Psychoanalysis and the Love of Arabic: Hall of Mirrors

Psychoanalysis and the Love of Arabic reorients the debates around Arabic and global modernity in relation to psychoanalysis, capitalism, and universality, offering the first psychoanalytic reading of 19th-century works by Ahmad Faris Shidyaq and Butrus al-Bustani.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2021
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Psychoanalysis and the Love of Arabic: Reorienting Debates Around Arabic and Global Modernity

Psychoanalysis and the Love of Arabic is a groundbreaking study that reorients the debates surrounding Arabic and global modernity in relation to psychoanalysis, capitalism, and universality. This comprehensive analysis offers the first psychoanalytic reading of 19th-century works written during the nahda movement by Ahmad Faris Shidyaq (1805-1887) and Butrus al-Bustani (1819-1883). By delving into the intricate relationship between language and politics, the study sheds light on how a curious bond was forged between these two spheres, driven by both a desire for and anxiety about modernity.

In analyzing the abstractness of national belonging as belonging to the language, author Nadia Bou Ali delves into the reasons why modern Arabic grammarians fell in love with language once again. She explores how language became ideated as a mirror of the nation, reflecting the complex social, cultural, and political dynamics of the time. Through a meticulous examination of these texts, Bou Ali uncovers the ways in which psychoanalysis can provide a fresh perspective on the study of Arabic and global modernity, challenging traditional narratives and illuminating new insights into the complex interplay between language, power, and identity.

This study is a significant contribution to the field of Arabic studies, as it challenges the notion of Arabic as a static and archaic language and instead presents it as a dynamic and evolving entity that is deeply intertwined with the broader currents of global modernity. By employing psychoanalytic methodologies, Bou Ali offers a new way of understanding the complex processes of language acquisition, language change, and the construction of national identity. Psychoanalysis and the Love of Arabic is a must-read for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the intersection of language, culture, and power in the modern world.

Weight: 372g
Dimension: 160 x 233 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474491747