COGNITIVE STYLISTICS AND EMOTIONAL IMMERSION IN MULTILINGUAL FICTION:A STUDY OF MONICA ALI’S BRICK LANE

Abstract

This study examines how cognitive-stylistic elements and conceptual blending shape emotional depth and cultural meaning in Monica Ali’s Brick Lane. The research focuses on the intersection of language, cognition, and emotion in the representation of diasporic identity. Grounded in cognitive stylistics, the study examines how stylistic techniques, including viewpoint shifts, deictic anchoring, and moralisation, contribute to psychological realism. It also investigates how multilingual expressions and conceptual blending produce emergent meanings within the narrative. A qualitative textual analysis method was employed to identify linguistic and stylistic patterns that guide mental simulation and infer emotional effects. The selected passages reveal how Ali’s language subtly constructs Nazneen’s transformation from a state of submission to one of self-awareness. Through alternating focalization, the reader experiences both her internal emotions and external limitations. Deictic expressions situate Nazneen in a spatially confined yet emotionally rich world. Modal verbs reflect her inner uncertainty, conveying cultural beliefs and moral dilemmas. Moreover, the use of Bangla lexical items acts as cognitive triggers that blend cultural contexts, prompting cross-cultural interpretation. Metaphorical blends such as “fate as a thread” and “life as a small room” illustrate how Ali merges physical and abstract domains to evoke empathy. These stylistic and conceptual strategies enable readers to perceive emotion as a cognitive construct embedded in language. The findings highlight that multilingual and blended expressions deepen the affective texture of the text. Emotional immersion, therefore, arises through cognitive engagement rather than explicit narration. Ultimately, the study concludes that Brick Lane exemplifies how cognitive stylistics and conceptual blending together transform linguistic form into an emotional and cultural experience.