Polysemy in English and Arabic Proverbs of Life: A Contrastive Stylistic Study

Abstract

This paper considers the significance of polysemy as a stylistic device in English and Arabic proverbs of life. It aims to show how proverbial words or phrases are choosen with two or more interpretations to enhance the depth and richness of language, allowing multiple layers of meanings, and reinforcing the stylistic and didactic power of the proverbs. So, to analyse the data and achieve the aims, the study follows Jeffries and McIntyre’s (2010) model as far as polysemy is concerned. The analysis comes up with some results and conclusions that prove the post.

Keywords: Polysemy, Proverbs, Stylistics, Contrastive Stylistics