LessonsIndications of Rational Metaphor and the Metaphor-by-Implication DebateQuiz

فَمَا رَبِحَتْ تِجَارَتُهُمْ
Their trade did not profit. (Al-Baqarah 2:16)

Here “rabiḥat” is the verb and “tijāratuhum” is its grammatical subject. Profit and loss are associated with trade through the actions of the traders and their outcome.

Grammatical question: what word receives the verb? — Their trade.
Rhetorical question: what properly receives profit, and what relation links it to trade? — The traders, their transactions and their outcomes.

Assuming that every grammatical subject is automatically the proper literal agent would erase the very distinction studied in rational figurative predication.

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Agency in “their trade did not profit”

Indications of Rational Metaphor and the Metaphor-by-Implication Debate

فَمَا رَبِحَتْ تِجَارَتُهُمْ
Their trade did not profit. (Al-Baqarah 2:16)

Here “rabiḥat” is the verb and “tijāratuhum” is its grammatical subject. Profit and loss are associated with trade through the actions of the traders and their outcome.

Grammatical question: what word receives the verb? — Their trade.
Rhetorical question: what properly receives profit, and what relation links it to trade? — The traders, their transactions and their outcomes.

Assuming that every grammatical subject is automatically the proper literal agent would erase the very distinction studied in rational figurative predication.