Oldal 39 [39]
THE POLITICS AND POETICS OF LANGUAGE USE
translation of the Arabic expression katb al-kitab, which means the signing
of the marriage contract. The relexification is not explicitly explained and
will therefore confuse outsider readers who do not know Arabic; they can only
understand it from the context and cushioning as well as its repetition in the
text. It is mentioned the first time when Midhat’s father Haj Taher Kamal, who
is a widower, decides to remarry in Cairo where he directs one of his business
branches: “He did not take long to decide. He wrote to Layla’s father, and
within days they had arranged the signing of the book and the wedding date.”
The expression is mentioned a second time when Midhat tells his cousin Jamil
that he wants to marry Fatima Hammad, who is considered out of bounds for
him because her family is much wealthier than his. Jamil jokingly tells Midhat
that she is already engaged to somebody else: “You know, [...] she is marrying
him. [...] They signed the book already.”°° Midhat proposes anyway and, after
initially refusing, her father consents. The third time the expression is men¬
tioned is when the news of Midhat’s engagement starts to spread. However,
this time the expression is translated as “the signing of the betrothal contract”.
This is an idiomatic but rather archaic English expression with religious con¬
notations, which actually covers the meaning of katb al-kitab very well. It also
draws the attention of the readers in a way that is different but comparable to
the way in which the relexified expression does. The readers are just the same
compelled to pause and reflect on its deeper meanings. The expression is
mentioned a fourth time in the context of one of the subplots, when Midhat’s
close friend Hani marries his much younger cousin in order to save her from
her money-hungry uncles: “Within a few minutes, they had signed the book
of marriage."
By inserting this relexified expression, together with its archaic translation,
four times in the text, Hammad produces yet again “rich points” that make
the readers pause and invite them to reflect on marriage outside the frames
that they take for granted. Besides that, the relexified expression and its ar¬
chaic translation signal the importance of marriage in the plot and in Midhat’s
life. As mentioned above, Haj Taher’s marriage to Layla marked Midhat’s
childhood and further alienated him from his already aloof father. Upon Mid¬
hat’s return to Nablus, Haj Taher coerces him to marry because of Jeannette’s
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This legally binding contract, which also stipulates the dowry (mahr), is signed when a couple
gets engaged. During the engagement period the couple have the opportunity to get to know
each other and to prepare together with their families the wedding ceremony, which usually
takes place a couple of months (but sometimes years) after the signing of the contract.
Hammad: “The Parisian or Al-Barisi”, 19.
Ibid., 239.
§7 Ibid., 326.
68 Ibid., 377.
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