CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROTOGONIST’S LANGUAGE IN THE AFGHAN-AMERICAN DIASPORA LITERATURE: THE CASE OF KHALID HOSSEINI’S “THE KITE RUNNER”
Abstract
This study examines the linguistic characteristics of the protagonist in Afghan-American diaspora literature, using Khalid Hosseini’s novel “The Kite Runner” as an example. In the novel, language functions not only as a communicative tool, but also as a vehicle for cultural identity, social hierarchy, ethnic division, and emotional expression. By incorporating Dari, Pashto, Islamic idioms, and Afghan cultural sources into an English narrative, Hosseini creates an authentic portrayal of Afghan society. The study analyzes how code-switching, culturally determined vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and speech patterns reflect the characters’ social status, ethnicity, and psychological state. The study demonstrates that lingua-cultural elements contribute significantly to character development, thematic depth, and the depiction of Afghan cultural heritage.
References
1. Ashcroft, B., Griffiths, G., & Tiffin, H. (2002). The Empire Writes Back. Routledge.
2. Baker, M. (2011). In other words: A coursebook on translation (2nd ed.). Routledge.
3. Brah, A. (1996). Cartographies of Diaspora: Contesting Identities. Routledge.
4. Hall, S. (1990). Cultural identity and diaspora. In J. Rutherford (Ed.), Identity: Community, culture, difference (pp. 222–237). Lawrence & Wishart.
5. Hosseini, K. (2003). The Kite Runner. Riverhead Books.
6. Myers-Scotton, C. (1993). Social motivations for codeswitching. Oxford University Press.
7. Safran, W. (1991). Diasporas in modern societies. Diaspora, 1(1), 83–99.
