Phonetic and functional symmetry mechanisms and their role in achieving textual coherence in the Quranic verses (verses 285-286 of Surah Al-Baqarah)

Abstract

This research aims to study the phonetic and functional symmetry of structures and the role they play in the context of speech, in terms of studying the meanings of sounds, their rules, and their contextual functions. Symmetry may occur in patterns, such as using the word "la" at times to negate and at other times to command, which is considered phonetic and functional symmetry. It may also be semantic, such as attaching the counterpart to the counterpart in meaning, like "laysa" having the same meaning as "la". Additionally, it involves giving the counterpart the same judgment as its counterpart in meaning, like "ma" and "ghayr" in the phrase "Qaim Al-Zaidan". These relationships are governed by laws that contribute to conveying the intended message, such as the temporal relationship (e.g., "the light is temporary in the morning"), spatial coupling (like the term "nest" coupled with "bird's house"), and tool usage (like the scissors being associated with fabric), etc. This research delves into this field, which is not limited to humanities but also extends to exact sciences. The term "symmetry", according to dictionaries, is a term derived from mathematics and has been employed in humanities studies. This research attempts to employ this phenomenon in the Holy Quran, especially in these two specific verses. The researcher has reached a set of results, which are presented at the end of the research, confirming that symmetry, whether phonetic or functional, is prevalent in the Holy Quran and achieves various rhetorical and artistic styles.