Abstract This article explores associative anaphora in the Qurʾān, a discursive device in which a definite noun phrase refers to a previously mentioned or implied entity through an inferable semantic connection rather than by direct repetition. Although associative anaphora is traditionally defined in the linguistic literature as a relationship between a definite anaphor and an indefinite antecedent that is often based on stereotypical part-whole or functional associations, its use in the Qurʾān reveals a much broader and fine-grained typology. Three types of associative anaphora in the Qurʾān are identified here: (1) the descriptive type, which expands the semantic scope of the antecedent, (2) the spatially-contained type, which refers to a sub-element such as a location within a previously mentioned domain, and (3) the part-whole type, where individual elements are linked to a broader category. Unlike regular anaphoric pronouns that have a minimal referential role and primarily maintain cohesion through repetition, instances of associative anaphora in the Qurʾān are often chosen deliberately to enrich meaning, reframe referents, and invoke theological or moral dimensions. The analysis shows that Qurʾānic associative anaphoric devices operate within a specific rhetorical and theological framework that relies heavily on contextual knowledge, exegetical insight, and shades of meaning to guide interpretation and augment textual cohesion.
Yehudit Dror (Tue,) studied this question.