Influence of editorial signs in Arabic postmodern micro-narratives

Introduction: Arabic micro-narrations are very short narrations, some of which have a volume of a few words to a few lines. Therefore, the small number of words, the compact bulk of the plot, and the short length of most sentences are the definite features of a micro-narrative. These features should not be considered the same as other literary types.
Postmodernism represents a crisis in modernism. It has decomposition, dispersion, multiplicity, fluidity, and transience established in it. The possibility of any stability, unity, community, unity, longevity and permanence is accompanied by excessive skepticism and pessimism. Postmodern themes include ontological issues, chronological irregularities in the narration of events, adaptation, disintegration, incoherent association of ideas, fascination, vicious circle, linguistic disorder, lack of plot, linguistic and formal games, uncertainty, scattering and decentralization, absence or non-seeing oneself, indescribable, composition, contradiction, displacement, lack of rule, and short circuits.
There is no doubt that every text is a system of codes and signs that, on the one hand, leads to the limitation of various meanings and, on the other hand, helps the audience not to be confused when reading the text. One of these codes is the editorial signs, which are such as dots, parentheses, colon, semicolon, quotation mark, hook, and three dots. They play important roles in the correct reading of a text and limiting the numerous meanings. But, in Arabic micro-narratives, there are examples where these editorial signs have not been used in their proper positions; rather, they are unconventionally appliedcation. This is exactly in line with the philosophy of postmodern literature. Postmodernism was a revolution in the second half of the twentieth century that, in addition to influencing the arts and humanities, entered the field of literature. Countless micro-narratives can be observed that have undergone fundamental changes and developments in the process of narrative development under the influence of postmodernism. Multiple narratives, anonymity of characters, instability, uncertainty, and references to the artificiality of micro-narratives are among those components. The various forms of written and visual abnormalities in such micro-narratives are such that this article is able to deal only with those editorial signs that are in line with postmodern philosophy; they cannot be used in the analysis of the stylistic function of micro-narratives.
Therefore, first the various forms of unusual functions of these signs are pointed out, and then their alignment with postmodern philosophy and accompaniment in the direction of micro-narrative content are discussed. This article tries to find an answer to the following two questions by an analytical-inductive method and by focusing on nine sets of micro-narratives.
How are the unconventional uses of editorial signs manifested in Arabic micro-narratives?
What is the connection between the unconventional use of editorial signs in Arabic micro-narratives and the components of postmodernism?
Also, in this study, the unusual uses of some of the symptoms are listed, and their association with the components of postmodernism is pointed out.
Methodology: The statistical population of this article includes 796 micro-narratives in nine collections by famous micro-narrators including Shimeh Al-Shamari, Maimon Harash (with two collections of micro-narratives), Hassan Bartal, Jamil Hamdavi, Jamaluddin Khediri, Abdullah Mottaqi, Mubarak Saadani and Haifa Sanooni. The method of the study is analytical-inductive. First, the four punctuation marks, namely three dots, parentheses, hooks, and quotation marks are discussed, which are most used in postmodern microstructures. Then, by citing various examples from contemporary Arabic writers, the connection between these signs and postmodern features are pointed out.
Findings: Unusual use of editorial signs by any of the authors of postmodern Arabic micro-narratives is consistent with post-modernist components such as doubt and uncertainty, confusion and incoherence, participation of the reader in creating the text, violation of the author's death, emphasis on anonymity, avoiding a definite end, and unfinished meaning.
Results and Discussion: After examining the micro-narratives, the unconventional use of writing symbols with postmodernist components was found in two forms. In the first one, changes were made in the shape and the form of those signs to show features such as uncertainty, violation of positive originality and preventing the audience from reaching the end. In the second manner, the form was preserved and only their system of signification was changed, which indicates the absolute non-end, the reader's participation in the creation of the text, the violation of the author's death, the emphasis on anonymity and the denial of do's and don'ts.