LessonsDetermining the Intended Meaning of Texts and Recognizing Weak InferencesQuiz

أن اللفظ إذا كان حقيقة لمعنى ومجازًا لآخر، فالحقيقة أولى
If a word is literal in one sense and figurative in another, the literal sense takes priority.

The literal sense is the meaning established through the relevant linguistic usage; a figurative use relies on a connection and an appropriate indicator. When both are possible, they do not have equal initial force.

This rule does not exclude figurative language. A reliable contextual indicator may establish a figurative intention, but mere possibility is not enough to displace the literal sense.

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First rule: preference for literal meaning

Determining the Intended Meaning of Texts and Recognizing Weak Inferences

أن اللفظ إذا كان حقيقة لمعنى ومجازًا لآخر، فالحقيقة أولى
If a word is literal in one sense and figurative in another, the literal sense takes priority.

The literal sense is the meaning established through the relevant linguistic usage; a figurative use relies on a connection and an appropriate indicator. When both are possible, they do not have equal initial force.

This rule does not exclude figurative language. A reliable contextual indicator may establish a figurative intention, but mere possibility is not enough to displace the literal sense.