Linguistics and Literature Studies Vol. 6(5), pp. 250 - 258
DOI: 10.13189/lls.2018.060508
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Reclaiming Luce Irigaray: Language and Space of the "Other"

Zhang Pinggong ^*
The Faculty of English Language and Culture, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, China

ABSTRACT

French feminist Luce Irigaray takes up some essential conceptions of post-structuralist thinkers as a start-point, and advances arguments on the logical oppositions based on male and female dichotomy. According to Irigaray, this dichotomy is explicitly related to language. In order to subvert discursive hegemony of patriarchy, it is imperative for women to invent and utilize a language strikingly different from that of the male. This innovative language, also known as "parler femme" or space of the "other", can be employed to construct women's subjectivity. Irigaray prioritizes language over social conscious and ideologies, considering physical and spiritual difference between women and men as instrumental for women's sovereignty and identity. And women's subjectivity can only be constructed on gender difference. Through a language by women, of women and for women, their subjectivity, intellectual enlightenment, cultural conscious, individual improvement, sexual harmony allowing diversity as well as gender equality can reasonably be materialized.

KEYWORDS
Luce Irigaray, Feminism, Language, Difference, Subjectivity

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Zhang Pinggong , "Reclaiming Luce Irigaray: Language and Space of the "Other"," Linguistics and Literature Studies, Vol. 6, No. 5, pp. 250 - 258, 2018. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2018.060508.

(b). APA Format:
Zhang Pinggong (2018). Reclaiming Luce Irigaray: Language and Space of the "Other". Linguistics and Literature Studies, 6(5), 250 - 258. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2018.060508.