A Linguistic and Discursive Analysis of the Humour in Arabic Novels Written in Vernacular: Examples of E-Arabic Genre

Abstract

The primary objective of this research is to analyse the linguistic aspects of humour and satire in a new literary genre, known as e-Arabic literature. The research focuses on the emergence of this distinctive literary genre, emerging from Information Technology (IT) use in what is recognised as Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) and how it has been impacting Arab culture in general and literary scene, in particular. Satire and humour are one specificity of this genre, and this research aims to situate this new genre as one of the subfields of humour in Arabic literature. This study makes a contribution to theories about humour and adds e-Arabic literature, as a new genre which belongs to the global area of CMC and highlight a new variety in Arabic, known as e-Arabic. Furthermore, this study clarifies and analyses the development of the satirical writing style and the use of humour as means by which Arab writers cultivate an awareness of social and political issues within their cultures. In addition, it examines the significance and function of rhetorical questions, interrogative phrases, and punctuation marks in constructing a humorous and satirical writing style that is both original and creative. The current study seeks to investigate the utilisation of satire in e-Arabic literature, as a genre that uses a hybrid language and mixes in styles to create humorous effects, adding to Arabic literature a new variety. Moreover, this research reveals the underlying factors that contribute to the extensive popularity of political satire in e-Arabic literature and its impact on societal transformation. The predominant Arabic literature in this study originates from authors hailing from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Syria. The data for this research is collected from novels that exemplify the e-Arabic genre. These novels are written in several Arabic regional dialects, such as Egyptian, Najdi, Hijazi and Syrian. Due to the great dissemination of Egyptian media, the Egyptian dialect has emerged as the most prevalent used vernacular. The data collected revealed that Arabic novels written in vernacular language have ample evidence of the utilisation of satirical and humorous discourse. A thorough understanding of comedy’s intended purpose serves as the driving force behind this. The humour in each piece is associated with a criticism of religious institutions, politics, and political systems. The writers of these novels utilise many linguistic features, including lexical aspects, and purposefully depart from traditional norms in order to educate readers. The data demonstrates the excessive use of linguistic tactics based on juxtaposition, contradiction, and implausibility as linguistic devices to generate humour and construct a satirical framework for criticism.