将陌生的“母语”变为己有——论埃及女作家纳娃勒·赛阿达维对语言的探索

Taming an Estranged Mother Language: On Nawal Al-Saadawi's Exploration of Arabic

埃及女作家纳娃勒·赛阿达维著作颇丰、影响深远,在当代阿拉伯世界颇具争议。由于她在性、宗教和政治等方面的异见,一直在阿拉伯本土受到打压,不仅"文学家"的身份得不到承认,甚至连"女性"的身份都遭到质疑。本论文认为,赛阿达维的写作生涯是她反思和探索母语阿拉伯语的过程,她从语法、语言习惯和言外之意等多方面着手,尝试指出和弱化阿拉伯语承载的父权文化色彩和阳性中心主义价值观,驯服这陌生的"母语",也呼吁女作家和她们的读者通过对语言本身的思考,更加全面地认识自我和世界。

As a prolific writer and militant activist, the Egyptian Nawal Al-Saadawi lived a life of controversy. She suffered more than her fair share of censorship in many Arab countries due to her audacious discussions of sexuality, religion and politics. Many fellow Arab writers hesitate to call her works ＂literature,＂ and a few of them accused her of forsaking her ＂femininity.＂ This essay argues that A1-Saadawi writes as she explores the Arabic language, reflecting upon its grammar, linguistic habits and connotations. She tries to recognize and reduce the many patriarchal values within the Arabic language, taming the estranged mother language, claiming it as her own, and urging women writers to observe the world from new perspectives.