The Theory of the Spirit of Meaning in the Viewpoint of Allame javadi Amoli and the Cognitive Linguistic: A Comparative Study

Understanding the Quranic verses requires true principles for text understanding. Comparative study is a tool able to show the merits and defects of different methods. According to new researches, cognitive linguistics, as a branch of modern linguistics, has demonstrated its capabilities as a method for understanding the meaning of Quranic verses. Both the Cognitive prototype theory and traditional theory of the spirit of meaning can be used to analyze allegorical words or words with different meanings and usages in Quran. So the comparison between these two in an appropriate domain will show their advantages and usefulness in respect to each other. In many cases in his interpretation, Allame Javadi Amoli applies this traditional theory; therefore we have used his analysis according to this theory for comparing this analysis with the cognitive linguistics analysis. Differences and similarities between these two theories will be clarified when we compare their analysis of words like Mizan, Arsh, Taqva, and Zawq. Their differences are most visible in single meaning and also in their flexibility in respect to the meaning in different situations.