TEXTUAL POETICS AND FIGURATIVE NARRATIVE: A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAKISTANI DIPLOMATIC CYPHER

Abstract

Diplomatic Cypher is loaded with such language, which is institutional and of soft tone. Most are directive or persuasive. Recently, a Diplomatic Cypher was sent to the foreign office of Pakistan by the Pakistani Foreign Ambassador in the USA, Mr. Asad Majeed Khan, which consisted of the discussion held between the USA representative and the Pakistani Ambassador. It is claimed that after the Cypher, Pakistani Prime Minister of the time, Mr. Imran Khan, was removed from its ministry, and a new wave of narrative started building in Pakistan and outside Pakistan. The present study is conducted to understand the language narrative strategy as the textual poetics and figurative inlaid in the Cypher. The study has adopted Gerard Genette's (1970) theory of language analysis, which is based on Tense (Order, Duration, and Frequency), Mood (Focalization and Distance, Dealing with Diegesis Mimesis). The study also analyzed the figures of speech by the researcher's inferring knowledge. The study finds that the text (speech) of Donald Lu is full of aggression and directive, while the text of Asad Majeed Khan is persuasive and focalized. There is internal focalization at the early part of the Cypher in which are internal discussion, while external focalization is there in which the behavior, character, actions, and information of Imran Khan are discussed, which are presented as unacceptable by the USA. These are restricted information, while the stretches of the diplomatic struggle for dominance are about other aspects of international affairs. The language of Donald Lu mainly consists of paradox in which high concerns are shown about internal matters of Pakistan, while irony is also widely used. The language of Asad Majeed Khan is persuasive; most minor irony is used while clear statements are there on behalf of Pakistani foreign policy.

Keywords: Textual Poetics, Figurative Language, Pakistani Diplomatic Cypher