Green Stylistics: An Ecolinguistic Exploration of Nature Imagery in Taufiq Rafat's Poetry

Abstract

This study explores the intersection of language, ecology, and poetic imagination through the lens of green stylistics and ecolinguistics in the poetry of Taufiq Rafat, a pioneering figure in Pakistani English literature. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of ecolinguistics (Stibbe, 2015) and green stylistics (Goatly, 2000; Clark, 2016), the research examines how Rafat constructs nature imagery to reflect ecological consciousness, cultural rootedness, and human-nature relationships within a South Asian context. The study analyzes selected poems for their lexical choices, metaphorical structures, transitivity patterns, and ideational meanings that foreground environmental values. By employing tools of stylistic and discourse analysis, this research identifies how Rafat’s poetic language evokes indigenous landscapes, traditional lifestyles, and ecological sensibilities that challenge anthropocentric worldviews. The findings reveal that Rafat’s work not only embodies an aesthetic appreciation of nature but also serves as a subtle critique of ecological degradation and cultural disconnection. This study contributes to the growing body of ecolinguistic literary analysis by demonstrating how Pakistani English poetry can participate in global ecological discourse while maintaining local environmental and cultural specificity.