International Journal of English Language and Literature Studies

Depicting areas of indigenous Australian women’s subjugation under imperialism: An indigenous feminist study of Jack Davis's No Sugar and Eva Johnson's Murras

2024-02-17T04:39:21-06:00

This study aims to examine the portrayal of the oppression of Indigenous women in post-colonial drama focusing on themes of sexual violence, enforced sterilization and the Stolen Generation as depicted in Davis's No Sugar and Johnson's Murras. A qualitative analysis of these plays reveals the intertwining of sexual exploitation with colonial and imperial conquest. Rape and sexual abuse of Indigenous women are seen as metaphors for land exploitation and political subjugation. The findings of the study indicate a systemic violation of Indigenous women's rights. Indigenous women are sexually assaulted in both Murras and No Sugar which demonstrates imperialist control over their bodies. Another theme that develops is forced sterilization as shown in Murras in which indigenous young women are made sterile without their consent, symbolising a greater assault on aboriginal culture. The trauma of the Stolen Generation is outlined in both plays depicting the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families, severing cultural and familial bonds and originating a generational identity crisis. The preservation of Indigenous identity through women’s stories and traditional practices emerges as a significant aspect of resistance against colonial oppression. The selected plays underscore the role of Indigenous women in sustaining and transmitting cultural narratives and practices which is essential for preserving Indigenous identity and spirit. The findings of the research need a more in-depth understanding of the historical and ongoing oppression of indigenous women as well as a need for reparative justice.

A pragmalinguistic study of the strategies in motivational discourse (Based on Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard commencement speech)

2024-02-17T04:50:25-06:00

The present paper addresses the main pragmalinguistic strategies employed by speakers within the framework of motivational discourse. Motivational discourse is defined as a verbal and non-verbal influence on the person to positively change their attitudes, actions and behaviour. The research specifically focuses on Mark Zuckerberg's 2017 commencement speech to Harvard graduates. The study uses discourse analysis to pinpoint different linguistic and pragmatic methods as well as the main speech acts that Zuckerberg uses in order to motivate and inspire his audience. The researchers identify the strategies of praising, gratitude, humour, identification with the audience or inclusion strategy, direct or indirect instruction, storytelling, recognition and acknowledgment of others' success as the main pragmalinguistic tools used in motivational discourse. From the perspective of the types of speech acts employed in motivational discourse, we adhere to Searle's classification of speech acts (representatives or assertives, directives, commissives, expressives and declarations) since this typology of illocutionary acts contributes to a comprehensive analysis of motivational discourse. In these terms, the researchers observe the predominance of expressive, assertive and directive speech acts in motivational discourse. These interactions are successful at influencing the interlocutors' behavior and attitudes favorably. The study can be used as a foundation for further research into various formats of motivational discourse to better understand other techniques and strategies used to influence people's attitudes and behaviors.

Discourse analysis: A reference approach to investigating a good speech script

2024-03-07T00:55:27-06:00

The purpose of this study was to investigate a good speech script by examining the types and functions of references in Joe Biden’s victory speech using Hasan and Halliday’s theory. The use of references is crucial for avoiding misunderstandings and effectively conveying information from sentences. This study used content analysis as a descriptive-qualitative method. The data used in this study consisted of Joe Biden’s speech script as president of the United States of America. According to Halliday and Hasan’s theory, there are three types of references: personal, demonstrative and comparative. Anaphora and cataphora are the two types of reference functions. The researchers followed Creswell’s concept in collecting and analyzing the data. Identification of the references used in Joe Biden's victory speech, classification of the references' types, data analysis (marking each reference that appears in the video), classification of terms that contain reference words in the video, assignment of codes to each reference category (personal, demonstrative and reference) and finally an explanation of the purposes of the references used in Joe Biden's victory speech were all aspects of the process. The results revealed that the speech script contained 395 instances of references including 236 instances (60%) of personal pronouns, 152 instances (38.5%) of demonstrative references, 7 instances (1.5%) of comparative references and 198 instances of reference functions with 128 instances (64.5%) being anaphora and 70 instances (35.5%) being cataphora. It is intended that this research will serve as a guide for others to use while speaking in order to reduce misunderstandings and improve the effectiveness of information.

Analyzing the role of Facebook-based e-portfolio on motivation and performance in English as a second language learning

2024-03-07T01:52:22-06:00

This study investigates the role of Facebook posts as online triggers for English as a Second Language (ESL) learner’ motivation and performance. The study explores the motivational dynamics of how Facebook language influences learning in the community by exploring the interconnectedness of emotional linguistic strategies. A mixed-methods approach was adopted to collect Facebook posts and open coding and thematic coding techniques were employed to analyze the data. The participants were administered pre- and post-tests to collect their performance outcomes for t-tests. The findings reveal that Facebook posts about learning English as a second language (L2) provide primary motivation for learners and promote their performance. These posts are triggers for their L2 understanding and enhance their language learning motivation and performance. Their affirmation and agreement, sharing of personal experiences and testimonials, reflection, seeking advice and guidance work as projectors in the motivational strategies of ESL learners. Furthermore, motivation is facilitated by the use of attractive Facebook posts. Additionally, practical implications highlight the importance of creating supportive and engaging language learning environments. Further research is recommended to explore motivational dynamics in different digital contexts and platforms.

Disambiguating ambiguity: A comparative analysis of lexical decision-making in native and non-native English speakers

2024-03-07T04:02:08-06:00

Making lexical decisions to disambiguate multiple-meaning words or senses provides clear evidence of word recognition, processing systems and representation in the mental lexicon. This comparative study explores non-native English speakers’ and native English speakers’ cognitive mechanisms employed in phonological and lexical ambiguity resolution embedded in auditory and visual utterances. English proficiency and vocabulary tests and two lexical decision tests were conducted with 35 EFL undergraduate students and four native English monolingual speakers. The effects of factors such as L2 proficiency and familiarity on ambiguity resolution in addition to the resolution techniques employed were also explored. Our findings suggest that the differences in disambiguating L2 words among native English speakers and non-native English speakers might indicate different comprehension, representation and processing patterns. The ambiguity type most likely has a major role in determining the diverse phenomenon of ambiguity resolution. More specifically, there was evidence of significant differences in homophone use, metaphorical polysemy and homonym ambiguity resolution between the two groups, excluding metonymous polysemy. Homophones and polysemy were the least problematic and challenging lexical ambiguity types unlike homonymy for the non-native group. Other results also revealed the positive effects of L2 proficiency and L2 word familiarity on ambiguity resolution. Thus, this study also has important implications considering the vital role of vocabulary in L2 competence and knowledge.

The effectiveness of English literature reading in improving reading skills and reading comprehension

2024-03-09T03:37:39-06:00

This research aims to explore the ways in which reading English literature enhances the reading skills of Chinese college students in the language. A questionnaire was used to carry out the study with 36 students. The pilot population of this study is first-year to fourth-year students at Liaoning University. The study puts emphasis on the effectiveness of English literature reading in improving reading skills and reading comprehension. Sixty students participated in the study by means of an experiment. In the experiment class, the teacher uses reading skills to teach English literature, however, in the control class, the teacher uses a traditional literature teaching method. SPSS version 29.0 was offered to test whether the experimental students’ literature reading grades have risen with reading skills. SPSS is a software package used for statistical analysis in social science research and other fields. A wide range of abilities for data management, data analysis and data documentation are available with IBM's SPSS programme. Researchers and analysts use SPSS to perform various statistical analyses such as descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and multivariate analyses. The study indicates that teaching English literature reading skills enhances college students’ reading comprehension proficiency and grades.

Unearthing the art of storytelling: A closer look at Sir Arther Canon Doyle’s B24

2024-03-09T04:20:43-06:00

Narratives play a crucial role in our understanding of the world, identity formation, empathy building and imparting moral lessons. The purpose of the study is to evaluate how Doyle uses Labov's model focusing on the narrative's elements. The intricacy of the story is revealed by the qualitative methodology which highlights Doyle's skill for writing captivating stories with vivid settings and multifaceted characters such as lady Mannering and even minor characters like the innkeeper. This study analyzes the structural and linguistic elements in Doyle’s “B24” using Labov’s sociolinguistic model. The central conflict revolves around the burglar's struggles and lady Mannering’s quest for freedom but the resolution remains uncertain, reflecting the complexities of truth and deception. Doyle uses narrative devices, literary techniques, grammatical elements and precise language to convey a moral lesson about trusting strangers and the importance of caution. These elements contribute to constructing a compelling narrative that captivates readers and heightens suspense. Future research could include a comparative analysis of Doyle’s works from the same era exploring the impact of structural and linguistic differences on reader interpretation, investigating the function of narratives and comparing narrative elements across different adventure stories. Labov’s model could also be applied to analyzing narrative poems and short films. This study is pertinent for people in the field of literature, teachers and authors who aim to improve their understanding of narrative techniques.

A corpus-based analysis of Arab scholars’ use of interactional metadiscourse markers

2024-03-12T00:14:50-05:00

Authors frequently employ metadiscourse markers (MDMs) in academic literature to encode their perspectives, support their claims and captivate readers. The usage of MDMs based on a variety of taxonomies and models has long been studied by researchers with the interpersonal model being one of the most widely applied. Results have shown a significant relationship between the use of MDMs and the comprehensibility of the texts. Though these findings seem insightful and valuable for fostering academic writing, Arab scholars’ use of MDMs especially the interactional type seems to be neglected. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study is to bridge this gap and reveal the use of interactional MDMS by Arab scholars in the fields of applied linguistics, translation and literature. The study adopted the corpus linguistic method and used a one-million-token specialized corpus that had been compiled for research purposes. The results have shown an imbalanced use of MDMs by Arab scholars using descriptive statistics and Key Word in Context (KWIC) qualitative analysis. The results have shown an imbalanced use of MDMs by Arab scholars. However, despite the limited and imbalanced use of MDMs, they are effectively utilized to serve various pragmatic functions. These findings can have implications for designing training courses that aim at fostering Arab scholars’ and students’ academic writing. Further research that investigates the writing production of Arab scholars in different disciplines is recommended to further support the current findings.

The use of statistical methods in the system of monitoring the qualimetry of level language tests

2024-03-15T00:53:20-05:00

This paper examines the problem of using statistical methods in the quality monitoring system of level language tests based on TOEFL, FCE and CAE materials. The majority of teachers and experts in qualimetry in general and educational qualimetry in particular are inexperienced which makes the use of test diagnostics at all stages of the learning process extremely challenging. The proposed approach involves the use of test diagnostics at every stage of the learning process to ensure accurate results. The quality of test tasks can be determined and the reliability coefficient of the tests can be calculated by employing experimental verification data and probabilistic factors. The statistical analysis of the results allows for the identification of qualitative characteristics of the test and provides insights into the heterogeneity of the subjects. This approach enables the grouping of subjects into homogeneous groups and ensures the adequacy of tests in a specific educational environment. This research employs the control cross-sectional analysis technique to identify areas of deficiency in understanding, ascertain the educational attainment of students and gauge their requirements. This method creates strategies to fill in any knowledge gaps and provides personalized support. Statistical methods are used in this research to collect, assess and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data.

Intertextuality of selected Arabic and Western literary works

2024-03-28T00:38:24-05:00

This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the literary-cultural impact of Arabic literature on Western literature. This research focuses on three literary comparisons taken from works that belong to Arabic and Western literature by means of a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the target textual data. The study chooses to address the following items: the Spanish play by Lope de Vega (1562-1635), La Doncella Teodor which has a similar Arabic version among the Arab tales of the Arabian Nights, the literary influence of the story of Zarqa al-Yamamah on Shakespeare’s play Macbeth and the literary mirroring of the Arabic story of Solomon and the Angel of Death onto Marquez’s novel Flee to Samarra by unveiling the aspects of the literary impact of each Arabic literary item. The study illustrates elements of intertextuality and functionality that close the gap between text and culture on each spectrum as well as between the Occident and the Orient by looking at the degree of similarity between these stories. This study contributes to offering insights into the literary intertextuality between Arabic literature and Western literature (Spanish and English) while also sheds light on the cross-cultural perceptions between the two forms of literature by examining the textual, cultural and psychological aspects of each extract compared with each other.

The duality of cohesion and coherence in Ibn Zurayq's poem "Do Not Reproach Him"

2024-04-01T02:32:21-05:00

This research conducts an in-depth examination of discourse analysis tools specifically cohesion and coherence within the poem "Do Not Reproach Him" by the Baghdadi poet Ibn Zurayq. The research highlights five essential tools such as references, substitution, deletion, conjunction and lexical cohesion while focusing on the concept of cohesion to examine the nuances of textual utterance. Additionally, it integrates coherence theory focusing on elements such as overall structure, titling, background knowledge, intentional title and suggestiveness and adherence to contextual interpretation and context. The results highlight a significant lack of coherent features in the poem particularly the complete lack of proper nouns. Nevertheless, various cohesion strategies assist in achieving a level of textual cohesion and semantic consistency that is considered acceptable. This is facilitated through interpretation that supports the overall harmony of the poem. According to the study, the poet was often dispersed and unbalanced which made the audience sympathetic when they read the poem. Remarkably, this sentiment endures over time, persisting long after the composition of the poem. The study underscores the enduring impact of the poet's portrayal of dispersion and imbalance resonating with readers through the years and offering valuable insights into the lasting emotional and textual resonance of poetic compositions.

Urdu fillers used by English teachers in ESL classrooms

2024-04-05T00:05:34-05:00

Pakistan is a bilingual country with nine major and 68 minor languages. It is quite common for English language teachers to use their first language (L1) in their second language (L2) classrooms which is called code switching. This predominant practice of code switching can serve as a filler to ensure the continuity of an interaction or fill a communication gap. Hence, this paper aims to describe the different kinds and purposes of Urdu fillers that three English as a second language (ESL) teachers from Pakistan use when teaching students in ESL courses at the university level. The data consists of four classroom recordings of each teacher’s lectures which have been transcribed for qualitative analysis. The overall findings showed that ESL teachers produced more lexicalized filled pauses than non-lexicalized filled ones in Urdu. The lexicalized filled pauses served as an editing tool, a response marker, an opening frame marker, an empathizer, a time-creating device or a positive reaction. On the other hand, the non-lexicalized filled pauses were used as reaction marker, hesitation marker, device for keeping the floor, device while searching for a word or breathing pause. Hence, this study suggests the importance of fillers as a language teaching and learning tool.

Challenges and strategies in teaching speaking skills to the rural engineering students: A case study

2024-04-14T23:51:13-05:00

Identifying and addressing speaking challenges is crucial for teachers to foster language acquisition. Additionally, the pedagogical approach employed by language teachers exerts a profound influence on students' linguistic development. Therefore, the present research focuses on oral difficulties faced by rural technical students and outlines tailored strategies for speaking improvement according to their specific needs. Data is collected through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods in two engineering institutions affiliated with Jharkhand University of Technology, Ranchi India. The data instruments include questionnaires, interviews, observations and video recordings. Speaking challenges identified include student reticence, procrastination, anxiety and deficits in other language skills. Remedial strategies, implemented for one year, involved creating an encouraging environment, emphasizing sustained participation in speaking exercises, integrating continuous oral assessments, consistent practice and revision. The research result highlights the success of these approaches in demonstrating commendable proficiency in speaking skills among target students. Therefore, this study contributes valuable insights for teachers aiming to enhance oral communication in similar contexts with potential applications on a global scale. The research findings carry significant implications across various domains, offering numerous noteworthy outcomes and applications in education, language teaching and professional growth. The potential beneficiaries span a wide spectrum including students pursuing technical education, professionals in corporate environments and individuals involved in language acquisition endeavors.

An investigation of English speaking problems of Chinese EFL students in Thailand

2024-04-16T00:22:17-05:00

This research aimed to investigate the speaking problems of Chinese students in Thailand. The researchers employed the mix-methodology paradigm to investigate the speaking difficulties which consisted of two approaches—questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to ensure the validity and credibility of the results. The questionnaires used for data collection included an open-ended questionnaire along with five key issues: a) grammar, b) fluency, c) vocabulary, d) pronunciation, and f) self-confidence together with an open-ended question. The interviews were conducted to examine and elicit the perceptions and speaking difficulties among the students who voluntarily participated in this study as the representative participants for the quantitative data. This study employed mean and standard deviation with a descriptive data analysis presentation in the data analysis stage. The results indicated the four main difficulties were raised: a) grammar, b) vocabulary knowledge, c) pronunciation and d) fluency, respectively. Furthermore, the students confirmed that grammatical usage tends to be the main problem concerning English speaking in both active and passive voice communication among the students based on the interview results. In an aspect of vocabulary knowledge, the majority of students acknowledged that lexical knowledge was the second essential knowledge when communication occurred for effective communication with foreigners in both informal and formal situations. In the aspect of pronunciation, the main problems were found in the intonation and self-confidence criteria because the students mostly faced anxiety about accurate pronunciations.

The silent scream of nature: Ecocide and environmental crisis in Ice Candy Man

2024-04-16T00:42:58-05:00

This ecocritical study investigates the profound ecological themes embedded in Bapsi Sidhwa's "Ice Candy Man" exploring the intricate layers of environmental degradation and the looming threat of ecocide within the narrative. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the partition of India in 1947 providing a poignant portrayal of the silent but pervasive scream of nature as it undergoes destruction and degradation. The aim of this research is to reveal the nuanced interplay between characters and their deteriorating environment shedding light on the threads of ecological crisis interwoven into the novel's fabric. The study uses a qualitative analysis approach and ecocritical perspectives to determine the direct impact on people's lives as well as the subtle degradation of environments. The analysis delves into the intricate relationships between human actions, political turmoil and the resultant ecological devastation illustrating how the characters' lives and the natural environment intertwine. The results highlight the poignant reflection of a global environmental predicament, emphasizing the powerful narrative discourse that urges readers to confront the harsh reality of a planet in peril. By drawing attention to the silent scream of nature reverberating throughout the narrative, the research prompts a heightened environmental consciousness and encourages reflection on the urgent need for collective action. The conclusion emphasizes the narrative's role in prompting reflection on the silent scream of nature, urging a collective recognition of the urgent need for environmental awareness in the face of ecological challenges.

Language ideologies in metaphors: Exploring L2 Saudi students’ conceptualization of language mixing as a language practice

2024-04-18T05:26:08-05:00

This qualitative study aimed to examine the embedded language ideologies within L2 Saudi students’ metaphorical texts to discover their ideological perspectives about language mixing. Using language ideology as a lens of analysis, this study examined 74 metaphorical texts written by undergraduate students to determine their language ideologies. The results revealed that the students held multiple and contradictory language ideologies about language mixing. Students’ language ideologies were found to be an orientation along a language ideological continuum with one end representing the ideology of language mixing as a resource and the other reflecting the ideology of language mixing as a challenge. Some students’ language ideologies may fall somewhere in the middle of this continuum since they expressed conflicting language ideologies, perceiving language mixing as both a valuable resource and a potential challenge. Using language ideologies as a lens to evaluate students' metaphorical texts allowed the different language ideas hidden within the three basic language ideologies to be revealed. In addition, the study found that the students employed different metaphors to conceptualize language mixing, covering a wide range of areas such as food, drinks, objects, places and activities. The findings suggested that Saudi students’ metaphors and language ideologies are intertwined and mutually influence each other. This study recommends that teachers use conceptual metaphors as a reflective tool to unveil L2 students’ perspectives on academic activities and calls for further research on conceptual metaphors and language ideologies in L2 contexts.