Cognitive perspective on the novel of Passion (Al-Tashahī ) by Alia Mamdouh

Abstract

The research examines conceptual metaphor cognitive structures in Alia Mamdouh's Arabic novel Al-Tashahī (2007) to understand how metaphorical saturation works as a method of epistemological resistance, rather than simply helping people understand concepts better. The research applies Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), force dynamics, and scalar semantics to study 59 metaphors, which were extracted through systematic methods, for the quantitative and qualitative assessment of three research questions about metaphor saturation, body involvement, and power dynamics. The research shows three main results, which include: (1) high Domain Diversity Ratios that show systematic schematic incompatibility between different target domains; (2) the hydro-liminal cognitive system uses fluid metaphors to represent states approaching phase-transition thresholds; and (3) the study detected major changes in agency distribution through non-standard force-dynamic arrangements. The research extends CMT through its discovery of scalar liminality as a fundamental mental-processing system, which it combines with empirical evidence to support Cognitive Poetics in analyzing how metaphor density impacts meaning resistance. The research shows that modern Arabic literary studies can contribute to broader cognitive-linguistic theory by analyzing contemporary Arabic narrative.