Discourse analysis of Westernization in the novel Harir al_Ghazala by Jokha Al-Harthi based on Norman Fairclough`s theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assosiate Professor of Arabic Language and Literature in Kharazmi university, Tehran, Iran.

2 ِAssosiate Professor of Arabic Language and Literature in, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assosiate Professor of Arabic Language and Literature in, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

4 Master student of Arabic Language and Literature, Kharazmi university, Tehran, Iran.

10.22091/npa.2026.16423.1065

Abstract

Westernization, defined as the imitation of Western intellectual models and values without reflecting on their merits and drawbacks, is a major problem in developing and third-world countries, as it can lead to identity crises and confusion. Harithi's novel Harir al-Ghazala depicts the effects of Westernization on interpersonal relations in Oman amid the tension between tradition and modernity. Using Norman Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis, this study examines Westernization in the novel at the levels of description, interpretation, and explanation. At the descriptive level, semantic relations show that Western-oriented relations create severe psychological vulnerability; declarative and interrogative sentences, along with positive active verbs, indicate that Western culture spreads irresponsibility in the family and causes its collapse; and metaphorical language presents the family as an obstacle to progress that is rejected by Western culture. At the interpretive level, the situational context shows that excessive imitation of Western values leads to mental disorders, while the intertextual context reveals a shared critique of Westernization in Harir al-Ghazala and Harithi's other work, Ladies of the Moon. At the explanatory level, the discourse of Westernization in Omani society emerges gradually: traditional thought first limited interest in Western modernity, then pressure from traditional restrictions encouraged the acceptance of modernity for individual freedom, and finally, excessive attachment to individualistic Western values produced the discourse of Westernization.

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Main Subjects

Article Title [العربیة]

تحلیل خطاب التغریب فی روایة حریر الغزالة لجوخة الحارثی بناء علی نظریة نورمان فیرکلاف

Abstract [العربیة]

تمثل التغریب، أی محاکاة النماذج و القیم الفکریة الغربیة دون التفکیر فی مزایاها و عیوبها، مشکلة رئیسیة فی الدول النامیة و العالم الثالث، حیث یمکن أن تؤدی إلى أزمة هویة و ارتباک. تصور روایة حریر الغزالة للکاتبة جوخة الحارثی آثار التغریب على العلاقات البینیة فی سلطنة عمان فی ظل التوتر بین التقلید و الحداثة. باستخدام تحلیل الخطاب النقدی لنورمان فیرکلاف، تدرس هذه الدراسة التغریب فی روایة حریر الغزالة على مستویات الوصف و التفسیر و التبیین. على مستوى الوصف، تظهر العلاقات الدلالیة أن العلاقات الموجهة نحو الغرب تخلق ضعفًا نفسیًا شدیدًا؛ و تشیر الجمل الخبریة و الإنشائیة، إلى جانب الأفعال الإیجابیة المبنیة للمعلوم، إلى أن الثقافة الغربیة تنشر عدم المسؤولیة فی الأسرة و تسبب انهیارها؛ و تقدم اللغة المجازیة الأسرة کعائق أمام التقدم ترفضه الثقافة الغربیة. على مستوى التفسیر، یوضح السیاق الموقفی أن التقلید المفرط للقیم الغربیة یؤدی إلى اضطرابات عقلیة، بینما یکشف السیاق البینی عن نقد مشترک للتغریب فی روایة حریر الغزالة و عمل الحارثی الآخر، سیدات القمر. علی مستوى التبیین، تظهر خطاب التغریب فی المجتمع العمانی تدریجیًا: فالفکر التقلیدی حد فی البدایة من الاهتمام بالحداثة الغربیة، ثم شجع الضغط الناتج عن القیود التقلیدیة على قبول الحداثة من أجل الحریة الفردیة، و أخیرًا، أنتج التعلق المفرط بالقیم الغربیة الفردیة خطاب التغریب.

Keywords [العربیة]

  • تحلیل الخطاب
  • التغریب
  • نورمان فیرکلاف
  • جوخة الحارثی
  • حریر الغزالة

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 December 2025
  • Revise Date: 08 February 2026
  • Accept Date: 12 March 2026
  • First Publish Date: 21 March 2026
  • Publish Date: 21 March 2026

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