"Attack on Borders": Lahjemri Questions Language and Identity in Slimani's Experience

Academic Abdelfattah Lahjemri delves into the intricate connections between language, identity, and belonging, using Moroccan-French author Leïla Slimani's book "Attack on Borders" as a focal point. Lahjemri's analysis, presented in his article "The Court of Languages," scrutinizes the multifaceted role language plays in an individual's life.

Lahjemri highlights how language transcends its basic function of communication to become a significant indicator of social acceptance and validation. He argues that it serves as a symbol of memory and a crucial arena where complex issues like colonialism, migration, integration, and power dynamics converge.

The examination of Slimani's work allows Lahjemri to explore the personal and societal implications of navigating multiple linguistic and cultural landscapes. The piece probes the ways in which language can both enable and constrain an individual's sense of self and their place within society, particularly in contexts shaped by historical and ongoing societal shifts.