Sepideh Bagheri ozan; Ali sayadani; Parviz Ahmadzadeh houch; Abdolahad Gheibi
Abstract
Critical discourse analysis is an interdisciplinary method that seeks to uncover concealed power dynamics, dominance, social inequalities, and ideological processes through language ...
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Critical discourse analysis is an interdisciplinary method that seeks to uncover concealed power dynamics, dominance, social inequalities, and ideological processes through language analysis, focusing on structures beyond individual sentences. Within this field, van Leeuwen's (2008) framework is a fundamental approach that emphasizes the role of social actors in manifesting underlying discourses. This framework comprises two main components: exclusion and inclusion, each encompassing various subcategories. Lutfia Al Dulaimi's "Women of Saturn" is a renowned literary work by the contemporary Iraqi writer, exploring political and social issues in Iraq over recent decades. This descriptive-analytical study examines the novel using van Leeuwen's framework's sociocognitive and semiotic aspects to illustrate how the author presents her ideology by introducing the novel's characters. The findings of this study indicate that the representation of social actors in "Women of Saturn" is influenced by Al Dulaimi's intellectual and social perspectives. In the novel, women are portrayed as active and dynamic agents, while male figures are depicted as passive and negatively valued, reflecting Al Dulaimi's feminist ideologies. Furthermore, the Baath Party, American forces, and Takfiri groups are represented as active agents due to their extensive crimes against the Iraqi people and their significant role within the tumultuous Iraqi context.
