FOREGROUNDING EMOTION: A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF DEVIATIONS IN FARZANA AQIB’S WHEN WILL THESE WALLS GO DOWN

Abstract

This study explores the multifaceted stylistic deviations present in Farzana Aqib’s poem When Will These Walls Go Down (2021), employing the theoretical framework of deviation and foregrounding as articulated by Leech and Short (2007). Through a detailed linguistic analysis, the poem reveals extensive phonological, graphological, grammatical, lexical, semantic, dialectal, register, and historical deviations that collectively enhance its emotional resonance and aesthetic complexity. These deviations, including repetition, non-standard grammar, inventive lexical choices, metaphorical paradoxes, and the blending of poetic and colloquial registers, serve to foreground the poem’s themes of love, protection, and emotional vulnerability. The study demonstrates how deliberate linguistic irregularities function not only as artistic devices but also as mechanisms for engaging the reader cognitively and effectively. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of contemporary poetic expression and the role of deviation in constructing rich, layered meanings within poetic texts.