Abstract Book of the 8th World Conference on Social Sciences
Year: 2025
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The “I” of Migration: The Construction of Identity in First-Person Fictional Narratives of Albanian Immigrants
Dr. Marios-Kyparissis Moros
ABSTRACT:
This paper examines the renegotiation of identity in migration through two works by Gazmend M. Kapllani: A Short Border Handbook (2006) and My Name is Europe (2010). Both works, written in Greek, use first-person narratives to capture the immigrant experience, focusing on the complexities of identity formation in the face of cultural displacement. Drawing from Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the study explores how Kapllani portrays migrant subjectivity, emphasizing the role of language and personal experiences in shaping the migrant’s sense of self. The narratives highlight the ongoing process of identity reconstruction, not just after migration but also during the decision to migrate. These works provide insight into the broader transformation of Greek society’s relationship with migration, particularly from the Balkans and the East, making them significant contributions to modern Greek literature.
Keywords: Migration, Identity, Greek literature, Cultural displacement, Diaspora