Journal of Arabic Language & Literature

Applications of Decentralization in Creative Narration A case study of the collection “Yuhka Anna” by Amal Nasser

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Fatemeh Takhti 1
Khayrieh Echresh 2
Hasan Dadkhah Tehrani 3

1 PhD in Arabic Language and Literature of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Literature of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

3 Professor of Arabic Language and Literature of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jall.2025.86239.1368
Abstract
Decentralization is a mental ability that allows a child’s mind to detach from a specific phenomenon and settle on another. As a cornerstone of children’s literature, this construct plays a vital role in cognitive development and mental blossoming, paving the way for creative thinking and the formation of identity and personality. This qualitative study explores the decentralization strategies in the collection ‘Yuhka Anna’ by contemporary Lebanese author Amal Nasser. The collection consists of thirteen instructive short stories that target children’s mental realms through a child-friendly narrative style. Utilizing her constant ingenuity, Amal Nasser employs metaphors to simplify novel concepts for children. This research aims to identify the deep structures of decentralization techniques used in this collection and to uncover the author’s objectives in applying these methods. Adopting an interpretative-abstract approach, the findings reveal that Nasser creatively employs decentralization strategies; she sometimes simplifies complex concepts to match children’s comprehension, and at other times, fosters creativity, inquiry, and questioning. To achieve these goals, the author conveys societal realities through symbolic language. Furthermore, the study shows that most of these techniques trigger decentralization through narrative movement, with transformation being the most frequently used method, inducing mental fluidity in the audience. This fluidity provides a deeper understanding of the narrative progression and leads the reader toward the author’s intended goals. Through in-depth analysis, two new techniques were identified: ‘Transformation via Optical Illusion’ and ‘The Dilemma of Expectation’, which can be added to existing decentralization strategies.

Keywords

Children&rsquo
s stories, Amal Nasser, Yuhka Anna, Centralization, Decentralization
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