Translating Power: Female Voice Beyond Gender Norms in the Novel Zinah

Authors

  • Tika Fitriyah

    Faculty of Cultural Science, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia
  • Mangatur Nababan

    Faculty of Cultural Science, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia
  • Riyadi Santosa

    Faculty of Cultural Science, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia
  • Muhammad Yunus Anis

    Faculty of Cultural Science, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i7.10087
Received: 19 May 2025 | Revised: 9 June 2025 | Accepted: 16 June 2025 | Published Online: 15 July 2025

Abstract

This paper explores the language use of female characters in Nawal El Saadawi’s Zinah, specifically examining how their speech reflects male linguistic patterns. Using Coates' theoretical framework, the study finds that 55.43% of the utterances made by female characters exhibit traits traditionally associated with male language, indicating a deliberate negotiation of gendered social roles within a patriarchal society. Additionally, through a translation analysis based on Molina and Albir’s techniques, the study highlights the roles of discursive creation, generalization, and literal translation in reshaping representations of linguistic authority. A novel linguistic feature, "aggressive language," is introduced, which not only captures bold expressions but also encompasses verbal confrontations and challenges to the authority of interlocutors. This research contributes to the broader understanding of the intersection of language, gender, and power in Arabic sociolinguistics and calls for more gender-aware translation practices, emphasizing the translator’s role in ensuring balanced gender representation in cross-cultural discourse. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to the ongoing discourse on gendered language use, particularly in Arabic literature, by introducing new insights into how language shapes and reflects gender power dynamics. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for more nuanced translation practices that consider the implications of gendered language features, which can influence the social and cultural impact of translated works.

Keywords:

Arabic Sociolinguistics; Genderd Language; Language and Power; Translation Studies

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How to Cite

Fitriyah, T., Nababan, M., Santosa, R., & Anis, M. Y. (2025). Translating Power: Female Voice Beyond Gender Norms in the Novel Zinah. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(7), 656–669. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i7.10087

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 7 (July 2025)

Article Type

Article

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Copyright © 2025 Tika Fitriyah, Mangatur Nababan, Riyadi Santosa, Muhammad Yunus Anis

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.