The Semiotics of the Title in Gibran’s The Prophet: A Comparison Between English and Arabic Linguistic Study

Authors

  • Nisrin Ghbes

    Arabic Language Department, Arts and Human Sciences Faculty, Damascus University, Damascus 30621, Syria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i3.7939
Received: 30 November 2024 | Revised: 5 February 2025 | Accepted: 18 February 2025 | Published Online: 28 February 2025

Abstract

This study explores the semiotics of the title in The Prophet by Gibran, comparing its English and Arabic versions, and elucidates the semantic connotations tied to Gibran’s psyche, cultural background, and the idealistic message he conveyed to humanity. The study is divided into two sections: the first is theoretical, presenting the concept of semiotics in Western and Arab scholarship, followed by an examination of the title’s significance in both traditions, including its key functions. It also provides a brief overview of Gibran’s life, his major works, and an introduction to The Prophet. The second section applies semiotic analysis, beginning with an examination of the cover artwork as a critical threshold for entering the literary text. This analysis reveals the relationship between the cover’s iconography, the book’s content, and Gibran’s philosophy. The study then focuses on dissecting the linguistic and phonetic structures of the title in both English and Arabic, comparing their semantic implications. The findings demonstrate how the meaning of the word “Prophet” and the connotations of its phonetic elements in both languages align with the text’s themes. Additionally, the study investigates the internal subtitles and their semantic connections to the main title, illustrating how these interrelationships fulfill the title’s core functions. It further highlights the role of visual iconography in hinting at the book’s thematic concerns. Ultimately, the study concludes by clarifying the profound interplay between linguistic and non-linguistic signs in shaping the literary text’s meaning and revealing how subtle differences in linguistic and phonetic structures accentuate cross-linguistic semantic dimensions in the title The Prophet.

Keywords:

Semiotics; Prophet; Title; Meaning; Gibran; The Te

References

[1] Abdul Khaliq, D., 2023. The Original and the Translator in the Literary Work “The Prophet” by Gibran Khalil Gibran [Doctoral dissertation]. Tanta University: Tanta, Egypt.

[2] Khachan, V., 2023. The 'Ands’ and 'Buts' in Kahlil Gibran's English Works. Languages. 8(4), 246. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/languages8040246.

[3] Alfiya, I.F., 2023. Symbolic Interaction in the Character of Al-Mustafa in Gibran Khalil Gibran's The Prophet from the Perspective of George Herbert Mead [Bachelor’s thesis]. Malang, EJ: The State Islamic University of Maulana Malik Ibrahim. pp. 5–48.

[4] Beytat, A., Mkaimeh, A., 2018. Cultural Styles Dialogue in The Prophet by Gibran Khalil Gibran [Master’s thesis]. Jijel, Algeria: Mohammed Siddiq Ben Yahia University. pp. 6–100.

[5] Abdu Rasheed, P., 2014. An analytical study on the Prophet's book by Gibran Khalil Gibran. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research. 7(1), 1179–1184.

[6] Hornby, A.S., 2005. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 7th ed. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK. pp. 1380–1612–1210.

[7] Al-Ahmar, F., 2010. Semiotics Dictionary, 1st ed. Arab House of Science Publishers: Beirut, Lebanon. pp. 11–12–226.

[8] Saussure, F., 1959. Course in General Linguistics. McGraw-Hill Book Company: New York, NY, USA. p. 16.

[9] Hamdaoui, J., 2011. Semiology Between Theory and Practice, 1st ed. AL-Warraq Printing Press for Publishing and Distribution: Jordan. p. 13.

[10] Chandler, D., 2008. Semiotics: The Basics, 1st ed. Arab Organization for Translation: Lebanon. pp. 30–87.

[11] Ibn Khaldun, A.R., 1401. Ibn Khaldun's History, 1st ed. Al-Fikr Publishing House: Beirut, Lebanon. Volume 1, p. 664.

[12] Ibn Manzur, J.A.D., 1414. Lisān al-ʿArab (The Language of the Arabs). Sader Publishing House: Lebanon. Volume 12, p. 635; Volume 13, p. 290; Volume 15, pp. 106, 302–303.

[13] Al-Zubaidi, M.M., 1385. Tāj al-ʿArūs (The Bride’s Crown). Ministry of Guidance and News: Kuwait. Volume 34, p. 45.

[14] Mustafa, E., Al-Zayat, A., Abd Al-Kader, H., et al., 1392. Al-Muʿjam al-Wasīṭ (The Intermediate Dictionary of the Arabic Language Academy, Cairo). Al-Dawa Publishing House: Istanbul, Turkey. Volume 1, p. 465, Volume 2, p. 633.

[15] The Holy Quran. n.d. Surah Al-Fath (48), verse 29.

[16] The Holy Quran. n.d. Surah Al Imran (3), verse 14.

[17] Al-Jahiz, A., 1423. Al-Bayān wa-al-Tabyīn (Eloquence and Exposition). Al-Hilal House and Library: Lebanon. Volume 1, p. 82.

[18] Al-Jurjani, A.Q., 1412. Asrār al-Balāghah (The Secrets of Eloquence: Foundations of Arabic Rhetoric). Al Madani Press: Cairo, Egypt. p. 376.

[19] Al-Jarjani, A.Q., 1424. Dalā’il al-I‘jāz fī ‘Ilm al-Ma‘ānī (Evidences of Inimitability in Rhetorical Semantics, 5th ed. Al Khanji Library: Egypt. p. 263.

[20] Abdullah, M.H., 2019. The title in Arab heritage. Alam Al-Fikr Journal. (180), 147–148.

[21] Al-Jazzar, F., 1998. Title and Semiotics of Literary Communication. Egyptian General Book Authority: Egypt. p. 15.

[22] Qattous, B., 2001. The Title Semiotic, 1st ed. Culture Ministry: Jordan. pp. 36–33.

[23] Genette, J., 2008. Thresholds of Interpretation, 1st ed. Arab House of Science Publishers.Beirut. pp. 67–86–88-125–126–76.

[24] Al-Ahmar, F., 2010. Semiotics Dictionary, 1st ed. Arab House of Science Publishers: Lebanon. P. 226.

[25] Alloush, T., 2008. William Wordsworth. The Arabic Encyclopedia Authority in the Syrian Arab Republic: Syria. Volume 22, pp. 209–211.

[26] Al-Bustani, F., 1948. Lebanese Notables in the Renaissance of World Literature. The Lebanese Committee for Preparing the UNESCO Month: Beirut. pp. 187–188.

[27] Zogheib, H., 2023. The Prophet Centenary. Mirrors of Heritage Journal. Special Issue. pp. 4–5–24–29.

[28] Waterfield, R., 2003. Prophet The Life and Times of Kahlil Gibran. Translated by: Michel Khoury. (Ed.). Ward Publishing and Distribution House: Syria. pp. 307–302–16–17–299–380–232.

[29] Gibran, K., 2013. The Prophet, 7th ed. Nofal Publishing House: Lebanon. pp. 5–6–7–12–13–30.

[30] Barthes, R., 1987. Elements of Semiology, 2nd ed. Al-Hiwar for Publishing and Distribution House: Syria. p. 25.

[31] Abdel Azim, M., Bayoumi, B., Hilal, A., 2022. The semiotics of the cover threshold in the fiction art according to Ahmed Khaled Tawfiq. Journal Research. 2(5), 21–63.

[32] Naima, M., 1951. Kahlil Gibran: (A Critical Biography — A Comprehensive Study of His Life, Works, and Philosophical Legacy). Sader Publishing House: Lebanon. pp. 83–250–65.

[33] Salih, A., 2022. Transformations of philosophical thought on the naked body and its impact on contemporary European sculpture. Wasit Journal of Human Sciences. 15(44), 440.

[34] Al-Ba'li, U., 2024. Drawing through the semiotic perspective. Damascus University Journal for Arts and Humanities. 40(1), 1.

[35] Saussure, F., 1985. Foundations of General Linguistics. Arab Afak Publishing House: Iraq. pp. 58–67.

[36] Mshouh, L., 2008. Prague School. Authority in the Syrian Arab Republic: Syria. Volume 22, p. 805.

[37] Martinet, A., 2009. Function and Dynamics of Languages, 1st ed. Arab Organization for Translation: Beirut, Lebanon. p. 257.

[38] Malmberg, B., 1984. Phonetics. Youth Library: Egypt. p. 61.

[39] Bishr, K., 2000. Phonetics. Gharib for Printing Publishing and Distribution House: Egypt. pp. 91–369.

[40] Gibran, G.K., 1923. The Prophet, 1st ed. Alfred A. Knopf: New York, NY, USA. pp. 8-102-9-(7-8)-10-8-11-(9-10)-(97-98)-(87-88)-48.

[41] Ibn Jinni, O., 1952. Al-Khaṣā’iṣ fī ʿIlm al-ʿArabiyyah: (The Characteristics of Arabic Linguistics), 4th ed. Egyptian Book House: Egypt. Volume 1, p. 34.

[42] Ibn Jinni, O., 1421. Sirr Ṣināʿat al-Iʿrāb: The Secret of the Craft of Iʿrāb (Grammatical Inflection). Scientific Books House: Lebanon. Volume 2, p. 107.

[43] Shaker, M., 2003. Articles Collection by Professor Mahmoud Muhammad Shaker. Al-Khanji Library: Cairo, Egypt. Volume 2, pp. 713–733.

[44] Ibn Al-Sarraj, M., 1996. The Foundational Principles of Arabic Syntax: A Comprehensive Academic Study. Al-Resala Foundation, Lebanon. Volume 3, pp. 401–403.

[45] Ibn Sina, A.H., 1403. Reasons for the Occurrence of the Letter. Arabic Language Academy: Syria. pp. 125–134.

[46] Bosna, A.W., 2022. The psychological implications of free drawing through adolescents’ drawings. Journal of Human Sciences Algeria. 33(4), 380.

[47] Huwari, I., Sarp, E., Alkhaldi, A., et al., 2024. Analysis of endophoric reference in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Forum for Linguistic Studies. 6(5), 10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v6i5.6752

[48] Bahnas, S., 2022. The prophetic dimension in Gibran Khalil Gibran's The Prophet. Al-Mi'yar Journal. 6(26), 531.

Downloads

How to Cite

Ghbes, N. (2025). The Semiotics of the Title in Gibran’s The Prophet: A Comparison Between English and Arabic Linguistic Study. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(3), 163–176. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i3.7939

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 3 (March 2025)

Article Type

Article

License

Copyright © 2025 Nisrin Ghbes

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.