Semantic framing of NATIONALISM in the national anthems of Egypt and England

Abstract

Every human experience can be conceptually represented in terms of semantic frames. Frames set the major cognitive general aspects of any concept, as well as the contextual variants of such a concept. Being a universal concept, NATIONALISM is central to the human cognition. However, political scientists and dictionary makers differently view it. This study makes use of semantic frame in understanding NATIONALISM as expressed in English and Egyptian national anthems. It aims at capturing the similarities and differences between the anthems in order to render the basic constituents of the frame. It is evident that despite the different scenes represented in each anthem’s frame, NATIONALISM typically actives the frame of people, place, power and principles. The eight national anthems, subject to the analysis, along with a number of political science definitions of NATIONALISM can be contained under this general conceptual frame. The frame interacts with the basics of sociology. Being developed over time and place, NATIONALISM still summons the same frame of a society of people gathered in one place sharing the same principles and governed by the same power. However, the kind of power, place, and principles varies according to the physical scene.