Ideological Stylistics and Fictional Discourse

Product Description This book focuses on ideology and its function in fictional discourse, exploring the link between textual ideologies and the real ideologies in the text production environments. It attempts this through a specific focus on the social and linguistic elements that control the presence, the use, and the presentation of ideology, and also the way in which linguistic elements are controlled and manipulated by the collective consciousness of the text producer. This correlation between fictional discourse and ideology is revealed through a series of chapters that cover four closely interrelated areas, focusing specifically on Malaysian and Singaporean fiction. Firstly, the positioning of Malaysian and Singaporean literatures in English as individual literary traditions. This is to counter the non-recognition of Malaysian and Singaporean literatures as individual traditions in spite of five decades of independence. Secondly, establishing a contextual (socio-cultural and political) framework as a basis for discussion on real ideology, arguing that Malaysian and Singaporean writers have moved beyond the anti-western nationalistic stage and on to more personal and communal concerns such as race relations, identity and a sense of belonging. Thirdly, rationalising the social structures of ideology that are likely to be found in the Malaysian and Singaporean social milieus, especially location and text-specific social variables of ideology. Lastly, it seeks to reveal a linguistic-oriented approach for the study of textual ideologies and for linking textual ideologies to ideologies in the overall text production environment. The book ultimately shows the significant possibilities of systematic links between textual ideology, and the real ideology in the text production environment, through what can best be termed as ideological stylistics. In doing so, it aims to contribute significantly to studies of ideology in general and more specifically on ideology on Malaysian and Singaporean literatures in English. Review âGanakumaran Subramaniam âs Ideological Stylistics and Fictional Discourse is a distinctive contribution to the growing body of work at the interface of language and literature study, with a focus on new Literatures written in English. The very use of the term ânew literaturesâ provokes questions concerning who is defining what as ânewâ and for whom might the ânewâ be designated; it therefore simultaneously invokes political questions. Writing with real clarity and insight and drawing on texts from Malaysian and Singaporean literature, Subramaniam is alert to such issues and shows how political ideologies are not just stated or represented but are produced in the very textual organisation of fictional discourses. This book makes a major and an original contribution to studies of the literature and language of S.E. Asia.❠Professor Ronald Carter, Professor of Modern English Language, University of Nottingham,England. --Not available About the Author Ganakumaran Subramaniam is Deputy Director of the Office of International Relations, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and senior lecturer at the School of Language Studies and Linguistics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He has a Ph.D from the University of Nottingham, UK and is the recipient of the Fulbright Award in the year 2002. His publications include the books Teaching of Literature in the ESL/EFL Contexts (2003), Reclaiming Place and Space: Issues in New Literatures (2003), Voices of Many Worlds: Malaysian Literature in English (2004), Oracy in Focus (2005), Literature and Nationhood (2005) and Reconstructing Realities: Occident-Orient Engagements (Longman Pearson 2007). He is also President of the Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA)