Abstract
Suzette Haden Elgin’s novel Native Tongue (1984) provides a fascinating critique of the ideologies inscribed into patriarchal language and evokes an extremely valuable linguistic and political awareness. This article will examine the liability of the ways the novel revolts against the patriarchal society via the introduction of a gynocentric linguistic intervention. I claim, Elgin’s novel showcases an invaluable instance of how it is possible for women to revolt against the pillars of patriarchy through manipulations at the gestalt and schematic level of language and most specifically, the bodily metaphoric quality of the English. This proposed transformation of the schematic and metaphoric structure of English language is a substantial achievement that has recently gained significance through movements like the Me Too Movement, Reproductive Rights Movement, and many more body-political and gender-informed liberal politics.
Recommended Citation
Barati, Amir
(2021)
"Elgin's "Native Tongue": A "Me too" Universe?,"
Tête à Tête: Journal of Francophone Studies: Vol. 1, Article 14.
Available at:
https://repository.lsu.edu/tete_a_tete/vol1/iss1/14
Included in
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