سيميولوجية التواصل عند المرأة في روايات نجيب محفوظ ت (2006م)

The Semiotics of Communication in Women’s Representation in the Novels of Naguib Mahfouz (2006)

Abstract

        The research focuses on the semiotics of non-verbal communication in women within Naguib Mahfouz's The Cairo Trilogy (Between the Palaces, Palace of Desire, and Sugar Street), employing a descriptive-analytical methodology. The aim of the study is to explore the non-verbal communication methods used by women in the trilogy, with a focus on gestures, body postures and positions, facial expressions, and external appearances such as clothing and accessories. The research classifies non-verbal communication into: simple movements, which rely on a single body part, and complex movements that involve two or more body parts, often with the use of external objects. Naguib Mahfouz skillfully employed facial expressions, gestures, and body postures in his trilogy to convey emotions and societal norms prevalent during that period. The study also provides profound insights into the cultural and psychological dimensions of women in these novels.

        Eye movements are frequently present in the trilogy, revealing a wide range of meanings, from fear and admiration to doubt and affection. Furthermore, gestures involving the hands and head indicate diverse emotional states such as sadness, joy, or contemplation. Changes in the complexion of the face—such as redness, paleness, or other variations—reflect the psychological state and various emotions of the female characters, including happiness, anger, or sorrow.

        The study concludes that Naguib Mahfouz's precise use of the semiotics of non-verbal communication for women in his trilogy reflects the importance of non-verbal cues in revealing the reality of Egyptian women and their various roles during that era, as well as societal values, class differences, and personal conflicts of the female characters, all examined in the light of the context.