أثر السياق في تحديد العلاقة بين الدال والمدلول: دراسة تأصيلية وتطبيقية فيضوء اللسانيات الحديثة والتصور العربي التراثي(The Role of Context in Defining the Relationship between the Signifier andthe Signified: A Theoretical and Applied Study in Light of ModernLinguistics and Classical Arabic Heritage)

Abstract

This article explored the role of context in determining the relationship between
the signifier and the signified, drawing upon both modern linguistic theories and
foundational insights from the Arabic linguistic heritage. While modern linguists,
such as Ferdinand de Saussure and Stephen Ullmann, asserted that the
relationship between the signifier and signified is arbitrary and conventional, this
article demonstrates that contextual factors substantially influence and shape this
relationship, granting language a dynamic and adaptable semantic character.
The theoretical section reveals that context extends beyond the linguistic level to
include emotional, situational, and cultural dimensions, all of which guide
interpretation and meaning construction. The applied section further illustrates
that considering these contextual layers is essential for accurate textual
interpretation and semantic analysis. The article concludes that classical Arab
linguists were profoundly aware of the role of context in generating meaning and
shaping the signifier-signified relationship. This awareness provides a strong
foundation for analyzing linguistic and literary texts, reaffirming the centrality of
context as a tool for uncovering intended meanings and avoiding
misinterpretation.