THE RETENTION OF ARABIC LANGUAGE AS A NATIONAL IDENTITY IN TWO OF GADAH AS-SAMMAN’S NOVELS: POSTCOLONIAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Purpose: This article aims to analyze the retention of the Arabic language as a national identity by Lebanon nationalists who live as exiles outside European countries in two of her novels, Lailatul-Milyār and Sahrah Tanakkuriyyah Lil-Mautā. As a product of fiction from a colonized country, both stories represent postcolonial discourses, showing the effect of colonialism, while also voicing resistance to colonialism. Methodology: The research materials or material objects in this article are two of as-Sammān’s novels. Data sources were grouped in primary data, which is the two of Sammān’s novels, and secondary data, which is various references that support analysis, including books, journals, blogs, and other relevant sources in academic studies. Deconstruction is a textual strategy, which is utilized for analyzing the data in this study. No software tool is used. Main Findings: The Lebanese nationalists in Europe tried to maintain the use of the Arabic language as the first and foremost national identity for several reasons, including defending (1) the Arabness, (2) the membership in the national community, and (3) the nation and nationality. Implications/ Applications: This study highlights that resistance to colonialism can be done in various ways, both through violence and non-violence. In modern times, non-violent methods are frequently used. Among the non-violent ways is to fight for the retention of the Arabic language as a national identity so that to maintain it means to maintain Arabism, the membership of the nation’s community, and defend the nation and nationality of the Arabs.              Novelty/Originality of this study: These findings highlight the struggle of the Lebanese nationalists in Europe; the younger generation who are trying to inherit Arabic must also struggle to learn it, both formal and informal, even against the mainstream. The results of persistence and perseverance in learning Arabic cannot be seen immediately, but a long time after that. The ability to speak Arabic, then, can foster a spirit of nationalism in the young Arab generation.