Facial Expressions as Non-Verbal Communication in the Arabic Corpus: A Semiotic Approach

This linguistic study takes an analytic semiotic approach to non-verbal communicative symbols, particularly the symbolism of the face in the Arabic corpus. This corpus includes the holy Quran, the noble Hadith, and Arabic poetry, proverbs, and dictionaries. The ‘face’ reflects multiple semantic expressions in different contexts, forming both positive and negative meanings and necessitating the clarification of their semantic and artistic functions. The aim was to identify the connotations of facial expressions in communicative uses by investigating the word ‘face’ and tracking its occurrences in the corpus. The positive and negative meanings of face as a term are also analyzed, as it comprehensively conveys meanings and symbolic connotations which express human states and emotions. The phenomenon is worth studying to reveal the symbolism of the ‘face’ and the diversity of its connotations, and to demonstrate its impact on the recipient. A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted by tracking the symbol of the ‘face’ in Arabic texts as a tool for communicative action, identifying its occurrences in Arabic corpora, describing and analyzing them to uncover the meanings and ideas conveyed by this symbol, and drawing conclusions about its various effects on the recipient. One key finding was the extensive functional scope of the word face, which encompasses a range of human experiences and emotions, primarily because the face carries various expressions reflecting the inner depths of the soul, making it the first thing perceived and the primary feature through which expressive cues are read.