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Title Representation of Racism in Hamid’s Selected Novel: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Analysis

Author(s) Shahzeb Khan

Abstract This study delves into the portrayal of racism in Mohsin Hamid's novel "The Last White Man" (2022) using Halliday's Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Through textual metafunction, it aims to unravel the intricate linguistic mechanisms through which racial dynamics are constructed and perpetuated within the narrative. The primary objective is to investigate linguistic patterns, grammatical structures, and thematic organization to uncover the subtle ways racism is depicted and reinforced in the text. The research adopts a mixed method approach, analyzing twenty selected paragraphs comprising 26 sentences and 357 clauses. The textual structure is scrutinized to identify conjunctions, conjunctive adjuncts, and continuatives, elucidating their role in enhancing coherence and portraying racist ideology. Tables presenting the frequency and percentage of themes and cohesive devices aid in statistical analysis, facilitating the identification of linguistic variations. Through this analysis, the study reveals the intricate relationship between language and societal concerns, shedding light on power dynamics and cultural representations within the novel's discourse. It also highlights the narrative's reflection of white supremacy, particularly in the post-9/11 context. The findings align with Halliday's conceptualization of language's textual framework, offering a structured understanding of grammar, meaning, and function. The study illustrates how textual metafunctions, including lexical density, grammatical complexity, coherence, and the usage of nominal groups, effectively portray racist ideology. Moreover, the research suggests the incorporation of additional Hallidayan frameworks, such as ideational and interpersonal analysis, to explore themes in both literary and non-literary texts. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of how language constructs and perpetuates racism within literary narratives, offering insights into the broader socio-cultural context.

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

Faculty Languages

Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2024-05-13

Subject English Linguistics

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Format APA

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