Internal Rhyme in the Diwan of Ibn al-Abbar al-Balensi

(A Rhythmic and Semantic Study)

Abstract

This research addresses the phenomenon of internal rhyme (Tasri') in the Diwan of Ibn al-Abbar al-Balansi, by observing its occurrences, analyzing its rhythmic and semantic functions, and revealing its relationship with the symmetry between the two hemistichs of a verse.

The study relied on thirty-seven samples extracted from the Diwan as material for descriptive, statistical, and analytical analysis, focusing on the relationship between phonetic rhythm, morphological and syntactic structures, and semantics. The research seeks to identify the characteristics that internal rhyme takes when it occurs outside the opening line (Matla') of the poem, and to demonstrate its contribution to tightening the structure of the verse and directing its meaning.

The study revealed that symmetry between the two hemistichs represents a prominent feature in several samples, achieved with varying degrees across phonetic, morphological, syntactic, and semantic levels. It also shows that internal rhyme is not tied to a single position within the poem; rather, it occurs in advanced, middle, and late positions, appearing in some samples even in the final verse.

These results reveal a multiplicity of functions for this phenomenon according to context, as it contributes to enhancing the rhythmic cohesion of the verse, emphasizing certain semantic relationships, and highlighting contrast or parallelism, while sometimes serving a concluding function.