Li Hongjuan
ABSTRACT
This study explores how the dialogues in Khaled Hosseini’s acclaimed novel, The Kite Runner, embody linguistic adaptation principles as theorized by Jef Verschueren in his Adaptation Theory. Adaptation Theory posits that language is dynamic and context-driven, shaped by three interdependent properties: variability, negotiability, and adaptability. Applying these principles, the research analyzes how conversations in the novel adapt to the characters’ shifting mental, social, and physical environments. The methodology is qualitative, employing close reading and thematic coding to examine selected dialogues across different phases of the protagonist Amir’s development. The findings demonstrate that characters’ linguistic choices reflect evolving power relations, emotional states, and intercultural transitions. Key dialogues are shown to be not only narrative tools but pragmatic acts that illuminate inner conflicts, social dynamics, and cultural contexts. The paper argues for the value of Adaptation Theory in literary analysis, particularly in understanding how dialogue constructs identity and bridges cultural divides.
Keywords: adaptation theory, dialogue, linguistic choices, The Kite Runner
https://doi.org/10.57180/vpoh3377