LOSS OF MEANING IN THE PROPHET: AN INTERCULTURAL PRAGMATIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The cognitive studies on metaphor comprehension suggest that metaphors extend beyond their linguistic and conceptual functions to serve a communicative role. This study applies Steen’s Deliberate Metaphor Theory (DMT) (2008), to analyze metaphors in The Prophet by Khalil Gibran and its Urdu translation. Grounded in intercultural pragmatics, the research examines the potential loss of meaning due to cultural differences between English (SL) and Urdu (TL). The analysis follows a three-dimensional model – linguistic, conceptual and communicative function of metaphors, as outlined in DMT. The study highlights how metaphor translation can impact meaning negotiation across cultural and linguistic boundaries.