THE PRAGMATICS OF TRAUMA, RESISTANCE, AND HUMAN CONNECTION; EXAMINING SPEECH ACTS IN KATOUH’S AS LONG AS THE LEMON TREES GROW

Abstract

This paper explores trauma, resistance, and human belonging in Katouh’s As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow (2022) through the lens of Speech Act Theory (1962). Drawing upon the theoretical underpinnings of J. L. Austin and John Searle, the study examines function of language as an act of survival in times of war and migration not merely as communication. Set against the backdrop of the Syrian conflict, the novel portrays characters whose utterances reveal psychological trauma, moral dilemmas and desperate search for belonging and human connection. This qualitative study relies on textual analysis to investigate representative dialogues, monologues, and narrative expressions from Katouh’s (2022) viewpoint by collecting data through random sampling technique. The findings of the study illustrates that speech acts such as promises, confessions, warnings, pleas, exclamations, and declarations become tools through which characters negotiate fear, grief, loss, identity, and hope throughout the novel. The protagonist’s dialogues and language reflects the disturbed consciousness of trauma and dilemmas while simultaneously serving as a mechanism of resilience and resistance against violence and displacement. Moreover, interpersonal communication in the novel demonstrates solidarity and emotional healing, highlighting the restorative and adaptive power of human connection during crisis. The paper navigates that speech in the narrative transcends literal meaning and operates performatively to preserve humanity amidst destruction. By integrating Speech Act Theory (1962) with trauma and resistance studies, this study contributes to contemporary literary discourse on war literature and demonstrates how language becomes a vital means of survival, emotional endurance, and social bonding in conflict narratives.