White Tongue, Brown Skin: The Colonized Woman and Language

Delve into "White Tongue, Brown Skin: The Colonized Woman and Language," a profound exploration by Maya Boutaghou that examines the impact of imposed multilingualism on women writers in colonial contexts. Focusing on authors from India (Toru Dutt), Egypt (Mayy Ziyadah), Algeria (Assia Djebar), and Mauritius (Ananda Devi), Boutaghou illuminates the complex dualities inherent in the colonial experience. She presents colonialism as a pervasive force, likening it to a disease that manifests through enforced multilingualism and cultural pluralism. This imposition leads colonized individuals into a constant state of self-translation between languages of unequal political and emotional power, resulting in a fragmented self-perception. Boutaghou's work is both philosophical and deeply historical, offering close readings within specific historical contexts to provide a nuanced understanding of postcolonialism from the perspective of the colonized. 

Key Features:

• In-Depth Literary Analysis: Provides close readings of works by women writers from diverse colonial backgrounds, highlighting the effects of enforced multilingualism.

• Interdisciplinary Approach: Combines philosophy, history, and literary criticism to offer a comprehensive understanding of the colonial and postcolonial female experience.

• Focus on Female Perspectives: Centers on the unique challenges faced by colonized women writers, shedding light on their strategies of self-expression and resistance.

Why Choose This Book?

"White Tongue, Brown Skin" offers a unique and insightful examination of the colonial experience through the lens of language and gender. Maya Boutaghou's interdisciplinary approach provides readers with a deeper understanding of the psychological and cultural impacts of colonialism on women writers. This book is essential for scholars and readers interested in postcolonial studies, women's studies, and the intricate dynamics of language and power.