The Unbearable Lightness Of Language: An Analysis Of The Innovative Use Of Language In The Chickencoop Chinaman

This thesis is a study of the innovative use of language in Frank Chin's play The Chickencoop Chinaman. For long, language has been regarded as objective, neutral and natural. However, such simplicity is illusory. The analysis of the language in this thesis reveals that language conveys many different layers of meaning. It can represent different relationships, such as the relationship between language and one's identity, language and power, language and subjectivity.This thesis consists of five parts. The introduction part explains why the thesis is being approached from the aspect of language. A brief introduction of Frank Chin is also given in this part. Chapter One is the groundwork of the following two chapters. The significance of Chin's play is highlighted by briefly narrating the history of Chinese Americans from being a silenced group to a group of people who are able to publicly denounce the injustice and maltreatment they have once endured. Comparison is made between articulation and the search for the father motif and the deconstructive use of language is put forth too in this part. Chapter Two is a detailed analysis of the language. The linguistic peculiarity of the main characters is explored first. And then there is the analysis of the linguistic conflicts. These conflicts reflect speakers'struggle for power and control. The performativity of language is also interpreted. Critical theories are adopted in Chapter Three to analyze the techniques applied in the play. The final part concludes that the innovative use of language in the play is a linguistic representation of Asian American sensibility, ethnic identity and particularity. By challenging and deconstructing the dominant discourse and holding on to his own style of language, Frank Chin, through the mouth of Tam Lum, has put his theory of"writing is fighting"into practice and has built new image of Chinese Americans. In this sense, the language in the play forms an indispensable part of Chinese American's struggle for power and promotion of Chinese American culture.