By: Lecturer Sabah Abbas Khalaf The concept of intertextuality refers to the borrowing from an existing text in order to formulate a new text that resembles or follows the pattern of the original text, yet carries a different meaning intended by the writer. Intertextuality initially emerged in the field of literary studies, which explains to the reader why many contemporary literary works echo earlier works. This has sometimes led to contradictions, similarities, and confusion between them. Over time, intertextuality moved beyond literary writing to encompass all forms of writing. There are many examples illustrating intertextuality. In poetry, for instance, we find the famous verse by the poet Abu al-Qasim al-Shabi: If one day the people desire to live, then destiny must surely respond. However, another poet borrowed this line and reshaped it into another verse: If one day the lover desires life, then longing must surely ignite. This verse is clearly built upon intertextuality with Abu al-Qasim al-Shabi’s original line. From this, we conclude that intertextuality is not limited to poetry; rather, reality affirms that it exists across all forms of discourse. Writers frequently rely on it in various fields such as politics, economics, and media. Intertextuality may even appear in the title of a journalistic article. Someone may write about parents’ violence against children, or wives’ violence against husbands, or employ a well-known expression such as “Beware the anger of the patient man.” Thus, intertextuality may be incorporated into discourse to emphasize a particular idea, evoke emotions, provoke sarcasm, or inspire respect. Therefore, discourse analysis identifies the presence of intertextuality not merely from a linguistic perspective, but from the standpoint of its significance, meaning, and relationship to the idea and subject being discussed. Future University — The First Private University in Iraq