A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF DEVIANT LANGUAGE IN KANZA JAVED’S RANI

Abstract

This paper explores linguistic deviance in Kanza Javed’s short story Rani by Javed,(2025) through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Deviant language grammatical, lexical, and narrative foregrounds psychological states, cultural norms, and socio-emotional tensions in the story. Applying Halliday’s (1994) framework, the study demonstrates how deviations in grammar, vocabulary, and narrative structure create meaning beyond conventional language, allowing readers to access the fragmented experiences of characters like Daddi and Annie. The findings reveal that Javed’s deviations serve both aesthetic and functional purposes, illustrating memory, trauma, and familial dynamics.