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 (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.