this study adopts a descriptive–analytical approach. It examines the mapping structure of these metaphors and their cognitive patterns, addressing two central questions: How is time reconstructed through conceptual metaphors in this poem? And what cognitive and existential functions do these metaphors perform within poetic discourse?The findings reveal that the metaphorical structure of time is organized around three major cognitive schemas: time as an object, time as a place, and time as a direction. In the first schema, time is represented as a limited resource that can be lost, saved, or invested, placing it within a logic of possession and loss. In the second schema, time appears as a symbolic spatial domain within which the poetic self moves, reorganizing events and experiences at the level of emotional perception. In the third schema, time is depicted as a flowing dynamic direction or path that cannot be resisted, reflecting a dimension of existential determinism.The interweaving of these metaphorical structures leads to a reconstruction of time within the poetic text. Time ceases to function merely as a chronological framework for organizing events and instead becomes an active entity that occupies a position and exerts direct influence on the formation of the self's identity and the trajectory of its destiny. Accordingly, poetic discourse acquires a distinct ontological density, as language emerges not merely as a means of expression but as a generative cognitive system that contributes to the construction of meaning and the shaping of the horizon of existential experience.

Keywords

conceptual metaphor of time, mapping components, Marthiyyat Yawm Tāfih, Lakoff and Johnson’s theory, Nazik al‑Malaika.
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  • Receive Date 09 October 2025
  • Revise Date 30 June 2026
  • Accept Date 23 August 2026

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