THE IMPACT OF CONTEXTUAL VARIATION ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE VOCATIVE MEANING IN QUR’ANIC NARRATIVES: THE STORY OF PROPHET NOAH (PEACE BE UPON HIM) AS A MODEL
أثر تنوع السياق في توجيه معنى النداء في القصص القرآني (قصة نوح عليه السلام أنموذجا)
Abstract
Context is among the most significant determinants of meaning in understanding linguistic texts in general, and the Qur’anic text in particular. Variations in context and in the relationships among interlocutors clearly influence the interpretation of words and structures. One of the linguistic styles that most vividly demonstrates the importance of context in determining the intended meaning is the vocative style (addressing or calling). Although its primary linguistic function is to alert or summon the addressee, contextual factors often impart to it numerous additional meanings, connotations, and rhetorical purposes. The story of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) serves as a rich practical example of such contextual diversity, where multiple meanings of the vocative form emerge according to the circumstances and relationships portrayed. This research aims to clarify that diversity and its impact on guiding interpretation, particularly given the social, psychological, and cultural dimensions inherent in the story of Noah, which shape the variety of discourse throughout its occurrences in different chapters of the Qur’an. This becomes evident in Noah’s dialogue with his people, his conversation with his son, and his supplication and intimate discourse with his Lord throughout the extended phases of his prophetic mission. Thus, the story of Prophet Noah—with all its contextual richness—stands as an exemplary model for every reformer, whether within the family or the broader society. The study achieves this by analyzing the Qur’anic verses within their respective contexts from both rhetorical and semantic perspectives.
