A Cognitive Approach to Motion Verbs in Ruzbihan Baqli’s Sharhe-Shathiyat

Mystical paradoxes are one of the most meaning-defying representations of mystic experiences and intuitions written in a symbolic, non-normative, and dynamic language. Given the epistemological basis of paradoxes, words have a wide and flexible range of meanings in such texts. Analyzing the words of mystical paradoxes which are often chosen unconsciously by their writers can shed light on the reflective and experiential principles of their writers. A cognitive semantic analysis of the word category and its relation to mind is an effective model for doing word analysis in mystical paradoxes. Among the main category of words, verbs play a pivotal role in expressing the epistemological experiences of the mystics. Considering the variety and frequency of motion verbs, this essay carries out a cognitive analysis of motion verbs. These verbs which generally show the inner intuitions and enthusiasm of the mystics are manifested in different ways. Each verb constitutes a semantic category with its different meanings. This essay analyzes the verb category by using Rosch’s prototype theory, Lakoff’s radial categories, and Taylor’s semantic chains. The results indicate that the verb “travel”/ “journey” represents comprehensively all aspects of mystical travel and therefore is considered as the prototype. There is a chain relationship between the cognitive meanings of this verb in Islamic mysticism. The greatest meaning of the chain is cognition and knowledge.