Iraqi Christian Minority and Identity: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Selected English and Arabic Novels

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation , 2022 , 311 Pages

English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics

The study of identity within a given discourse is one of the significant topics in the field of critical discourse analysis. Iraqi Christian identity has undergone various political and social changes during different historical periods leading to the emergence of the Christian identity as a minority in society. The present study investigates the representation of the identity of Iraqi Christian minority in the narrative discourse of selected English and Arabic novels. More precisely, the present study is a critical discourse analysis of the Christian identity as a minority in selected English and Arabic novels, namely; the English novel “Abducted in Iraq” by Saa’d Hanna (2017), and the Arabic Novel “الحفيدة الامريكية” (The American Granddaughter) by Inaa’m Kachachi (2009).

The study aims at: first, identifying the identity representation of Iraqi Christian minority in the narrative discourse of selected English and Arabic novels before and after 2003 war; second, investigating the textual resources and their role in the identity construction of Iraqi Christian minority in the narrative discourse of selected English and Arabic novels before and after 2003 war; third, identifying the discursive resources and their role in the identity construction of Iraqi Christian minority in the narrative discourse of selected English and Arabic novels before and after 2003 war; fourth, examining the social resources and their role in the identity construction of Iraqi Christian minority in the narrative discourse of selected English and Arabic novels before and after 2003 war. That is, it examines the role played by power and social dynamisms in the identity construction under analysis; and fifth, investigating similarities and differences in the identity construction of Iraqi Christian minority in the narrative discourse of selected English and Arabic novels before and after 2003 war at the textual, discursive and social levels of analysis. For achieving the afore-mentioned aims, a purposive sampling technique is used to choose the most representative data from the selected English and Arabic novels. The data is analysed according to a synthesised theoretical framework based on Wodak et al. (2009), Fairclough (2015), Wortham (2001), and Graumann (1999). The data are analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Preface
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• 1.1 Background of the study
• 1.2 Statement of the problem
• 1.3 Aims and objectives of the study
• 1.4 Research questions
• 1.5 Significance of the study
• 1.6 Limitations of the study
• 1.7 Delimitations of the study
• 1.8 Definition of terms
• Chapter 2: Literature Review
• 2.1 Identity and discourse analysis
• 2.2 The concept of identity
• 2.3 Identity in the context of minority groups
• 2.4 Critical discourse analysis of identity
• 2.5 Previous studies on Iraqi Christian identity
• Chapter 3: Theoretical Framework
• 3.1 Critical discourse analysis
• 3.2 Fairclough's three-dimensional model
• 3.3 Wodak et al.'s model of critical discourse analysis
• 3.4 Wortham's model of narrative analysis
• 3.5 Graumann's model of social identity
• Chapter 4: Methodology
• 4.1 Research design
• 4.2 Population and sample
• 4.3 Data collection
• 4.4 Data analysis
• Chapter 5: Data Analysis
• 5.1 Textual analysis of "Abducted in Iraq"
• 5.1.1 Identity representation in the narrative discourse
• 5.1.2 Textual resources used in identity construction
• 5.1.3 Discursive resources used in identity construction
• 5.1.4 Social resources used in identity construction
• 5.2 Textual analysis of "The American Granddaughter"
• 5.2.1 Identity representation in the narrative discourse
• 5.2.2 Textual resources used in identity construction
• 5.2.3 Discursive resources used in identity construction
• 5.2.4 Social resources used in identity construction
• 5.3 Comparison and contrast of the two novels
• Chapter 6: Findings and Discussion
• 6.1 Identity representation of Iraqi Christians
• 6.2 Textual resources and identity construction
• 6.3 Discursive resources and identity construction
• 6.4 Social resources and identity construction
• 6.5 Similarities and differences in identity construction

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study explores the representation of Iraqi Christian minority identity in selected English and Arabic novels, focusing on the impact of the 2003 war. The work aims to analyze how these identities are constructed through the lens of narrative discourse and to identify the role of textual, discursive, and social resources in shaping them. Key themes explored in this research include: * **Identity Construction in Narrative Discourse:** Analyzing how the identities of Iraqi Christian minorities are presented and constructed within the narratives of the chosen novels. * **Textual and Discursive Resources:** Identifying and examining the specific language choices, narrative techniques, and discourse features used to portray Iraqi Christian identities. * **Social Resources and Power Dynamics:** Investigating the influence of social contexts, power relations, and socio-political dynamics on the representation of Iraqi Christian identities within the novels. * **The Impact of the 2003 War:** Exploring how the 2003 war and its aftermath have shaped and transformed the portrayal of Iraqi Christian identities in literature. * **Comparative Analysis:** Examining similarities and differences in how English and Arabic novels represent the experiences and identities of Iraqi Christian minorities.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the study, outlining the background, statement of the problem, aims, research questions, significance, limitations, and delimitations of the research. This chapter also defines key terms relevant to the study.
• Chapter 2 presents a comprehensive literature review, exploring the concepts of identity and discourse analysis, focusing particularly on the construction of identity within minority groups. It also reviews existing studies on Iraqi Christian identity.
• Chapter 3 delves into the theoretical framework of the study, presenting a synthesis of theories from prominent scholars in critical discourse analysis, including Fairclough, Wodak et al., Wortham, and Graumann.
• Chapter 4 details the methodology employed in the study, outlining the research design, population and sample selection, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques.
• Chapter 5 presents a detailed analysis of the selected English and Arabic novels, focusing on textual, discursive, and social resources used in the construction of Iraqi Christian identity. This chapter examines how these resources contribute to the portrayal of Iraqi Christian identity in the novels.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The primary focus of this research is on Iraqi Christian identity, minority representation, narrative discourse analysis, critical discourse analysis, textual and discursive resources, social resources, power dynamics, and the impact of the 2003 war on identity construction. The study examines how these themes intersect to shape the portrayal of Iraqi Christian identity in selected English and Arabic novels.

• College: University of Baghdad
• Authors: Prof. Dr. Nassier Al-Zubaidi (Author), Marwa Al-Bazzaz (Author)
• Publication Year: 2022
• Pages: 311
• Catalog Number: V1343327
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346859488
• ISBN (Book): 9783346859495
• Language: English
• Tags: Iraqi Christian Minority, Critical Discourse Analysis, Identity and Representation, Arabic and English Novels