A Messy Literature. The Linguistic Conflict in Modern Lebanese Literature

Abstract

The article analyzes the linguistic conflict in modern Lebanese literature as a reflection of the nation’s fragmented identity. Between Arabic, French, English, and the Lebanese dialect, language becomes both a site of tension and a tool of creation. Through the works of Farjallah Hayek, Amin Maalouf, Wajdi Mouawad, and Morice Awwad, the study explores how multilingualism shapes literary form, ideology, and self-representation. Each author reveals a distinct negotiation with linguistic plurality – through hybrid syntax, voluntary grafting, universalizing abstraction, or rebellious dialectal expression. The analysis argues that Lebanese literature transforms linguistic disorder into aesthetic harmony, asserting a unique “Lebanophone” voice that transcends identity conflicts.