THE LANGUAGE AS RESISTANCE: IDENTITY, SURVIVAL, AND FUTURE IN PATRICIA FORDE’S THE WORDSMITH
THE LANGUAGE AS RESISTANCE: IDENTITY, SURVIVAL, AND FUTURE IN PATRICIA FORDE’S THE WORDSMITH

Summary/Abstract: This study examines Patricia Forde’s The Wordsmith, a dystopian novel which depicts a society in which language use is controlled and the ability to communicate is used as a tool of oppression by those in positions of power. Linguistic authority is a central issue in this novel. Letta (the protagonist) is quite reactive when she is ordered to shorten the list from 700 words to 500, which leads to butchering the language more. The loss of functional and grammatical items, along with content words leaves a limiting effect on individuals’ lives. Language prohibition represents a destruction of identity, memory, and thought in addition to the loss of words. Letta’s struggle represents an attempt to preserve language as a way to reconnect both with nature and humanity, and to rewrite one’s own sense of self. On the other hand, Noa’s (the antagonist’s) decision to silence humanity in the interest of preserving nature serves as an example of how power uses the concept of “good” to defend control. The present study aims to analyse the frequency and thematic distribution of words in the novel. MAXQDA 24 was used for thematic analysis, supported by visual data representations. The thematic analysis also shows that language in The Wordsmith defines human existence as a source of resistance and hope rather than just a tool for communication.

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