Exploring Human-Nature Relationship and Alienation in Nissim Ezekiel’s “Urban”: An Eco-Linguistic Study

Ecolinguistics, an evolving branch of linguistics, studies the interaction between languages and the ecosystem, where practically every human action is affected by the language they choose to use. This study examines Nissim Ezekiel's poem “Urban” through eco-linguistic lenses to explore how language constructs the human–nature relationship and produces ecological alienation within modern urban life. Although scholars have written extensively about Ezekiel's poetry in the context of identity, urbanization, and traditions, very few have attempted to address the ecological aspects of his works. The study is based on Arran Stibbe's (2021) model of ecolinguistics, along with insights from Halliday's functional linguistics and Fairclough's discourse theory. It employs qualitative textual analysis to investigate lexical choices, grammatical patterns, metaphorical framing, and evaluative language in the poem. The poem depicts urban life as repetitive, emotionally restrictive, and ecologically disconnected, reinforcing an anthropocentric worldview that normalizes environmental neglect. This study contributes to eco-linguistic scholarship by extending its application to Indian English poetry and examining ecological consciousness and environmental ideology.