Panacea Journal of Linguistics & Literature

Relationship between Screen Time and Children’s Language Development: A Systematic Literature Review

Ika Oktarina — 2024-04-02

This study analyzes the complicated relationship between children' screen time and language development, to identify patterns and implications in the results of existing research. The definition of "screen time" includes both active and passive use of digital gadgets. There are worries about possible detrimental effects on children’s language development, with a focus on the decreased frequency of contact with others that are caused by excessive use of devices. The important role of the social context for the development of speech is highlighted, recognizing the growing influence of technology in both active and passive forms. A systematic review methodology is used, following protocols tailored for educational research, to synthesize findings from various studies. Diverse points of view on screen time and language development are offered by some previous researchers. The findings revealed several themes, such as the close relationship between excessive screen time and language delays, the consequences of different screen durations, and the complex ways in which smart screens affect phonological memory. In order to balance screen time and support children's healthy language development, the conclusion emphasizes the need for more research on screen content and calls for future studies on intervention techniques and educational initiatives. These findings will be helpful to educators, parents and policymakers.

Metacognitive Awareness and Utilization of Reading Strategies among Tertiary Level Students at Private Sector University in Karachi, Pakistan

Shanza Fatima Naz — 2024-04-02

In the 21st century, awareness regarding the usage of metacognitive reading strategies is of paramount importance, at tertiary level. Comprehension of difficult texts requires learners to possess cognizance and usage of certain strategies to counterpoise the shortcomings of not understanding the text, specifically in first time read. This research, thus, investigated the metacognitive awareness of reading strategies (MARS). A sample of 300 students was taken using purposive sampling. MARS has three basic categories: Problem-Solving, Support and Global Reading Strategies. A quantitative study was conducted on undergraduate students at private university, in Karachi, Pakistan. Survey of Reading Strategies (SORS) was used as an instrument, adapted from Mokhtari and Shoerey (2002). The results were obtained through quantitative analysis using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 22; in particular, Descriptive analysis was used to investigate the perception of MARS. Findings revealed that the high level of awareness of Problem-Solving Reading Strategies (PSRS), medium level of awareness was of Global Reading Strategies (GRS) and the least awareness was of Support Reading Strategies (SRS). However, this study was limited to Private Sector University which prevents its result to be generalized. The novelty provided by the present research is relevant data in spreading awareness regarding the reading skills and strategies that are crucial in comprehension of texts. As a result, so students, themselves should continue to strive, while teachers or instructors or trainers should assist the students, in order to refine their metacognitive reading strategies (MARS) to next level and intensify their understanding and enabling them to become even confident and effective readers.

Incredulity towards Emancipatory Metanarrative: A Postmodern critique of Barth’s Autobiography: A Self-Recorded Fiction and Calvino’s Good for Nothing

Sundus Javaid — 2024-04-02

Metanarratives or grand narratives pertain to ideological constructs, having a tendency to universalize human experience in terms of both oppression and freedom. Postmodernism, in this regard, takes a skeptic stance towards such ideological foundations as human constructs and hence, fictive devices which intend to divide reality in terms of binaries as true/false, real/unreal and etc. It tends to dismantle the ideological foundation of reason and human emancipation not only in terms of complete freedom and salvation for humanity but also through a sense of surveillance of oppressive and hegemonic gaze which individuals experience in a Postmodern world. Postmodernism also unsettles the manipulative designs of narratives and voices multiplicity and heterogeneity in the form of diverse ways to approach knowledge in order to subvert the practice of exclusion within the dominant narrative of reason and enlightenment. This epistemological multiplicity and heterogeneity in turn, ultimately leads towards a sense of meaninglessness and chaos in human existence i.e. Angst. The skepticism towards the ideology of absolutistic freedom is achieved through Postmodernist notion of Simulated reality that is, hyperreality. Hyperreality in Postmodern literature tends to voice the real presence of absolute unreality in the form of ambivalence between the fixed notions of real versus unreal. Moreover, Postmodernism perturbs the safe haven of absolute real through various narrative techniques like metafiction, intertextuality, historiographic metafiction and blank parody. The present study deals with the Postmodernist analysis of Barth’s Autobiography: A Self-Recorded Fiction and Calvino’s Good for Nothing particularly through Postmodernist narrative techniques. The study mainly deals with Barth and Calvino’s engagement with Postmodernist skepticism towards the metanarrative of emancipation as an illusory construct for human liberation. The study also intends to reveal that how the short stories of Barth and Calvino signify the lack and absence of unified reality and absolute freedom through narrative uncertainty and unreliability through self-conscious reflexivity.

An Investigation of the Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the Teaching of English as a Second Language

Zara Fatima — 2024-04-11

The main objective of this study is to explore the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) English language learners should be acquainted with the use of computers and the Internet. Technology benefits students who desire to learn English as a second language. ICTs and the internet allow English language students to utilize their language in useful and relevant ways. This research examines the role of information and communication technology in the teaching of English as a second language. It includes discussions of various tactics and strategies. These strategies include English language learning websites, computer-aided language-learning applications, chatting and email communications, software for presentations, digital dictionaries, CD players for listening, and specific video clips. This study conducted a descriptive inquiry to examine the function of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in ESL instruction among 100 TESL students from secondary schools in Lahore, Pakistan. Most of the participants agreed on the importance, advantages, and practicality of ICTs. This paper offers a few recommendations to improve the use of ICTs in ESL instruction. The study used both qualitative and quantitative data from student questionnaire surveys. For the questionnaire survey, 107 students made up a convenience sample. Pre- and post-tests were administered to evaluate the study's efficacy. The researchers personally gathered and distributed the questionnaires. Analysis of the control group, taught using conventional methods, revealed minimal improvement in post-test scores, indicating limitations in traditional teaching approaches. Conversely, the experimental group, exposed to ICTs alongside conventional instruction, demonstrated significant improvement in post-test scores, suggesting the potential efficacy of ICT integration in ESL education. The results of the study have certain implications that the use of ICT cannot be detached in any way from our lives as it works as a facilitation in our lives.

Deciphering Linguistic Forms, Functions, and Pragmatics: An Eco-Linguistic Analysis of Environmental Campaign Slogans

Tayyba Rashid — 2024-04-15

Present study finds compelling evidence for the usage of verb phrases, persuading and commanding language in Eco linguistic slogans. Data is collected in the form of 85 slogans consisting of words, phrases, clauses and sentences of environmental campaigns. This research contributes in two ways: first it conducts a descriptive analysis of data consisting of environmental campaign slogans, banners, posters and images collected from television, internet and magazines through the lens of Eco-linguistics to understand their linguistic form and function. Secondly it assesses the prevalence of pragmatic aspects within slogans to gauge their effectiveness in fostering action towards environmental stewardship through qualitative analysis. Across the Eco linguistic context, slogans are analyzed by modifying a pre-established theoretical and analytical framework of grammatical rank scale by Halliday and Speech Act Theory by Searle. Finally, it concludes that slogans consisting of verb phrases are most commonly used as tools to grasp the attention of masses as well as persuasive and commanding sentences employ pragmatic implications. Numerous implications in terms of language use, form and meaning are highlighted through descriptive qualitative analysis. These findings demonstrate a significant contribution by offering a different focus to the discussion.

Exploring Colonial Legacies: Resistance and Decoloniality in Nadeem Aslam's The Blind Man's Garden

Mubashar Altaf — 2024-05-07

Imperialism is an appropriate background for exploring resistance and power relations in Nadeem Aslam’s postcolonial world. Neoliberalism carries the legacies of colonial modernity though in a new guise. The present research delves into a critical study of Nadeem Aslam’s Novel, The Blind Man's Garden (2013), through the lens of decolonial theory. The study takes the framework from the works of Anibal Quijano and Walter D. Mignolo to examine how the text engages with coloniality and exposes the legacies of Western modernity. It is a qualitative textual analysis of the novel. Through evaluation of the events and characters, the study exposes the invisible legacies of colonialism that shape reality and identity. The current study highlights the epistemological imprints on structures of the postcolonial world. The study explores the text's resistance against Imperialism and the rhetoric of modernity. The text narrative aligns with decolonial discourse of inclusivity and pluriversality by challenging grand narrative of western modernity. The study exposes the text's inherent critique of Western modernity's dark side and its exploitation of the global South. The text promotes diversity and multiplicity of cultures and epistemologies. It is significant research; it contributes to the broader decolonial discourse.

Exploring Narrative Patterns in Zubair Ahmed's Waliullah is Lost Using Labov's Sociolinguistic Model

Israr Ahmed Tanoli — 2024-05-08

The present paper highlights the narrative patterns of a Punjabi short story, Waliullah is lost, by Zubair Ahmed, through the application of a sociolinguistic model of narrative analysis introduced by William Labov in 1972. Although the model was initially developed for analysing oral narrative analysis based on the everyday discourse practices of "real speakers in real social contexts" (Sheikh, Awan, & Sheikh, 2021, p. 1), linguists and narratologists have found it equally productive and effective for the stylistic analysis of short stories and fiction. After a rigorous analysis of a large corpus of natural narratives, Labov identified recurrent features or structural elements, which include (i) abstract, (ii) orientation, (iii) complicating action, (iv) evaluation, narrative clauses, (v) result and orientation followed by a (vi) coda. The application of Labov's six schemas enriches our comprehension of the story by providing insight into the author's linguistic and narrative techniques. The researchers used a qualitative method of analysis to conduct the current research. The data analysis section demonstrates how the six elements of Labov's model prove to be of productive value in understanding the narrative features in Waliullah is Lost.

Environmental Sustainability: An Ecological Discourse Analysis to Explore Framing Pattern in the Dawn News Editorials

Shumaila Naureen — 2024-05-20

This current study aims to conduct an ecological discourse analysis to examine the role of language in framing public perceptions, opinions and actions concerning environmental sustainability in the Pakistani Dawn news editorials. This study investigates the critical impacts of language in framing environmental discourses with special focus on Dawn News Editorials how trigger words are employed in order to draw human constructive attention towards environmental equilibrium. The purposive sampling technique is employed for data collection, while this study followed a qualitative research method in order to examine the role of trigger words and their impacts on human mental model regarding ecological sustainability. Theoretical framework is developed by in cooperating Stibbe’s Framing technique and Goffman’s Frame Analysis theory (1974) in order to present a comprehensive analysis in ecological context. The integrated framework is employed for analysis because it is the most appropriate model to give the answers of this study. The findings of this study revealed that language is influential instrument that offered multiple strategic tools like framing which has the potential to change the mental models of pubic by raising awareness about ecological urgency and motivated human actions to maintain ecosystem. Hence, this study concluded that The Dawn editorials strategically used ecological framing devices in to climax urgent environmental sustainability issues, through the reflection of environmental narratives that strongly demanded public actions and revised policies.

A Comparative Study of Gender Assignment to English Loanwords in Pashto and Urdu: Exploring Semantic Influences

Neelma Riaz — 2024-05-30

This study aims to investigate the methods by which grammatical gender is assigned to English loanwords in the Khattak dialect of Pashto and Urdu language. There is a considerable variation across different languages regarding gender assignment, agreement, the parts of speech affected by it, and gender allocation. Nouns can be classified into different grammatical genders using several methods. Native speakers can ascertain the gender of a certain word by using the gender assignment rules inside a grammatical gender system. This study seeks to examine the impact of semantic criteria on the process of assigning gender in loanword integration, so enhancing our comprehension of language contact events in the Pakistani setting. A study design was developed for the Pakistani setting, based on Corbett's (1991) model of gender assignment. This design was chosen for its insightful and original approach, which aligns well with the present and ongoing research. Corbett utilizes semantic and formal categories to classify the gender assignment system, which are subsequently subdivided into other sub-categories. The current investigation is of a descriptive and qualitative nature. The researcher posits that studying the interaction between English, Pashto and Urdu will not only enhance our comprehension of these linguistic processes in Pakistan but also foster a greater recognition of the necessity for further research in this domain.

A Barthesian Analysis of the Movie Murder on the Orient Express

Kashif Ali — 2024-06-02

The paper aims to analyse the movie Murder on the Orient Express using Roland Barthes’ codes of narrative analysis. The work under-discussion is an adaptation of the novel of same name written by Agatha Christie in 1934. There is little work done on the visual literature from the perspective of this theory. The authors use the five codes in an attempt to uncover and decrypt the meaning of the movie’s plot. The theory for this research is Structuralism and the theoretical framework is that of Roland Barthes’. Additionally, the data for analysis i.e. dialogues are taken from the movie and rest of the references are taken from different sources across the internet. The first two codes of the theory can be used to decipher the major events and enigmas of the plot. The rest of the three are used to point out the antithetic, cultural and beyond surface meanings. The writer finds out that the plot is scriptible which means it is not easily understandable to the viewer at first glance. One has to contemplate to get a better understanding of the story.

Challenges in Teaching English at Elementary Schools in Multan: An Analytical Study of Resource Deficiency and Classroom Dynamics

Asia Iqbal — 2024-06-10

This study investigates the challenges faced by English language teachers at elementary schools. This analytical study employs a mix-method approach. The basic aim of this study is to investigate the challenges faced by English language teachers, to identify the effect of insufficient teaching resources on the effectiveness of English language instruction, to analyze inadequate teacher training, classroom size effect on language learning outcomes, to evaluate the role of stiff curriculum design in shaping language teaching and to assess the effect of student’s socio-economic background on their language learning development. Total population including all the male, female, elementary school’s teachers are 3oo and only 40 teachers were selected randomly. Analysis and Findings identified that insufficient teaching resources (87.5%) and large classroom sizes (80%) are the most significant challenges affecting English Language teaching, as both qualitative and quantitative data strongly corroborated these issues. Inadequate teacher training (70%) also emerged as a critical concern, followed by stiff curriculum design (75%) and socio -economic challenges (65%), which, while significant. Overall, resources availability and classroom size were the most heavily weighted variables in the analysis. Longitudinal studies, specific interventions, comparative studies are required for better outcomes in English language teaching.

Construction of Women’s Identity through Language and Culture in Postcolonial African Literature: A Case Study of Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

Muhammad Ehtsham — 2024-06-10

This paper investigates how Achebe constructed the female identity of Nigerian people through Language and culture. Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart” is a cultural study of Ibo society, full of local words, phrases, and proverbs. The Ibo male is masculine and dominates the women by using strong masculine words, and they even beat their women on a tiny issue. The researcher has studied the factors that are responsible for constructing women’s identity in the novel and how and in what ways are Language and culture responsible for constructing women’s identity in the novel Things Fall Apart. The researcher gets some help from the difference theory of Tannen (1990) and Stuart Hall’s theory (1997), which says that there is a strong relationship between Language, identity, and cultural difference. The researcher tries to prove that the Ibo society is traditional, a masculine culture, and women are considered tools to raise children and help their men earn bread and butter. The women of Nigeria are mute, calm, nice, polite, and gentle. They show the real traits of their gender. However, the male gender seems to be more dominant in every part of the world. In the novel, we find a huge kind of gender difference in the Language of men and women. Men are dominant, whereas women are deficient. It is qualitative research, and the source of the data is the text of the novel Things Fall Apart.

The Problem of Recovering Palestinian and Afro-American Identity: A Contrapuntal Reading of Selected Short Stories by Kanafani and Walker

Saba Perveen — 2024-06-20

This scholarly research aims to recover Palestinian and Afro-American national identity through a contrapuntal reading of selected short stories by Kanafani (1973) and Walker (1995). The relationship between Eastern and Western human progress is a long record of confrontations, competition and social clashes. Sadly, this relationship between East and West further sinks to the descending side in the new millennium. Echoes are going ahead against the unparalleled issues such as social instability, ethnic clashes, absence of resilience, oppression and infringement of human rights. In this respect, this research reflects on the experiences of natives from both countries by exploring their cultural as well as artistic representations. This study reconsiders the issues like ‘home’, ‘identity’, ‘land’, ‘belonging’ and ‘memory’. It is a contrapuntal study based on the ideas of Said (1993) and Spivak (2014) and Fanon (2001). The purpose is to highlight the notion of struggle for the restoration of social, cultural, political and ideological identity as well as the physical presence of natives in the colonized regions of the world. The focuses is on the significance of resistance for the marginalized community. Kanafani writes from Palestinian perspective of resistance, for the loss of place and other issues concerning oppression, destitution and passion, while Walker raises her voice against disconnection, bias and oppression from the Afro-American perspective. The paper uncovers the persecution, humiliation, suppression, uprooting, marginalization and the impact of imperialism on the lives and mindset of victims. The study concludes that the marginalized in retaliation resist to recover their lost territories and national identity.

Dissecting Sociopolitical Paradigms: A Social Semiotic Scrutiny of Pakistani Political Caricatures within a Curated Corpus of English Newspaper Editorial Content

Rabia Sohail — 2024-06-23

This study investigates the socio-semiotic evaluation of political illustrations which portray political and social themes within the editorials of Pakistani English newspapers. Political cartoons have ability to say about crucial facts that could be much difficult to say in words due to some political pressure. A political cartoon is a cartoon that makes a point about a political issue or event. In order to evaluate the significance of cartooning in mass media and the relationship between cartoons and politics in the perspective of the Press. The following are the main steps in a hypothesis. To determine the cartooning style employed by the Pakistani Press. To identify the tools used by a cartoonist which make the caricatures attractive. To study about the signs and symbols in political cartoons to know about most highlighted issues by caricatures. To understand the use of colors in cartoons. To know about the characters, a cartoonist used to portray. Three newspapers were selected for this research due their higher circulation in Pakistan. The newspapers were, The Dawn, The Nation and Daily Times. All the selected cartoons were analyzed quantitatively. This research will help to find out that how a cartoonist uses color technique? Which is the most highlighted issue and how a cartoonist use different tools to portray his specific character? This study employs qualitative methods to analyses political visual discourse. In the examination of cartoons, several methodologies and theoretical structures can be used. Linguistic, pragmatic, semantic, psycho-linguistic, and semiotic techniques are among them. This research takes a semiotic approach. Semiotics is defined as "a philosophical approach that strives to interpret communication in terms of their signs and symbolism patterns."(Eco, 1986). Researcher has used Barthes approach in this study.

Artificial Intelligence as a Cause of Existential Crisis in Isaac Asimov’s Short Stories

Zehra Shah — 2024-06-30

Isaac Asimov was a prolific Science Fiction writer whose works explore the relationship between humans and machines, the ethical implications of advanced technology, and the potential consequences of creating artificial intelligent robots. Among his extensive body of works, the three short stories: Robbie (1940), Robot Dreams (1986), and The Bicentennial Man (1976), are selected to be analysed through French Philosopher, Jean Paul Sartre's concept of Existentialism. The study aims to analyze the Sartrean concept of “Existence precedes essence” emphasizing human existence and the responsibility of their choices and actions. This non-empirical study uses the data collected from the text of the selected short stories as the main source of investigation and employs the tool of textual analysis to identify and examine the concept of Sartrean existentialism. The results show that the robots in the stories strive to find their essence in a world of humans and their freedom is restricted due to human characters experiencing an existential crisis, mistrust, uneasiness, and anxiety.

Exploring Racial Dynamics and Counter narratives in the Last White Man: Application of Critical Race Theory

Nida Masroor — 2024-06-30

Through the application of Critical Race Theory (CRT), this study focuses on the analysis of the thematic aspect of race relations and counter narrative in Mohsin Hamid‘s work, The Last White Man. Though each work of Hamid is located in a speculative now – now of a world where people wake up one day without their racial identifiers – the key to a new reality lies in an understanding of the figure of the ‗threatening Other.‘ Applying CRT in the analysis of the selected novel, the paper aims at analysing that the narrative subverts the discourses of whiteness, privilege, and racism. It examines the way Hamid breaks down racial categorisations and offers counter-stories to the prevailing ones. The results reveal that the processes occurring within the characters, the studied work shows that the novel calls for the rejection of the idea of racial difference and ponder upon the evolution of identity toward equal and racism-free society. The study contributes to the methodological and theoretical literature as it relates to raced subjectivity and transformative possibilities of narratives

Viewpoint and Text World Construction in A Visit from the Goon Squad: A Cognitive Narratological Analysis

Fatima Iftikhar — 2024-07-19

This article focuses on viewpoint analysis in relation to world building in “A Visit from the Goon Squad” through linguistic means and deicticals. The text world is actually a reality or scenario that arises in our minds during the active reading process. Being a discourse participant, it is primarily our cognitive schemata that help us identify these worlds and later edify our understanding of text world scenario. To conduct this study, after careful reading and re-reading of the novel, a subtext was created that served as the foundation for linguistic data collection. The analysis focused on identifying world-building elements and function-advancing propositions, sorting out modal worlds to explore varying viewpoints of characters within the text. An integrated method that incorporates both narratological and cognitive-linguistic elements aided in understanding that the instances of speech and thought representation (FDS, FIS, FIT, FDT) and deixis hints at the change in viewpoint of characters. In fact, the narrative events presented through participants or enactors‟ perspective influenced the semantics of the text. The meaning varied upon the change in the perspective of a character, context of the participant and already existing schemata. This study is important for linguistics, narratology and education as it explores how disoriented (postmodern) narratives can be better understood using the Text-world approach and the focalization technique. It sheds light on how writers guide us through text worlds using our temporal, spatial, deictic and subjective knowledge.

A Discourse Analysis of Ethnography of Communication among the Igbo in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

Okechukwu Onyenweaku — 2024-07-19

Most critical works on Achebe’s novels have often focused on their literariness, undermining the use of language in the texts and their sociolinguistic and cultural significance. Language and the sociocultural speech community in which it is used are intricately interwoven. This fundamentally accounts for the expediency of the acquisition of adequate communicative competence as well as sufficient sociocultural knowledge of the society in which language operates. Such a knowledge is acquired through exposure to studies on ethnography of communication of a speech community of interest. This paper examines ethnography of communication among the Igbo (of Nigeria) in Chinua Achebe’s Thing Fall Apart. The study engages in a discourse analysis of selected relevant speech events in the novel to describe and explicate culture-bound issues that influence and condition speech in Igbo linguistic community as represented in the text. The paper is anchored on Dell Hymes’ communicative competence and ethnography of communication frameworks. Findings emanating from the study revealed that effective language use and what is communicated through it is predominantly a culture-bound phenomenon. This, therefore, makes the present study relevant to readers of Thing Fall Apart, especially the non-Igbo speakers, in that the study would provide them with significant insight on the sociocultural issues that influence language use among the Igbo. The paper, thus, advocates that such readers should take cognizance of those culture-bound linguistic issues analyzed as they do a re-reading of the novel for its better appreciation.

Fiction and Reality in Simpsons’ Seasons: A Pragmatic Analysis

Nida Wafa — 2024-06-30

Language plays a vital role in the process of communication. It has many forms, and each form has specific goals. This research explores the intricate interplay of pragmatic elements within the iconic animated television series, the Simpsons, across multiple Seasons. The current study seeks to investigate the pragmatic aspect of the Simpsons' Seasons to identify the predictions that appear to be true in real-life events. The language plays an important role to show the comparison between fiction and reality. Such words carry pragmatic significance in linguistics. The researchers have opted for a qualitative approach to analyze the data. The data was collected from different specific seasons, and particular episodes were chosen subsequently from those seasons. Six predictions that relate to real-life events have been analyzed pragmatically. The study finally concludes that the characters produce pragmatically rich utterances, to highlight the hidden messages to the audience. Pragmatics, in its various dimensions, plays a significant role in predicting reality in the Simpsons.

Ecological Discourse Analysis of Iqbal’s Children Poetry: A Perspective of Stibbe’s Ecosophy

Riaz Ahmed — 2024-06-30

Ecolinguists around the world propose to uncover the stories in which humans express their relations with the members of their own species, other species and natural environment physically surrounding them. Qur’an with its greater emphasis on deed rather than on idea (Umar, 2011) pronounces clearly that humans are morally responsible for the stories they decide to live by. Such reading of Qur’an has become relevant in an epoch when they have developed inductive intellect. Iqbal’s deep reflections on the relevance of Qur’an’s message for the coming generations offer strikingly cogent suggestions for a just society and a stable environment. This descriptive study analyzed two of Iqbal’s poems written for children on the principles contained in the theoretical framework of Stibbe’s ecosophy and tried to investigate into the relevance of Iqbal’s story. The researchers attempted to answer two questions. The first is about the type of ecological discourse Iqbal communicate in his children poetry. The second question refers to the relevance of Iqbal’s discourse to educate readers about humankind’s role in shaping human ecology.

Transitivity Analysis of Kamila Shamsie's Salt and Saffron: A Stylistic Analysis

Sana Anam — 2024-07-30

This paper deals with the analysis of Kamila Shamsie's novel Salt and Saffron (2001) through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) with special reference to ideational metafunction. The data have been taken from the text of novel for textual analysis. This analysis reveals that all six processes of Halliday’s transitivity analysis are applicable on the selected text. By analyzing 22 clauses from the first chapter, this study explores that how different process types (material, mental, relational, behavioral, verbal, and existential) contribute to the construction of meaning in the narrative. The findings demonstrate the ways in which characters, actions, and events are linguistically represented by providing deeper insights into the ideational meanings of the text.

Intertextual Modes and Postcolonial Critique: A Study of Integration and Interfigurality in The Centre (2023)

Ayesha Aziz — 2024-09-21

The intertextual theory, which has a European origin and was developed by poststructuralist and postmodern theorists, assumes a renewed relevance and currency in the postcolonial context. Postcolonial writers appropriate and adapt Kristeva's influential notion of intertextuality to de-canonise, revisit, and reverse canonical literature and the construction of knowledge. Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi's debut novel The Centre (2023) employs various modes of intertextuality to engage, reference and reimagine Conrad's Heart of Darkness (1899). The present study seeks to probe Siddiqi's deft use of intertextuality and its various modes in The Centre (2023) by applying the latest developments on intertextuality and its intersections with postcolonial theory and literature. Siddiqi uses the intertextual modes of integration and interfigurality in The Centre (2023) to increase the artistic richness and to create counterpoint and irony about canonical texts. Using intertextuality as a postcolonial tool, she lays bare the lingering effects of colonialism and the emerging forms of West's linguistic neo-imperialism. Moreover, Siddiqi does not use intertextuality as merely a mechanical technique to embellish her intertext; instead, her use of intertextuality is consciously directed to the specific purpose of writing back to the centre to subvert or appropriate colonial ideological force by involving in a dialogic process.

Policy, Planning, and Practice: A Look at English Language Teaching in Indonesia

Umi Nurkhomsah — 2024-09-25

This research investigates the significant role of teachers as language policy planners and the integration of language policy and strategy planning in the school. The study recognizes the transformative potential of teachers who are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively teach language policies and strategies. The data were collected through interviews and observations. The data were analyzed qualitatively. The findings underscore that the school policy and planning, especially for the English teachers, is based on the curriculum that the Indonesian government is determined, namely “Kurikulum Merdeka.” It is a guide and implementation for teachers to teach the material to students. It consists of teaching materials, teaching goals, learning style, learning achievement, etc. Besides, the strategy to teach English as a foreign language can be applied by practicing more either discussion or small conversation between their friends related to the daily activity.

Political satire Through Graphic Language: Semiological Discourse Analysis of Pakistani English Print Media

Muhammad Raza Shah Hashmi — 2024-09-26

There are various forms of communication and caricatures are one of the important genres in this regard. It is obvious that throughout the history human beings have been using the technique of multi-modality to communicate their message to other human beings. The concept of using word-picture conjunction has ever been very instrumental in making the communication more persuasive. The present study critically analyses caricatures of Pakistani English newspaper (DAWN daily). The data for the study have been collected from the selected newspaper from November 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. The present employs an integrated research approach to analyse the data. The rationale behind using the integrated research method is that the data comprise three modes. These modes include words, pictures and remarks of focus group participants. For linguistic and semiotic analyses Hodge and Kress (2010), research model has been operationalsed. Whereas, in order to validate the findings of semiotic analysis the researchers have used Kruger’s (2002) model of Focus Group data analysis. The findings of the study reveal that print media discourses mirror socio-political scenario of any other/ context they belong to. The issues heighted through the caricatures of the selected newspaper for the mentioned time include national and international politics, games and terrorism / militancy in Pakistani society. It reveals that caricatures have dual function. They provide critique of a particular scenario. Language in graphic form is regarded as two-edged weapon.

Learners’ Autonomy and Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL): Perceptions of Undergraduate Students

Omama Khan — 2024-10-01

Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) has emerged as a promising methodology to enhance learner‟s self-sufficiency in the domain of language teaching and learning process. This research paper aimed to examine the influence of MALL on the development of learners‟ autonomy in undergraduate students, enrolled at the University of Malakand, Pakistan. The study is based on two distinct premises, namely: examining learners` attitude towards the influence of MALL on the learner‟s autonomy, and understanding learners` perceptions about techniques for independent learning. The study utilized Connectivism as a theoretical framework for the conducted questionnaire survey, as well as, the thematic analysis of open-ended responses, including data collection and analysis. In addition, the researchers also used random sampling technique to gather survey responses for the proposed research on „Learners‟ Autonomy and Mall: Perception of Undergraduate Students‟. Consequently, 78 students participated in the survey from University of Malakand. The results of the survey show that MALL has positive impact on learners` autonomy by providing learners the prospect to engage in autonomous learning and adapted language practice. Further, the results also indicate that certain themes, namely personalized learning, adaptive technologies, and feedback mechanisms, are highly regarded by participants as means of adopting learner autonomy. The findings of the survey indicate that the utilization of MALL has a beneficial effect on the development of learner autonomy in undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Malakand. This research adds to the importance of MALL in ESL classroom by emphasizing its capacity to promote learner independence. Finally, the study offers valuable perspectives for teachers and curriculum developers to enhance MALL resources and approaches.

Exploring Mode of Representation of Islam and Muslims through Print Media Discourses of Pakistan and in India

Amina Sadiq — 2024-10-09

Print media discourses function as reflections of societal realities within specific temporal and contextual boundaries. Frequently, they serve as distorting lenses through which a constructed version of reality is disseminated to the masses. This study derives its data from articles published in "Hindustan Times" and "Dawn Daily," focusing on representation of Islam and Muslims. Time for data collection ranges from January 2023 to September 2023. To analyze this data, an integrated (amended) framework has been employed which consists of Fairclough's (2003) model with Van Dijk’s (2006) research framework for analyzing data critically. The collected data related to the representation of Islam and Muslims has been analysed at word, sentence and discourse levels. The analysis of data from DAWN daily reveals that negative representation of Israel and India is very much there because of their hostile policies toward Muslims in these countries. Similarly, the analysis of the data from “Hindustan Times" reveals that Islam and Muslims have been represented negatively. Negative attributes such as terrorism, extremism and violence have been associated to Indian Muslims in particular and other Muslims in general. The study finds that war of words for positive self and negative representation of others is a going on both sides. Besides, the study contends that print media discourses are used for the investment of desired ideology about Us and Them.