Discursive Constructions of Freedom and Female Identity in American and Vietnamese Literature between the 1960s and 1980s

Huynh, Dat Thanh; Pham, Cuong Huy

doi:10.22049/jalda.2026.31868.2047

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Dat Thanh Huynh ¹
Cuong Huy Pham ²

¹ BA in English Language and Linguistics, International Institute, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

² : Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, Faculty of English, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

10.22049/jalda.2026.31868.2047

Abstract

This study examines discursive constructions of freedom and the ways in which they shape representations of female identity in selected American and Vietnamese literary texts during the 1960s and 1980s. Drawing on Critical Discourse Analysis, Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis, and Systemic Functional Linguistics, this study analyzes four typical works of this period, including The Bell Jar (1963), Beloved (1987), Paradise of the Blind (1988, original in Vietnamese), and The General Retires (1987, original in Vietnamese). Key theoretical concepts underpinning the deductive thematic analysis comprise metaphor, modality, transitivity, evaluation, silence, temporality, and conditionality. Findings show that freedom is not conceived of as a stable or fully realized condition but rather something constrained, negotiated, and often deferred. In the American texts, limitations on freedom are more often expressed through psychological instability and institutional control, whereas they are more frequently naturalized through moral duties, social expectations, and collective obligations in the Vietnamese texts. These constructions contribute to shaping female identity by weakening agency, restricting voice, and reinforcing emotional labor and sacrifice. This study is significant for discourse analysis, feminist literary studies, and cross-cultural literary research in showing that freedom and female identity are intrinsically and dynamically constructed and negotiated through language.

Keywords

Main Subjects

3. Applied Literature

Article Title [Persian]

ساخت‌بندی‌های گفتمانی آزادی و هویت زنانه در ادبیات آمریکا و ویتنام در دهه‌های ۱۹۶۰ تا ۱۹۸۰

Authors [Persian]

دات تانه هوینه ¹
دکتر کونگ هوی فم ²

¹ کارشناس زبان انگلیسی و زبانشناسی، مرکز بین الملل، دانشگاه اقتصاد و امور مالی هو چی مین، شهر هوچی مین، ویتنام

² دانشیار زبانشناسی کاربردی، دانشکده زبان انگلیسی، دانشگاه اقتصاد و امور مالی هو چی مین، شهر هوچی مین، ویتنام

Abstract [Persian]

این مطالعه به بررسی ساختارهای گفتمانی آزادی و چگونگی شکل گیری بازنمایی هویت زنانه از طریق این مفاهیم در متون ادبی منتخب آمریکایی و ویتنامی در طول دهه‌های 1960 و 1980 می‌پردازد. این مطالعه با بهره‌گیری از تحلیل گفتمان انتقادی، تحلیل گفتمان انتقادی فمینیستی و زبان‌شناسی کارکردی نظام‌مند، چهار اثر شاخص این دوره، شامل «شیشه زنگوله‌ای» (1963)، «محبوب» (1987)، «بهشت نابینایان» (1988، نسخه اصلی به زبان ویتنامی) و «ژنرال بازنشسته می‌شود» (1987، نسخه اصلی به زبان ویتنامی) را تحلیل می‌کند. مفاهیم نظری کلیدی که زیربنای تحلیل موضوعی قیاسی هستند، مفاهیمی چون استعاره، وجهیت، انتقال‌پذیری، ارزیابی، سکوت، زمانمندی و مشروطیت را شامل می‌شوند. یافته‌ها نشان می‌دهد که آزادی به عنوان یک وضعیت پایدار یا کاملاً تحقق‌یافته تصور نمی‌شود، بلکه مفهومی مقید، قابل بحث و اغلب به تعویق افتاده است. در متون آمریکایی، محدودیت‌های آزادی بیشتر از طریق بی‌ثباتی روانی و کنترل نهادی بیان می‌شوند، در حالی که در متون ویتنامی، این محدودیت‌ها بیشتر از طریق وظایف اخلاقی، انتظارات اجتماعی و تعهدات جمعی طبیعی جلوه می‌کنند. این ساختارها با تضعیف عاملیت، محدود کردن صدا و تقویت کار عاطفی و فداکاری، در شکل‌دهی به هویت زنانه نقش دارند. این مطالعه برای تحلیل گفتمان، مطالعات ادبی فمینیستی و تحقیقات ادبی بین فرهنگی از این جهت اهمیت دارد که نشان می‌دهد آزادی و هویت زنانه ذاتاً و به صورت پویا از طریق زبان ساخته و پرداخته می‌شوند.

Keywords [Persian]

تحلیل انتقادی گفتمان
تحلیل انتقادی گفتمان فمینیستی
هویت زنانه
آزادی
ادبیات
زبان‌شناسی نقش‌گرای نظام‌مند

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Journal of Applied Linguistics and Applied Literature: Dynamics and Advances

Discursive Constructions of Freedom and Female Identity in American and Vietnamese Literature between the 1960s and 1980s

References

References

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 October 2026

Discursive Constructions of Freedom and Female Identity in American and Vietnamese Literature between the 1960s and 1980s

References

References

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript Available Online from 02 October 2026

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 October 2026