Silence and Speech: Exploring Language and Social Justice in Shema’u Abubakar Umar-Ari’s AMAL

Abstract

This paper examines how language operates both as an instrument of control and a medium of resistance in Shema’u Abubakar Umar-Ari’s Amal. Drawing on feminist linguistic theory and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), it explores how the female protagonist, Amal, negotiates systemic oppression through acts of speech and silence. Textual analysis demonstrates that when Amal remains silent in response to her father, Alhaji Bala’s coercion, her silence resists his authority by exposing the emotional violence underlying patriarchal power. Similarly, her refusal to verbally consent to the forced marriage highlights how the absence of speech functions as symbolic resistance. Conversely, moments when Amal speaks, such as her plea to be allowed to pursue education instead of marriage, reveal how female voices, though emotionally charged, are frequently dismissed and delegitimised in a male-dominated cultural order. The findings suggest that silence, rather than mere submission, can signify resilience and dissent, while speech acts expose structural inequalities in the cultural hierarchy. The paper argues that linguistic practices are central to pursuing social justice and gender equality, contributing to feminist literary scholarship by underscoring the urgent need to amplify and validate the voices of marginalised girls. It concludes by recommending a more inclusive discourse that disrupts oppressive norms and empowers women’s expression in literature and society.