Titling and th e Production of Meaning A Semiotic Approach in the Novels Memory of Water and The Lady of the Shrine by Wassini Al Araj

The importance of the title in a literary text is addressed as a fundamental linguistic and semiotic sign that precedes the text and opens its doors to the reader. The title forms the text’s facade and serves as a means to decode its symbols and surroundin g ambiguity. It is considered a key element for understanding and analyzing the text from a semiotic perspective. The article clarifies that the title is not merely a word or a passing phrase but carries deep connotations reflecting the psychological and p hilosophical dimensions of the creator. It raises questions that stimulate the reader to delve deeper into the text. The article also reviews classifications of titles, such as the real title, the false title, and the subtitle, and highlights the importanc e of the paratext that surrounds the main text, including titles, prefaces, dedications, and others, according to the theory of critic Gérard Genette. Additionally, the article presents semiotic applications on the titles of the novels Memory of Water and Lady of the Shrine by Wassini Al Araj, illustrating how the title reflects the semantic and symbolic structure of the text and encourages the process of reading and interpretation.