LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 13 : 1 January 2013
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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The Physiological and Psychological Dilemmas of War-Torn Children: A Discursive Study of
Akpan’s My Parent’s Bedroom

Amna Saeed, M.A.

Abstract

This qualitative research focuses on the effects of adult discursive structures, on the consciousness, identity formation and development of worldview of children belonging to war-torn regions, as portrayed in contemporary literature. I have analyzed My Parent’s Bedroom by Uwem Akpan, based on Dijk’s socio-cognitive models for Critical Discourse Analysis. Various language strategies in relation to discursive structures/practice, used in the texts have been analyzed to explore the physiological as well as psychological effects of war and violence on children. The ultimate motive of the research is to highlight the provision of a safe zone for children belonging to war-torn regions, where they can nourish and nurture into confident members of the society.

Introduction

My Parents’ Bedroom (2008) in Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan is a short story written in the political context of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Monique, the nine year old narrator tells how, in order to save her and her younger brother’s life, their father (who is a Hutu) murders his wife (because she is a Tutsi) in front of the children. The children thus, not only lose their parents and relatives but also their trust in life and humankind in general. The author voices the fear and shock of the violence-hit child and his/her status in the war-torn continent of Africa.

Methodology

Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is employed as the strategy of analysis and interpretation, of the selected texts, in this study. Discourse Analysis does not constitute a single unitary approach; rather it is a constellation of different approaches and as a method of analysis rests on multidisciplinary approaches to analysis and interpretation.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Amna Saeed, M.A.
Lecturer
COMSATS Islamabad
Pakistan
amnasd21@gmail.com
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