Liberal Journal of Language & Literature Review
The "Liberal Journal of Language & Literature Review" is a groundbreaking scholarly publication dedicated to exploring and advancing the realms of language and literature from a liberal perspective. Launched in this journal seeks to foster a dynamic intellectual environment for scholars, researchers, and academics to engage in critical discussions, exchange innovative ideas, and contribute to the evolving landscape of language and literature studies.
Discovery Education & Research Institute
Rhetorical Strategies and Discursive Construction of Ideology: Critical Discourse Analysis of Nelson Mandela’s Speeches
This study examines the ideological evolution in Nelson Mandela’s oratory, tracing his transition from resistance leader to unifying statesman. Although much is written about Mandela’s moral authority, less is understood about how his political ideology was discursively constructed and shifted over time. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this paper analyzes six major speeches from 1962 to 1999, representing three phases: trials and imprisonment, post‐release leadership, and presidency. The findings reveal a clear discursive trajectory: from confrontational, dichotomous discourse to inclusive, reconciliatory rhetoric aimed at forging a new national identity. Key markers include shifts in pronoun use (from “I” to “we”), metaphorical framing, and changing modality and argument structures. The study contributes to discourse studies, political communication, and postcolonial studies by showing how ideology is not static but is performed and transformed through language, especially in transitional political contexts.
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Language, Style and Ideology: A Feminist Stylistic Perspective on Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper
The present research intents to explores “The Yellow Wallpaper” through the lens of feminist stylistics to know how through language, Charlotte Perkins Gilman has attempted to reinforce or challenge the typical existing stereotypes that exist in different societies of the world. The study analyzes the data from the perspective of Mills’ (1995) model of Feminist stylistics, through the use of qualitative method to the short story ‘The Yellow Wallpaper. The present research attempts to identify how Gilman’s use of language and word choice have implied feminist themes in her short story. The story is a critique on the gender norms and medical practices related to female gender in 19th century. The short story itself has been used as a primary data through which the researchers have conducted a close reading of the data, which revealed the impact of social limitation on women’s mental health and autonomy in patriarchal societies. It contends that most often female voices are silenced because of Man-made norms.
Echoes in the Silence: Investigating Trauma and the Fragmentation of Identity through Magical Realism in Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
This study explores the interplay between trauma and the fragmentation of identity in Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle through the lens of magical realism. The problem statement centers on how trauma disrupts selfhood, leading to fractured identities, and how magical realism serves as a narrative mode to articulate these psychological fissures. The research aims to analyze the protagonist’s disjointed reality and memory using Wendy B. Faris’s theory of magical realism, which highlights the seamless blending of the fantastical with the mundane, and Marianne Hirsch’s concept of postmemory, which examines inherited or secondary trauma. Employing a qualitative method with purposive sampling of key textual passages, the study underscores the novel’s significance in revealing how magical realism captures the ineffable nature of trauma and identity dissolution, offering broader insights into the psychological and narrative dimensions of post-traumatic experiences. Keywords: Magical Realism, post memory, identity Fragmentation, trauma.
Syllable Structure as a Theoretical Construct: New Insights into Onset–Rime and Moraic Models
This study examines English syllable structure by critically comparing the onset–rime model and the moraic model, with a focus on their capacity to account for weight-sensitive phenomena such as stress assignment, syllable timing, and rhythmic patterns. The research utilises a systematically compiled dataset of English words, which were analysed for their onset, nucleus, coda, and moraic structure. Each syllable was evaluated under both models to determine how accurately they represent light, heavy, and superheavy syllables and to assess their predictive power for stress placement and prosodic behaviour. The findings indicate that the onset–rime model provides a clear and intuitive framework for structural segmentation, effectively describing phonotactic constraints, particularly in terms of permissible onset clusters and rime combinations. However, its binary treatment of weight limits its ability to capture the graded distinctions observed in English, especially in derivational and polysyllabic forms. The moraic model demonstrates greater precision in representing syllable weight by accounting for contributions of long vowels, diphthongs, and coda consonants, thereby offering a more reliable explanation for stress patterns, weight-sensitive behaviour, and rhythmic organisation. Overall, the study concludes that a complementary approach, which employs onset–rime structures for structural segmentation and moraic representations for prosodic analysis, provides the most comprehensive account of English syllable behaviour and highlights the nuanced interaction between segmental structure and prosody in the language.
The Effect of AI-Generated Texts on the Internal Grammar Formation of L2 English Learners
The extensive use of AI-generated texts, chiefly those manufactured by bulky language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, is swiftly renovating second language (L2) learning settings. These tools are gradually used for reading, writing aid, grammar modification, and vocabulary acquisition. However, their influence on the internal grammar formation—the involuntary grammatical acquaintance system that inspires fluent language use—remains underexplored. Drawing on second language acquisition (SLA) theories such as the Input Hypothesis, Noticing Hypothesis, and Usage-Based Learning, the current study explores how exposure to AI-generated texts may affect L2 English learners' acquisition of grammatical structures. A proposed mixed-method study is introduced, designed to compare learners showed to AI-generated in competition with human-authored texts. Results from preceding and hypothetical findings suggest AI texts may improve accuracy in frequent grammatical structures, but lack of linguistic variability may hinder acquisition of complex or irregular patterns. This paper concludes with pedagogical recommendations and a discussion of implications for SLA theory in the AI era. Keywords: L2 learners, AI-generated texts, grammar acquisition, internal grammar, ChatGPT, SLA
Saraiki Ethnic Identity Confronting Ethnolinguistic Vitality Threats From Urdu As Contact Language
In the contemporary globalized world, learning more than one language has become one of the basic social requirements. The constant increase in number of bilinguals and multilinguals, is evident for its significance. However, the bilingual or multilingual trends with inclination towards learning prestigious global or contact languages, has abated the worth and use of regional languages (indigenous languages). The situation takes these indigenous languages towards the brink of extinction. The practice also affects the ethnolinguistic identity of regional or native language speaking communities. Saraiki language is one of such regional languages in Pakistan, which is facing the occurrence of “language shift”. This phenomenon is resulting in disputation of the ethnolinguistic identity of Saraiki community. In this regard, present study has taken an initiative to measure “Saraiki ethnolinguistic vitality” from “social-psychological perspective”. Tajfel’s (1974) “Social Identity Theory (SIT)” has been applied to construct theoretical framework, proposed by Phinney (1992). The “Multiple Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM)” has been adapted to obtain responses about the extent of “Saraiki ethnolinguistic vitality”, from young generation of Saraiki community. The participants have responded to MEIM scale, encompassing four main components; “self-identification and ethnicity”, affirmation and belonging”, “ethnic identity achievement” and “ethnic behaviour and practices”. The findings obtained from the descriptive quantitative analysis of MEIM questionnaire, revealed immoderately unfavourable attitude and emotions of Saraiki community members towards their “Saraiki ethnolinguistic identity”. Consequently, the study has found ‘attitudinal and cognitive factors’ to be more dominating to influence “Saraiki ethnolinguistic vitality”. Moreover, these attitudinal factors have been predisposed by socio-economic motivational factors, which are involved in learning of the second language, while limiting the use and worth of indigenous language. In this context, the present study has offered few recommendations. The most significant requirement of making efforts to “reverse Saraiki language shift” by making the youth and parents mindful of the severity of the problem. Government policies and Media intervention can also prove to be of great help in saving languages. Essentially, saving language means saving culture, and by saving language and culture the ethnolinguistic identity will be preserved and saved from extinction. Key Words: Multilingual, Contact Languages, Saraiki Regional Language, Ethnolinguistic Identity, Ethnolinguistic Vitality, Language Shift, Language Preferences, Motivational Factors. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17839282
The Role of Developing Empathy for implementing English Language Skills of EFL Learners: A case study of English ACCESS students in Pakistan
This case study explores the role of developing empathy in the implementation and enhancement of English language skills among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners enrolled in the U.S. Embassy-sponsored English ACCESS program in Pakistan. The study is grounded in the premise that emotional and social competencies, particularly empathy, play a crucial role in language learning environments, especially for adolescents navigating linguistic and cultural challenges. Drawing on qualitative data collected through interviews, classroom observations, and student reflections, the research highlights how empathetic teacher-student and peer-to-peer interactions foster motivation, reduce language anxiety, and improve communicative competence. The findings suggest that integrating empathy into teaching methodologies not only supports cognitive development but also enhances learners’ engagement and language proficiency. This study offers valuable insights for educators, curriculum designers, and policymakers seeking to create inclusive and emotionally supportive language learning environments.
Exploring Irish Nationalism as an Art of Resistance: Reconsidering Border, Identity, and Literature
Irish nationalism has long been intertwined with the cultural and literary fabric of the nation, functioning not only as a political ideology but as a creative force of resistance and identity formation. This study explores Irish nationalism through the lens of postcolonial and cultural theory, viewing it as a dynamic artistic practice that reflects the nation’s struggle for self-definition amid colonial oppression. Irish writers such as W. B. Yeats, James Joyce, and Seamus Heaney reimagined national identity by transforming historical trauma into artistic expression. Their works reveal how literature operated simultaneously as a weapon of resistance—challenging imperial narratives—and as a mirror of self-discovery, illuminating the complexities of Irish consciousness. The paper employs interpretive literary analysis to examine how myth, language, and memory serve as instruments of cultural reclamation. Yeats’s mythic nationalism, Joyce’s linguistic rebellion, and Heaney’s ethical reflection collectively illustrate the evolution of Irish identity from colonial subjugation to creative autonomy. Literature, in this sense, becomes a repository of collective memory and a site where the boundaries between politics and aesthetics blur. Ultimately, the study argues that Irish nationalism persists as a living art of resistance, continually redefined through the nation’s literary imagination. By tracing how writers reinterpret Irishness across generations, this research underscores the enduring power of art to challenge domination, preserve identity, and reshape the cultural and political contours of Ireland in a postcolonial world.
Slow Violence And The Disguise Of Revival: Ecological, Cultural And Political Erosion In Johal’s Saraswati
The degradation of environment that we face in the contemporary world is not a sudden disaster, but a slow destruction that is accumulated over time. This paper examines the environmental crisis in Saraswati (2025) by Gurnaik Johal using the theory of slow violence as formulated by Rob Nixon, who defines environmental destruction as a form of delayed and invisible violence that disproportionately affects minority groups and ecologies The novel reinvented the sacred river Saraswati as a symbol of ecological degradation as well as the cultural displacement to reveal the fact that the rhetoric of modernity and revival hides other moral and ecological degradation. This paper uses the framework of slow violence by Nixon in a postcolonial ecocritical perspective to examine how the novel develops environmental degradation as a slow cycle of depletion, and how it links spiritual and cultural erosion. The research approach is a close textual analysis of the major episodes and symbols in the novel including dry wells, engineered rivers, drowned shrines through the environmental theory of Nixon and the concept of sacred ecology developed by Fikret Berkes. The study adds to postcolonial environmental criticism as it shows that the ecological crisis turns into an erosion of faith, memory, and moral loss in the novel, which proves that modern restoration may be a set of reproducing the same violence that it claims to heal.
Examining the Challenges in Learning Urdu as a Second Language among Shina-Speaking Learners
This research investigates the learning skills and communicative competencies required by Shina-speaking students during the process of acquiring Urdu as a Second Language (USL) for academic purposes. The primary aim is to identify the linguistic and cognitive difficulties these learners encounter in understanding and using Urdu in academic settings, and to propose effective pedagogical techniques that enhance their communicative competence. The study employs a survey-based methodology, conducted over a 40-hour instructional period, to assess students’ performance and pinpoint the most common challenges faced in language learning. Based on the survey results, the research also presents targeted teaching strategies designed to help learners overcome these obstacles and develop both micro-skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and macro-skills (interaction, fluency, academic discourse). In addition to theoretical insights, the study offers practical implications for teachers of Urdu as a Second Language, focusing on task-based activities and skill-oriented approaches that facilitate the development of academic communication competence among Shina-speaking students.
Magical Strategies and Reality of Latin America in Garcia Marquez’s “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”
Gabriel García Márquez is a renowned Colombian novelist, short story writer, and a journalist. He is a Nobel Prize winner and one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. He revolutionized modern literature with his unique style of magical realism, blending the magical and the mundane, to reveal deeper truths about Latin American societies and history. Magical realism is a literary technique that combines realistic elements with supernatural, creating a world where impossible events coexist naturally with ordinary life. Márquez’s literary discourse portrays Latin American society with its varied cultural features and complicated history. Latin America has endured political oppression and foreign economic exploitation, during and after colonialism. The process of colonialism left a legacy that deteriorated the social, religious, and cultural beliefs of the region and created a symbolic void among people. The themes in Marquez’s works are deeply rooted in his concern for his society reflecting both the vulnerability and the resilience of Latin American communities. Beneath the layers of magic and myth lies a compassionate understanding of people caught in the relentless cycles of exploitation, oppression, and injustice. Gabriel García Márquez’s short story “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” serves as a brilliant exploration of callousness of Latin American people and highlights the absence of empathy by religious or political authority in the society. This paper aims to analyze how Márquez’s narrative offers a critique of the corruption within the Roman Catholic Church in the story and highlights people’s role in day-to-day matters in a post-colonial Latin America, during the second half of the twentieth century.
A Corpus-Based Analysis of Colloquial Language and Nature Imagery in the Poetry of Robert Frost
This paper investigates the lexical and thematic qualities to be observed in seven selected poems of Robert Frost: “The Road Not Taken”,“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”,“MendingWall”“Birches”,“AfterApple-Picking”, “Fireand Ice”,and “Nothing Gold Can Stay”.A qualitative and corpus study of the methods employed by Frost in the use of natural imagery, conversational diction and symbolic contrast to portray man in his natural environment, showing complex emotions and philosophic ideas. The results of the study show that Frost delivers his literary messages in simple colloquial language, handing his reader universal themes such as choice, duty, isolation, desire, transiency and the search for meaning. Poetic diction, nevertheless, is easily recognisable and is marked by everyday words, rhythmic balance, and subtle tonal changes, creating a domestic and realistic atmosphere. Nature functions as both a literal and symbolic framework, revealing Frost’s view of life as a cycle of growth,decay,andrenewal.The frequent use of binaries such as Fire and Ice,earth and heaven,and gold and grief highlights his contemplation of moral and emotional dualities. The study also finds that Frost’s style merges classical restraint with modern introspection, making his poetry accessible yet intellectually layered. By analysing linguistic choices and thematic patterns, this research affirms Frost’s position as a poet who unites simplicity with depth, emotion with intellect, and nature with human experience. His poetry remains an enduring reflection on the beauty and fragility of existence, capturing the delicate balance between the external world and the inner life of the human spirit.
The Interdisciplinary Study of Language Attrition: A Neurolinguistic and Sociolinguistic Investigation into the Cognitive and Social Drivers of L1 Loss
This research examines specific factors behind L1 decline. By certain combined views of language, sociology as well as cognitive linguistics, this paper studies in what way intellectual functions such as memory, brain changeability and inter-linguistic aspects contribute in first language reduction. L1 attrition operates through social powers as immigrants and internationalization. Based on factual proof from migrant and native communities, this investigation shows psychological and public factors of erosion. It also offers systematical obstacles within this research along with more outcomes from analysis. This research also underscores various methods of dropout across languages with generations. Even arguments highlighted the complex issues of language loss with improper acquisition.
A Comparative Study Of Hindko And English Passive Syntactic Constructions
This study investigates the syntactic differences between passive constructions in English and Hindko by applying the framework of Revised Extended Standard Transformational (REST) Grammar, and explores how these structural disparities affect Hindko-speaking learners’ acquisition of English passives. Although English passive constructions have been extensively examined, South Asian languages such as Hindko remain underexplored in this domain. This gap in research constrains both the descriptive documentation of Hindko grammar and the understanding of typological contrasts and their influence on English language learning. Using a qualitative descriptive–exploratory design, data were collected through structured translation tasks administered to 20 bilingual participants (8 teachers and 12 students) who speak the Abbottabad dialect of Hindko. Participants were purposively selected to ensure age and educational diversity. They orally translated a set of passive constructions from Hindko into English, and their responses were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. The analysis placed particular emphasis on syntactic operations central to passive formation, including NP movement, auxiliary insertion, agent demotion, and morphological transformations in both languages. The findings indicate that while both languages share universal principles underlying passive constructions, notable surface-level differences exist. English relies heavily on auxiliary chains and the prepositional by-phrase, whereas Hindko primarily employs verb morphology and postpositional agent markers. These typological mismatches contributed to systematic learner errors, including tense–aspect inconsistencies, auxiliary omission or misuse, and word-order interference. The study concludes that such typological differences drive interlingual interference in the acquisition of English passives by Hindko speakers. It is recommended that English language instruction for Hindko speakers place particular emphasis on auxiliary selection, tense–aspect formation, and by-phrase construction to mitigate mother-tongue interference. Future research may extend this inquiry to other Hindko dialects to draw broader syntactic comparisons and identify both shared and divergent patterns across the language.
A Quasi-Experimental Study on the Effect of ChatGPT in ESL Grammar Instruction
The study investigates the influence of ChatGPT on the English grammar proficiency of students from the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) in Pakistan. A quasi-experimental research design consisting of two intact groups, a control group and an experimental group, each with 30 students, was employed. The experimental group was taught with the help of ChatGPT and the control group was taught with conventional methods. Over the ten-week intervention, the focus was on three main aspects of grammar: the types of sentences, phrases and clauses, and narrations. A pre-test, post-test and was given to the students. The results of the study were analysed using parametric tests with the independent and paired samples. Results of the study indicated that while both groups showed considerable improvement, the experimental group showed even greater improvement as compare to the control group. The study contends that the use of ChatGPT in teaching grammar results in enhanced grammar proficiency of the students. Results of the study showed that there is an existing and potential impact of using AI as a teaching tool in Pakistani classrooms and that study results can be used as a guide by language teachers, curriculum designers, and policymakers to meet the emerging and existing requirements of teaching and learning in Pakistan.
From Folk Feminism to Fundamentalism: The Transformation of Punjabi Culture under Religious Pressure in Pakistan
Building upon anthropological perspectives which conceive of culture less as substance and more as daily-life practices that people use to confront challenges, in this paper we analyze the way a feministic pluralist tradition of Punjabi culture in Pakistan has been transformed into a moralized patriarchal one under the ideological onslaught by religious pressure groups like Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and the Taliban. Utilising the framework of critical discourse analysis, in this study folk poetry, song covers, proverbs and media discursive practices and cultural celebrations were studied to discern changes in gendered subjectivities as shaped by religious nationalism and moral populism in Punjab. The findings indicate that the images of Heer or Jugni which once glorified women’s expressive authority, have been actively replaced with those relating to modesty and obedience. Demonstrate through linguistic, symbolic and topical analysis that forms of culture have been moralized so that what used to be spaces of comedy, sensual delight and critique are now arm twists for ideological orthodoxy. Drawing on feminist cultural theory (Butler, 1990; Mohanty, 2003) and Bourdieu’s notion of symbolic power, the study posits that religious moralization is a mechanism internal colonization that recasts femininity as a location of morality surveillance. But countercurrents of resistance persist in digital media, feminist art and community-driven cultural revival, proving that the ideas behind folk feminism are still alive under the veneer of moral orthodoxy. This work adds to the field of postcolonial feminist scholarship by revealing how gender, religion, and language collude in regenerating cultural identity in contemporary Punjab. It provides critical reading about politics of representation, resistance and cultural memory practice within Pakistan.
The Semiotics of Local Captions and Slogans in Pakistani Advertising Design
Slogans play a vital role in any traditional or digital design campaign. Slogans are an influential tool for visual advertising. The impact of semiotic dimensions is studied in Pakistani advertising agencies and design studies regarding slogans. Through the lens of semiotics, the work of copywriters, art directors, and graphic designers is studied. Through the qualitative method, the study focuses on the precise advertising campaigns from different local and international brands in Pakistan. There is a blend of slogans in Urdu, English, and mixed language. The research highlights that slogans used in Pakistan through the visual communication campaigns and the graphic design industry for brands contribute a lot to brand identities. Cultural importance in Pakistani advertising campaigns through slogans suggests that designers and marketers apply the semiotic framework for the advancement of effective communication. Through the bilingual switching and regional cultural narratives, designers of Pakistan bridge the contemporary, modern, local, and traditional values.
Use of Effective Teaching Strategies for Improving Spoken English of Students at Graduate Level in Public Universities
The aim of this research was to determine the effective teaching methodology to improve English speaking skills at the graduate level, as the modern world is a global village and the communities of the world are getting closer to each other. The study focused on the adoption of appropriate methods, approaches, and techniques to teach the English subject at the graduate level. Two questionnaires were developed for this purpose, one for teachers and one for students. The results of this study showed various problems being faced in the English language teaching classes in public institutions, which included as: The teachers having not attended any pre-service training course, the non-existence of any special training for the teachers to manage large-sized ELT classes, discipline, lack of proper teaching aids, the school administration's indifferent attitude, unsuitable curriculum, the impossibility of checking home assignments, a faulty examination system, etc. The study recommended maintaining discipline, providing teachers with pre-service and in-service training, giving individual attention especially to weak students, implementing an effective evaluation system, and adopting modern teaching aids to improve learners' speaking skills. The researcher gave some recommendations for future research as well.
Stylistic Analysis of Personification and Narrative Voice in Dickinson’s “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”
The current paper explains how Emily Dickinson's poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" employs the stylistic devices of personification and the development of a narrative voice in this potent examination of the nature of death. In order to identify the linguistic techniques employed to give the poem narrative and philosophical weight, the discussion text analyses diction, imagery, syntax, tone, and temporal organisation using pragmatic stylistics, narrative stylistics, and figurative language. These observations demonstrate how the author reimagines a terrifying idea by personifying Death as a graceful suitor who makes death seem like a noble journey rather than a terrible end. While she guides the reader through a figurative chronological timeline that resembles the stages of life, the retrospective first-person narration also conveys intimacy and authority. The point of view is elevated to transcend this world. This personification and narrative position actually eliminate the fear of deaths but also move the reader in a new dimension of accepting it, of having immortality and the quest of continuity after death. The paper shows that in her style, Dickinson does not merely express her thematic concern but redefines death without a panic state to enter eternity and shows how language can reconstruct, mediate and change human perception of death. Keywords: Personification, Death, stylistics, mortality, narrative, thematic expression
The Cultural Lexicon and Linguistic Identity: Analyzing the Acquisition of British and American Idiomatic Expressions by L2 Learners in Contemporary Media and Fiction
Idiomatic expressions continue to pose a challenge to students aiming for advanced English proficiency because they represent a complex intersection of linguistic structure, cultural knowledge, and social identity. Despite having a similar linguistic heritage, British and American idioms have developed along different cultural, historical, and socio-pragmatic paths that affect how second language learners interact with them. Idiom acquisition is influenced by learners' exposure to modern media, their engagement with fiction, and their developing sense of linguistic identity in addition to figurative processing abilities and lexical familiarity, according to research in applied linguistics, cognitive linguistics, cultural linguistics, and media studies. American idioms are widely used due to American media's global dominance, while British idioms continue to be used in literature, historical media genres, and educational settings. Though its educational potential is still unexplored, fiction from classic British literature to modern American novels, graphic narratives, and digital storytelling continues to offer idiomatic forms embedded in narrative meaning and cultural symbolism. While sociocultural perspectives stress the significance of shared experiences, cultural schemas, and symbolic alignment, cognitive studies draw attention to issues with semantic opacity, metaphorical incongruence, and linguistic distance. Learners' idiomatic repertoire frequently reflects larger identity negotiations between localized and globalized English as they negotiate these influences. In order to better understand how L2 learners internalize, interpret, and use idiomatic expressions in an increasingly complex linguistic and cultural landscape, interdisciplinary synthesis is necessary. This is highlighted by the convergence of media exposure, literary engagement, and identity positioning.
GENDER, IDEOLOGY, AND PERSUASION: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF DONALD TRUMP AND KAMALA HARRIS 2024 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
The study scrutinizes the discursive strategies used by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in a single 2024 presidential debate, focusing on the use of positive self-representation and negative other-representation through hyperbole, consensus, and actor description. This study also explores how Democrats and Republicans use different strategies in the portrayal of different issues to influence public opinion. This research utilizes mixed methods, qualitative and quantitative, and the data is collected from the primary source. Tuen Van Dijk's Socio-cognitive model is applied as a theoretical framework to analyze the debate. The analysis reflects that, while both politicians utilize different persuasive strategies to appeal to their audiences, their languages mirror different patterns associated with male and female communication tactics. The analysis also reveals that Donald Trump's arguments are mostly based on facts, figures, and strong claims, which suggests that male politicians are logical. On the other hand, Kamala Harris shares personal stories and emotional examples, which show that female politicians are more emotional and empathetic. Keywords: Positive Self-representation, Negative Other-representation, Actor Description, Concensus, Hyperbole, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump
Analysis of Morphological Changes in English Borrowed Words in Pashto
Language is a dynamic and evolving system that reflects continuous cultural and social interactions among speakers. One of the major outcomes of language contact is borrowing, a process in which one language incorporates words, expressions, or structures from another. The present study explores the morphological changes that occur when English words are borrowed into the Pashto language. As English continues to dominate global communication, its influence has reached the Pashto-speaking regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, where bilingualism and code-mixing are increasingly common. The research investigates how English loanwords undergo structural adaptation in Pashto, focusing on pluralization, gender assignment, affixation, and derivation. These transformations demonstrate how borrowed words are integrated into the native grammatical system, gradually reshaping the morphological patterns of Pashto. The study uses qualitative analysis of spoken and written data to identify emerging trends in the modification of English-origin words. Findings highlight that younger generations, influenced by education and media, exhibit higher levels of morphological innovation. This research contributes to the broader understanding of linguistic adaptation, bilingual creativity, and language evolution in multilingual societies, revealing how Pashto maintains its identity while absorbing global linguistic elements.
Exploring Aspects of Absurdism in Albert Camus's novel The Stranger
The Stranger as an absurd novel, consists widely of life difficulties in human senseless existence. It also suggests that how to compete with absurdity and learn to know living in it till death. The protagonist, Meursault, being a strange person to his society and his own existence in this absurd universe, how lives his life through absurdity and faces multiple challenges owing to his indifferent attitudes at the funeral of Maman and in the court. So, the main concentration of this paper is to study the minor absurd elements that are represented through plenty of dialogues and usage of different symbols in the novel. Life is a dynamic process of effort but unfortunately, human all actions and elbow greases are in vain. Eventually, the inevitability of death, confrontation between absurd and human struggle to live is highlighted with the recurring death events broadly with easy explanation and argumentations.
‘Wild through Words’: An Ecolinguistic Investigation of Salience and Evaluation in Disney’s The Lion King
This study aims to analyze the salience and evaluation in the animated movie The Lion King to discover the lexical choices related to ecology in the movie. To achieve these objectives, the model of ecolinguistics presented by Stibbe (2015) was employed. There are many areas of life that are magnified and appraisal patterns are also found throughout the plot of the movie. This study has adopted a mixed-methods research approach and uses purposive sampling while collecting data. Transcript of the movie The Lion King was used to analyze the data. After the analysis it has been found that the movie was teemed with lexical choices that have relation to environment and ecology and many nouns, noun phrases, verbs and adjectives are evidence of this connection. Moreover, it is discovered that the movie not only contain countless appraisal patterns but also try to put light on many aspects of environment and ecology. It is also found that magnification of various areas of life is quite apparent in the transcripts. The appraisal patterns here point to the positive or negative evaluation and salience refers to the prominence of things, individuals and notions. It is also suggested that the movie can be studied for erasure and other ecofeminmtitc elements in future.
Text and Narrator’s Text: An Analysis of Stylistic Profile of Narrators in Pakistani Diplomatic Cypher (March 07, 2022)
The paper focuses on the stylistic and linguistic characteristics of the Pakistani Diplomatic Cypher (March 7, 2022). It describes the meeting between Pakistani Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu. Using the Stylistic Profile framework of Wolf Schmid (2010), the analysis splits Narrator’s Discourse (Asad Majeed Khan) and Character’s Discourse (Donald Lu), which explores how the dominance is encoded in the structure of a narrative. The results indicate that the neutrality of Pakistan and priorities of the region are defended through the restrained and justificatory style by Asad Majeed with compound sentences. Conversely, the assertive discourse of Lu makes use of conditional sentences and complex sentences, as well as instrumental functions, to express U.S dissatisfaction, making it subtle to associate bilateral relations with the political developments in Pakistan. The cypher represents diplomacy and indirectness that does not offend anyone but promotes geopolitical interests. The study has informational value on how narrative power is used in asymmetric diplomacy and can be applied in the work of policymakers who work through cultural and power asymmetry. Keywords: Diplomatic Discourse, Narratology, Relations of Power, Relations Between Pakistan And U.S., Stylistic Profile, Cypher.
Exploring the Impact of Neuro-Linguistic Programming Meta Model Inquiries on Enhancing English Language Teaching Practices: A Case Study in Pakistan's Educational Context
This study examines the impact of NLP Meta Model inquiries on English Language Teaching (ELT) in Pakistan. This research investigates the impact of NLP methods on students’ interest in learning, motivation, and proficiency in speaking and writing in Pakistan. The method involved observing classes, conducting interviews with some teachers, and administering questionnaires to a sample group of students. It was found that using NLP Meta Model queries enabled teachers and students to work much more closely, promoting learning centered around the students and boosting their critical thinking and involvement. Many teachers observed better clarity of students’ thinking and improved skills in speaking and writing. Additionally, the students were more actively engaged and motivated in class, and they felt certain that they were improving their language skills. The results of the ANOVA again confirmed that the changes in education made a significant difference. NLP techniques could significantly enhance the outcomes and learning of students in Pakistani ELT if they are applied in teacher development and classrooms. Improving professional services through the use of the NLP Meta Model requires assessing the long-term benefits and expanding the study to rural areas.
The Island of Missing Trees: A Challenge to Anthropocentrism Via Non-Human Narration
This paper attempts to examine Elif Shafak’s novel The Island of Missing Trees with specific reference to challenging traditional forms of narration. I argue that Shafak’s novel challenges anthropocentric biases in narration by using a fig tree as the narrator in the story; however, the novel’s approach provides a paradigm shift in human-centric narration by acknowledging the interconnectedness and interdependence of human and nonhuman entities. Drawing upon the conceptual horizons of the new materialism, this paper uses material ecocriticism to supplement the argument. Material ecocriticism accounts for the matter being agentic, expressive, and having inherent creativity and innate meaning. This also drew our consciousness to rethink the question of agency, interconnectedness, and narrativity. Using material-discursive practices and intra-action put forward by Karen Barad and semiotic-materiality being co-constituted by Donna Haraway, material ecocriticism affirms that matter is endowed with meaning and bears stories manifested as “storied matter,” which is discussed by Serpil Oppermann. This paper discusses how materials convey meanings and how they are the co-participators of humans in the physical world. Shafak, in her novel, provides a paradigm shift by giving voice to a fig tree as the story's co-narrator, suggesting the tree's agentic power and its interconnectedness with humans; however, this novel challenges anthropocentric biases via narration from a non-human entity.
Narrating the Terrorist: Authorial Intent and Perpetrator Representation in Post-9/11 American Fiction
Despite the pervasive cultural fixation surrounding terrorism after 9/11, most American fiction continues to rely on heterodiegetic narration that distances readers from perpetrator subjectivity and reinforces reductive clichés of Islamic extremism, fanaticism, and moral incomprehensibility. This study interrogates the representation of terrorist-perpetrators in four post-9/11 American novels The Garden of Last Days, Terrorist, American Taliban, and Atta through McGlothin’s framework of narrative voice and empathetic identification. Through close textual analysis, the study demonstrates how three of the novels reproduce dominant cultural imaginaries, offering only superficial accounts of radicalisation and obscuring the psychological and contextual factors behind perpetration. In contrast, Atta employs auto-diegetic narration to provide rare access to a perpetrator’s consciousness, challenging conventional literary taboos surrounding empathetic engagement. The article highlights the limitations of homogenized or clichéd understandings of perpetration in Western literary and cultural discourse.
From Shoots To Roots: A Post Colonial Feminist Analysis of “My Daughter, Mona” and “First Love” by Rukhsana Ahmad
The present research aims to identify how do gender roles shape the experiences of second-generation diasporic women and how second generation women cope up with this situation in two short stories of Rukhsana Ahmad “ My Daughter, Mona” and “First Love”. Diasporic prose and poetry depicts the harsh realities of gender base issue as ethnical, alienation, identity issues, tracing back roots and writer resistance against the dilemma of tranquil western life. Post colonial diaspora literature exposes the tormented experience of second generation women of South Asian diaspora in west. All the problems or discrimination face by second generation diasporic women has been analyze in the light of postcolonial and transnational feminism and Borderland theory. The reseach follows the discriptive qualitative method of analysis and close text reading approach. The original text of the stories, articles, research paper and different books have been utilize while presenting the role of gender in shaping the lives and gender base discrimination to shape the experiences of second generation diasporic women. The research find-out the second generation diasporic women in the west faces multiple challenges due to gender that effects their lives negatively and they follow cope up mechanisms in this difficult situation. Keywords: Borderland, South Asian Diaspora, Second generation women, Inter- generational conflict, Alienation, Fractured identity, Third world space, Gender segregation.
Mapping Meaning through Corpora: A Lexico-Semantic Exploration of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness
This study applies corpus-assisted lexico-semantic analysis to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness to map patterns of lexical choice, semantic prosody, and thematic foregrounding across the novella. A single-text corpus of the work was extracted from project Guttenberg, and was compiled and processed with Voyant to extract keyword lists, collocations, node-word networks, semantic-tag frequencies, and distributional-semantics visualizations. Quantitative measures (keyness, mutual information, dispersion, and log-likelihood) were triangulated with qualitative close reading to interpret how recurrent lexis constructs representations of space, race, morality, and interiority. Results show a cohesive lexico-semantic field clustering around darkness, movement (river/journey), and degradation; these clusters demonstrate negative semantic prosodies and systematic metaphorical mappings that align lexical cohorts with colonial ideology and psychological collapse. Notably, lexical co-occurrence networks reveal that ostensibly isolated images (e.g., fog, abyss, whisper) function as distributed signals that reinforce thematic coherence across narrative layers and narrator voices. The analysis also detects subtle editorial shifts in lexical distribution, suggesting editorial influence on thematic emphasis and reader positioning. Methodologically, the paper demonstrates an integrative protocol for single-text corpus construction, multi-level annotation (lemma, POS, semantic tag), and transparent reporting of statistical thresholds to balance reliability with interpretive sensitivity. This corpus-led reading refines traditional critical accounts by providing reproducible evidence for semantic relations, and by demonstrating how lexico-semantic patterning contributes to affective and ideological effects. Implications extend to stylistics, postcolonial criticism, translation studies, and digital humanities: lexico-semantic mapping can reveal latent ideological structures, facilitate interdisciplinary dialogues, and inform future comparative and reception-based research on Conrad and colonial modernism. The study makes two contributions: empirically, it maps recurrent semantic expressions that strengthen Conrad’s rhetorical power to enable verification and extension by other researchers and pedagogy broadly. Keywords: Heart of Darkness; Lexico-semantic patterns; Thematic foregrounding; Voyant tools
Analyzing the Contemporary Rudiments in Jorge Luis Borges’ Short Story “The Other Death”
The research examines the Postmodernism aspects of the short story“The Other Death” by one of the eminent postmodernist writers Jorge Luis Borges. The research is exploratory in nature and it entails the application of the qualitativeapproach. Besides, the research has been conducted and examined through the prism ofPostmodernism. To this end, content analysis is employed in this study on the Jorge Luis Borgesshort story “the Other Death”. In the present research, the authors have appealed to thetheory of postmodern fiction referred to in the Cambridge Introduction to Postmodern.Fiction by Bran Nicol. The interpretative method has been utilized in the current research study of the text of “The Other Death”. It is through the prism of content analysis which has gained popularity to literary texts postmodernism. The results of the research have demonstrated that the narration is full ofnumerous postmodern aspects yet the key aspects examined by scholars include: Intertextuality, Metafiction, and Magical Realism. Different assorted things are interwoven into the short story. The text carries literaryreferences and the praise of the writer as well along with the aspects of magical realism. Keywords: Fiction, Intertextuality, Jorge Luis Borges, Magical Realism, Metafiction, Postmodernism.
Pakistan’s Water Challenges: A Systemic Functional Analysis of Dawn and The News International Editorials
This paper draws a comparison between Dawn and The News through Systemic functional linguistics (SFL) in an attempt to identify how linguistic decisions used frame the water scarcity problems faced by Pakistan. The paper will be based on the metafunction framework developed by Halliday (1994) to analyze theme-rheme structures and transitivity processes in 10 editorials published between 2024 to 2025. A mixed-method approach was used, with a qualitative textual analysis being used alongside quantitative frequencies of marked and unmarked themes and process types. The results indicate that Dawn focuses on systemic change and institutional accountability, whereas The News accentuates human agency and accountability. Such language patterns show how grammatical forms encode ideology and the means through which the public can be informed about national matters, which can be applied to the study of media literacy, journalism, and discourse. Keywords: Thematic Analysis, Transitivity, Ideological Framing, Systemic Functional Linguistics, Media Discourse.
Examining Context-Based Assessment Approaches for Enhancing English Language Learning in Pakistani Higher Education
The incorporation of authentic and meaningful assessment practices in English language teaching and learning has been widely recognized in second language acquisition and pedagogy as essential for promoting effective language development. The present study investigates the pedagogical benefits of integrating authentic assessment tasks into a university-level English language course in Pakistan, conducted through a blended learning mode. Undergraduate students from intermediate and advanced proficiency levels collaborated with peers and trained mentors to complete assessment tasks designed around real-life communicative contexts, reflecting the core elements of authenticity. Data were collected from multiple sources, including students’ written tasks, reflective journals, semi-structured interviews, and online discussion forums. Findings indicate that, despite certain implementation challenges, the integration of authentic assessment practices significantly enhanced students’ communicative competence, learner autonomy, and motivation. The study concludes with practical recommendations for educators and policymakers on how to effectively embed authentic, context-based assessments into ESL curricula within Pakistani higher education institutions.
RESISTANCE AND AGENCY IN SHAH’S BEFORE SHE SLEEPS: A DYSTOPIAN FEMINIST STUDY
This research is a dystopian feminist study of Bina Shah’s Before She Sleeps, which advocates female agency and personal autonomy in a dystopian society, critiquing pervasive technological surveillance. Grounded in Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity and subversion, along with Donna Haraway’s academic input on technology and surveillance, the research employs textual analysis as a method to study the problem. Shah’s novel vividly depicts women’s lives under a repressive regime ravaged by a gender-specific virus that has decimated the female population, centering on the protagonist Sabine. The analysis explores how performative gender roles perpetuate societal orientation and positioning, while interrogating technology’s paradoxical dual role in both subjugating and liberating women. With a particular emphasis on the Pakistani context, this study advances a nuanced, inclusive Pakistani feminist framework through its examination of dystopian female agency and resistance. Ultimately, it concludes that, despite the deployment of culture, society, and technology to control women, female resistance persistently challenges restrictive norms to foster an egalitarian world grounded in equal gender rights. Keywords: Dystopian feminism, Technological surveillance, Female agency, Gender performativity.
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Intersectional Identities: Class, Gender, and Race in Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss
This study employs Intersectionality theory through a close reading strategy to examine how the intersecting systems of race, class, gender, and colonial dominance shape the identity and psyche of the character Jemu bhai Patel. The analysis reveals how racial hierarchies, reinforced by Western colonial standards, foster internalized oppression and emotional alienation within the colonized subject. Furthermore, it uncovers the psychological violence and consequences of existing within multiple, overlapping axes of inequality, as illustrated by Jemu bhai’s struggle to assimilate into Western ideals while disavowing his Indian identity. By examining Jemu bhai’s interactions with his wife, servants, and community, this research draws parallels between the dynamics of privilege and oppression in both colonial and postcolonial societies. Ultimately, the paper argues that Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss critiques the enduring imprint of colonial domination on identity formation and underscores the necessity of conceptualizing identity as a product of interrelated social forces.
Analysis of Narrative Essay Text in Pakistani ESL Learners with the LENS OF SFL
This study explores how the narrative essay writing text employs transitivity structures to realize the experiential meanings, focusing on process types, participants, and circumstances within the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Simultaneously the study explores the ideational meta-functions in the narrative essay written texts by the university undergrads participants 20 in number. Under the ideational exploration the linguistic choices reflect he material and experiential focus at maximum level. A mixed-method approach was implemented for transitivity elements analysis of the narrative essay texts under the lens SFL (Systemic Functional Linguistics) a grammatical appraisal framework developed by Hlliday (1994) using a linguistic corpus tool UAM 3.3x version along with the additional help of the UAM 6.2 version of the linguistic corpus tool at the same time. The results manifested the material processes were dominant (N= 656, 13.5%), followed by relational (N=165, 3.4%) and mental (N= 138, 2.9%) processes. Participants (N=1397, 29.2%) and circumstances (N=744, 15.5%) were frequent, with actor, goal, and carrier as key roles. The narrative essay text prioritized factual description over introspective or interpersonal meanings. These results suggest the need for more balanced experiential representations in writing content of ESL Learning, and expose the underlying in depth meaning and ideological orientations contained in the narrative text.
Mysticism in Ghani Khan and William Blake's Poetry: A Comparative Study
Mysticism refers to the attainment of insight into the ultimate or hidden truths and into the transformation of the human psyche from a superficial thinking and cognition to a much deeper view of the world and occurrences around us. Mysticism is an abundant theme in most of the poetry that exists, be it oriental or occidental literature. The current research has focused on the comparative study of Ghani Khan and William Blake’s poetry with respect to their mystic perceptions on divine love, human nature and beauty. Through the comparative study of the poems of the eastern poet Khan Abdul Ghani Khan and the western poet William Blake, the present research highlights mysticism as a prominent theme in the literary genre of poetry regardless of any distinction of geographical, social, cultural and religious boundaries. the present research is a comparative study and is conducted by thorough textual and thematic analysis of the selected poems of the two mystic poets with the aim to explore the theme of mysticism and all the aspects of their poetry which are them summed around the elements of mysticism. The present study has attempted to highlight the similarities and the contradictions in the poetry of the two poets in their usage and approach towards the themes surrounding mysticism. Findings reveal that poetry of both the poets is replete with mystic elements, and the themes of divine love, beauty and human nature, but both the poets’ treatment of these are quite different. Ghani khan’s poetry carries a casual air and his language usage around the theme of mysticism is quite light-hearted, simple, casual and sincere. On the other hand, William Blake’s language around the theme of mysticism is a bit difficult to interpret, and the elements through which mysticism shows through his poetry are also quite different from those of Ghani khan. Where Ghani khan sees the manifestation of God through human beauty, William Blake sees divinity through wrath and passion in the feelings of animate objects like human and animals. This study can help to further develop literary researchers’ insights and help them to identify themes in much more depth and with much more criticality. Key words: Mysticism, Divine Love, Beauty, God’s Reflection And Human Nature. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17847170
The Evaluation of Child Development in Kamila Shamsie's Visionary Trilogy: A Bildungsroman Analysis of The City by the Sea, Burnt Shadows, and Home Fire
This qualitative study explores child development in the visionary trilogy by Kamila Shamsie using a thematic analysis within a Bildungsroman structure with four accumulated forces, namely, trauma and resilience, the family influence, the cultural belonging in Kamila Shamsie's visionary trilogy: The City by the Sea, Burnt Shadows, and Home Fire. The City by the Sea, Burnt Shadows and Home Fire are the interrelated novels by Kamila Shamsie that provide the in-depth study of the topic of maturation within the context of the significant historical events, which is a unique chance to study the developmental processes affected by the mass trauma. This paper thus reviews the complex research of child and adolescent development in this futurist trilogy, and how the inter-textual subjects of trauma and resilience, family impact, and cultural affiliation all contribute to the collective development of the psychological and ethical character of its youthful heroes. Theoretically informed by developmental psychology and the postcolonial theory, the research applies a qualitative thematic analysis built on a Bildungsroman framework to trace the non-linear trajectories of characters going through the events around the partition of Karachi to the bombing of Nagasaki and marginalization of the British-Muslim diaspora. It has been identified that the transmission of trauma between generations and the pressure of cultural displacement are not just the decorative elements of the narrative but the driving forces that essentially define identity negotiation, and moral maturity can be gained through a multifaceted play of historical recollection and blood ties. In the end, it is concluded of this present research that the work by Shamsie is reinventing the Bildungsroman of the 21st century that individual coming-of-age is always sublimated by the remnants of the past, the complications of family, and the forces of societal prejudice that pervade, thus provides a highly crucial literary model of development in the postcolonial world. Keywords: Bildungsroman, Child Development, Kamila Shamsie, Identity Formation, Trauma Studies, Postcolonial Literature, Thematic Analysis, Coming-of-Age.
Navigating the Third Space: Cultural Hybridity and Identity Crisis in Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient
This​‍​‌‍​‍‌ current study explores the complex portrayal of the main character's emotional upheaval regarding their cultural identity in Michael Ondaatje's "The English Patient" by drawing on Bhabha's theory of cultural hybridity and the "third space". The paper describes Almasy, the main character, as a representative of the postcolonial identity crisis, thus demonstrating how the question of cultural belonging becomes a fluid, fragmented, and negotiated repercussion of war and colonial disruption. Through in-depth textual analysis, this paper argues that Ondaatje's narrative challenges the concept of fixed national identities and instead presents identity as a matter of performance and reconstruction in the spaces that exist between different ​‍​‌‍​‍‌cultures. This​‍​‌‍​‍‌ research is a great addition to the postcolonial literature field. It demonstrates how "The English Patient" is essentially a poignant exploration of the emotional and cultural aspect of displacement and, furthermore, provides a refreshed insight into the postcolonial world still grappling with the effects of globalization and the process of identity formation. The paper reveals that the complex identity of Almasy is a symbol of the existential quest for a place and a sense of being which is the universal human condition in a world where the traditional limits have been broken ​‍​‌‍​‍‌down.
Exploring The Role Of Metaphoric And Communicative Competence Among Second Language Learners: A Qualitative Case Study Of Gpgc Karak
Metaphors are part of the human communication system and application in the second language learning has not been studied properly especially in the Pakistani EFL setting. This paper explores the sense of metaphorical competence as perceived by learners and the role when it comes to communicative competence in terms of understanding and applying metaphors. Because this study was informed by the conceptual metaphor theory, consequentially, in this aspect, a qualitative research design was used. Overall, a convenient sampling method was used to select ten undergraduate EFL learners, and, accordingly, semi structured interviews were held to collect thorough information on the issues under consideration. Thematic analysis showed that learners consider metaphors as effective means to convey their complicated ideas, feelings, and cultural senses and have the idea that metaphorical fluency is also coherent, creative, and pragmatically appropriate. Nevertheless, the difficulties that were reported included the insufficient exposure, cultural difference, the absence of specific instructions, and the excessive use of literal language. Nevertheless, these challenges did not eliminate the fact that learners were very interested in metaphor-based lessons in the classroom. The paper ends by concluding that metaphorical competence is a constituent of communicative competence that is necessary but overlooked, and needs to be incorporated in the EFL teaching systematically. The results have important pedagogic implications on the teachers, curriculum developers, policymakers, and recommend future studies on larger sample sizes and teacher attitudes.
Tracing Americanness: An Evolutionary Narrative Review Across American History
This paper critically reviews the emergence of the concept of Americanness, its evolution, and perspectives along the course of American history. The review also encompasses the interaction of the concept in American literary works, particularly American novels. A narrative review approach is utilized to review the origin of Americanness and its impact on American institutions, experiences, and literature. Through qualitative research methodology, the study undertakes to analyze the interactive relationship of the concept of Americanness and American literature through historical periods. Although Americanness at times shifts its meaning and nuances owing to different political, social, and cultural milieus, still some of the tenets of the concept of Americanness remain fixed, and their relevance attracts literary authors to incorporate the concepts in their celebrated works. Keywords: Americanness, American novel, Interactive Framework, American culture and experience
Transitivity and Narrative Voice: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Analysis of Haruki Murakami’s Short Stories
This study examines how narrative voice and transitivity patterns intersect in four of Haruki Murakami’s short stories, i.e. “Cream,” “With the Beatles,” “Charlie Parker Plays Bossa Nova,” and “Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey” as translated into English. Using Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) as the framework, eighty clauses from each story (320 clauses total) were analyzed to uncover how Murakami’s narrators construct experience through process types, participant roles, and circumstances. A mixed-method approach combined quantitative frequency analysis with qualitative stylistic interpretation. Findings reveal that material and mental processes are consistently prominent, encoding the narrators’ actions and introspections in tandem. Transitivity profile of each story aligns with its thematic focus: self-reflection in “Cream,” nostalgia and memory in “With the Beatles,” imaginative speculation in “Charlie Parker Plays Bossa Nova,” and confessional dialogue in “Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey.” Despite being English translations, the clauses maintain Murakami’s distinctive narrative voice, characterized by a blend of the mundane and the surreal. The narrators frequently serve as both Actors and Sensers, linguistically foregrounding their subjective reality. The study concludes that Murakami’s transitivity patterns encode a first-person narrative ethos: mundane actions and psychological perceptions intertwine to produce the author’s signature tone of subdued alienation and “dreamlike” realism.
Constructing Linguistic Identity Through Algorithm: An Investigation into Language Use on Social Media Platforms
Before digital communication took over, some of its best features were its theatricality, political nuance, and the way language could change. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok have changed the way we interact with each other, how we see ourselves, and how our groups work. The objective of this research is to examine the intricate network of power dynamics present in online discourse and the utilization of language. The study examines the relationship between language and society. This study examines the function of code-switching, viral slang, memes, emojis, and hashtags in promoting online resistance, identity formation, and social critique. The study specifically examines the ramifications of these factors. Utilizing frameworks such as Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Sociolinguistic Identity Theory The objective of this study is to address a deficiency in the current literature by illustrating how online language both mirrors and transforms social power dynamics and belief systems. It contends that social media platforms represent a sociolinguistic space characterized by perpetual transformation, wherein language governs, exchanges, and transcends power dynamics. Besides, it finds that social media discourses are important site to disseminate power relation among the users.
A Schematic Study of Chaucer’s Religious Characters in the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales
Religious characters in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales are some of the most intriguing fictional characters. The conflict between religious constraints and individual freedom in Medieval England marks one of the core issues in this paper. The paper analyses three religious characters, the Prioress, the Monk, and the Friar in the Prologue, applying Schema Theory of Cognitive Stylistics. The study highlights these characters subverting the schema of their given roles, identified in the Prologue, through the application of the theory. The discussion relies on the account of double-edged irony and satire employed by the narrator in the description of these characters. Relativity of cognitive psychology with the characterization of Chaucer’s Prologue is established through the textual evidences; a critical insight into the description of ecclesiastical characters results into a clear picture of sociohistorical knowledge of the Medieval times. The study posits how the contextual knowledge (schema) plays an important role in forming an impression of these characters and how this knowledge based on the schema and readers’ perception unravel the dichotomy in the description of the ecclesiastical characters in the Prologue and the tales.
Renunciation and Reinforcement: The Politics of Representation in Hirsi Ali’s Infidel
This study seeks to examine renunciation of faith vis-a-vis reinforcement of Western secular ideals in Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Infidel, placing it in the broader discursive field of Muslim life writing in the post-9/11 era. Employing the theoretical lens of Re-Orientalism together with an integrated analytical framework comprising McKerrow’s Critical Rhetoric and Fairclough’s Three-Dimensional Model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this study analyzes how Hirsi Ali’s memoir, besides its functioning as a narrative of personal liberation, serves as a discursive intervention in global socio-cultural debates on religion, gender and identity in the post-9/11 climate. While Hirsi Ali triumphs over patriarchal and religious restraints and reclaims agency as well as recognition, her narrative simultaneously proves a provocative polemical project. Through its stereotypical depiction of Islam and Muslims, the text becomes instrumental in reinforcing Western hegemonic discourses that portray Islam as inherently violent and oppressive. The study further highlights a paradox in the Muslim life writing, particularly female narratives, where authors, in the process of challenging religious orthodoxy, are prone to reinforce secularist Orientalist frameworks, thereby complicating the politics of representation in contemporary discourse.
Integrating Computer-Assisted Learning in English Language Education: A Case Study of Undergraduate Students at Government Degree College Takht-e-Nasrati, Karak
This research study explores how the role of computers is a helpful means for students learn English at Government Degree College Takhte Nasrati, Karak. The study focuses on how students use computers for different language skills like listening, speaking, reading, writing, and speaking. A questionnaire was given to 30 undergraduate English students. The results showed that most students use computers to improve their writing and vocabulary. Some also use them for grammar practice and watching English videos. However, many students do not use computers for speaking or listening activities. The study also found some challenges, such as lack of computer training, limited internet access, and low teacher involvement. Based on these findings, the study suggests that colleges should provide better facilities, organize training sessions, and encourage teachers to use technology in English language teaching. Using computers in the right way can help students learn English more effectively. Keywords: Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL); English Language Learning; Educational Technology; Undergraduate Students; Higher Education; Pakistan
An Analysis Of Cross-Cultural Conflict In “A Pair Of Jeans” By Qaisra Shahraz
The aim of this study is to find out how cultural differences lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. The short story “A Pair of Jeans” by Qaisra Shahraz is used as an example to show how people from different cultural backgrounds may see the same situation in completely different ways. This study is qualitative in nature. It examines the characters, events, and dialogues in the story to understand how cultural values and beliefs influence people’s actions and decisions. The study finds that the conflict in the story is caused by differences in cultural expectations. Behaviours and appearances that are normal in one culture may be judged negatively in another. The story clearly shows how these differences can create tension and affect relationships. The analysis is based on only one short story. Therefore, the results may not represent all types of cross-cultural conflicts. The study concludes that learning about and respecting other cultures is important to reduce misunderstandings and conflicts. The story sends a message that open communication and tolerance can help people from different cultures to live and work together peacefully.
A Stylistic Analysis of AI-Generated Short Stories: Exploring Lexical, Grammatical, and Figurative Features Using Leech and Short’s Framework
The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) in creative writing has raised important questions about its ability to generate artistic and linguistically sophisticated content and a critical gap remains in understanding the stylistic qualities of AI-generated fiction, particularly short stories. This study aims to fill that gap by providing a systematic stylistic analysis of AI-generated short stories using the framework developed by Leech and Short. The research seeks to explore the lexical, grammatical, and figurative language features of AI-generated narratives, with particular emphasis on four key stylistic categories: Lexical Categories, Grammatical Categories, Figures of Speech, and Cohesion and Context. Through the analysis of a corpus of AI-generated short stories, this study will evaluate whether AI exhibits a consistent and sophisticated storytelling style or if its output remains formulaic and generic. The findings of this research are expected to offer valuable insights into the potential and limitations of AI as a creative partner in literary production and contribute to a deeper understanding of its linguistic capabilities.
Hope and Disillusionment: The Paradox of Poetry of Revolution in Pakistan
The purpose of this article is to explore the link between poetry and possibilities of revolution in Pakistan. Hope and disillusionment are two dominant features of the poetry of revolution. There is a strong hope and desire for a revolutionary change and at the same time there is an element of disillusionment with aesthetics. Firstly, the researcher tends to analyze the nature of this hope and form of revolution expected by these poets. Secondly, the purpose is to decipher the elements of disillusionment. The poets actually seem disillusioned with other poets and artists who are not playing their role that aesthetics can play for radical change in the society. Literature plays a vital role in paving a path for revolution as the poets and artists played a pivotal role during the ‘Pakistan Movement’, but unfortunately, according to the contemporary poetry, the poets and artists have been unable to play an honest to role to make people resist against the exploiting forces. This is the reason, the poets who wrote about revolution in Pakistan have displayed an ambivalent attitude towards the possibility of revolution. Poetry by Habib Jalib and Faiz Ahmad Faiz, have been focused for this purpose. The researcher has also linked these poets with the tradition of poetry of revolution that existed before the creation of Pakistan.
Role of Resilience in Enhancing Students’ Academic Performance and Psychological Well-Being at University Level
Resilience plays a vital role in enhancing students’ academic performance and psychological well-being by enabling them to adapt positively to academic stress and life challenges. It fosters persistence, motivation, and effective coping strategies that contribute to better learning outcomes. Students with higher resilience demonstrate stronger emotional balance, self-efficacy, and overall mental health, which support sustained academic success. The objectives of the study were to find the level of Resilience in Enhancing Students’ Academic Performance and Psychological Well-Being, and to determine the effect and relationship among Resilience, Students’ Academic Performance and Psychological Well-Being at University Level. The present study employed a quantitative research design using the survey method. The population of the study comprised all universities in Lahore, which include a total of 39 universities (both public and private). A multistage sampling technique was adopted. A structured questionnaire was developed as the main research instrument. To ensure content validity, the questionnaire was reviewed by a panel of education experts and university professors, who evaluated the items for clarity, relevance, and alignment with the study’s objectives. The collected data were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics (Mean and Standard Deviation) and inferential statistics, including multivariate analysis and Pearson correlation, were employed to interpret the data. The results revealed a strong positive relationship between resilience, academic performance (r = .629, p < .01), and psychological well-being (r = .691, p < .01), indicating that higher resilience is associated with better academic and emotional outcomes. Moreover, MANOVA results confirmed a significant effect of resilience on both academic performance (R² = .222) and psychological well-being (R² = .176), demonstrating that resilience substantially contributes to students’ success and mental health at the university level. Keywords: Resilience, Students’ Academic Performance, Psychological Well-Being, University Level https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17471307
EXPLORING TRAUMA IN THE FILM LOVING VINCENT (2017): A MULTIMODAL SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS
The current paper investigates how trauma is presented in the movie Loving Vincent (2017) on a multimodal level of semiotic. It was the first animation movie in the world itself to be painted entirely in oil paints and it was made by over a hundred artists who made more than 65,000 hand-painted frames. This study explores how the inner world and traumatic experiences of Van Gogh can be achieved in both the visual and emotional form of cinema art. Relying on Semiology by Saussure, Triadic Semiotics by Peirce, Multimodal Grammar by Kress and van Leeuwen, and the Trauma Theory of Freud, Caruth, the paper explores the role of visual representations, narrative and symbolism in meaning-making. The analysis of filmic codes, color binaries, brushstroke movement, and the interaction between characters is done using a qualitative semiotic and multimodal approach. The conclusions made by the findings indicate that Loving Vincent brings back the painful life of Van Gogh by rendering his trauma into aesthetic expression so as to make viewers experience his pain as emotional resonance. Keywords: trauma, multimodality, semiotics, signifier, signified, icons, indexes, symbols, filmic codes, visual grammar, Loving Vincent.
Intersecting Shadows: Class and Gender Discrimination in Danyal Mueenuddin’s Saleema —A Postcolonial Feminist Reading
This study examines Saleema’s character for class and gender discrimination in Danyal Mueenuddin’s short story Saleema (2009), using a postcolonial feminist framework. Set in rural Pakistan, the narrative presents the intersecting oppressions experienced by Saleema, a lower-class domestic worker whose life is shaped by structural poverty, gendered violence, and feudal hierarchies. Drawing upon the theoretical perspectives of Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (1988), Chandra Talpade Mohanty (1991), and Kimberlé Crenshaw (1991), this analysis explores how patriarchal social norms and class stratification combine to produce the subaltern woman. The study explores the intersecting dynamics of power structures, colonial legacies, and patriarchal norms that immortalise Saleema's subjugation. Through a comprehensive examination of her relationships with other characters, setting, and themes, this paper elucidates how Saleema's experiences epitomise broader societal injustices rooted in classism and sexism. By incorporating insights from Postcolonial Feminist theory, this analysis offers a nuanced understanding of the complexities inherent in Saleema's narrative, shedding light on the intersecting forms of discrimination she confronts. The paper argues that Saleema’s story exposes the systematic nature of oppression in postcolonial societies, demonstrating the necessity of reading South Asian literature through the lens of postcolonial feminist critique. This study contributes to a deeper comprehension of the intricate interplay between class, gender, and power within the socio-cultural fabric of postcolonial societies.
The Representation of Baba in The Kite Runner: A Corpus-Based Discourse Analysis
This study investigates the representation of Baba in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner using corpus-based critical discourse analysis. For the analysis of the study the researcher uses Ruth Wodak’s Discourse-Historical Approach (DHA) as theoretical framework, which includes nomination, predication, argumentation, perspectivization, and intensification/mitigation strategies. The study explores that how Baba’s character is discursively constructed. The analysis shows the text is elevating secular and Western-aligned subjectivities while marginalizing religious and resistant voices. Through these discursive patterns, the text supports the post-9/11 ideological tensions in which Muslim identities are represented through lenses of moral ambiguity, cultural displacement and emotional restraint. This research significant contributes to the representation of Muslim, Post 9/11 identities, diaspora fiction and corpus-based CDA by using linguistics patterns which reproduce Orientalist and neo-Orientalist discourses. Keywords: Post-9/11 Literature, Muslim Representation, Corpus-Based Discourse Analysis and Diaspora Fiction
From Anxiety to Autonomy: Examining Automated Feedback Systems Shape Reading Motivation and Emotional Engagement Worldwide
The automated feedback systems, spread worldwide through digital reading platforms, have not only changed access to education but have also not been insufficiently studied in terms of their effects on learner’s emotional and motivational pathways, especially their ability to transition anxiety to autonomy across cultures. The purpose of the study was to investigate the roles of AI-based feedback systems in shaping reading motivation, emotional involvement, and self-regulated autonomy among diverse learners worldwide. The study employed a quantitative pre-post experimental design with N = 500 adult participants of 10 countries, stratified by age, education, and culture region. For structured tasks, participants were randomly assigned to receive either personalized AI feedback or static reading material. Key measures included the Reading Anxiety Scale, Emotional Engagement Scale, Reading Motivation Questionnaire, and the Perceived Autonomy Index. Findings showed that automated feedback significantly reduced reading anxiety and increased emotional engagement, with effects persisting at four-week follow-up. Cultural individualism mediated autonomy gains more strongly, revealing 81.5% more effects in western samples. Personalization intensity accounted for 31.2% of the variance in intrinsic motivation, and biometric integration doubled the mediated interaction between anxiety and autonomy. These results support a Dynamic Anxiety-to-Autonomy Continuum Model, where culturally adaptive, physiologically responsive AI serves as a driving force for equitable reading development. The findings imply the need for inclusive edtech tool design and a research approach that is longitudinal and multimodal to maximize global learning outcomes. Keywords: Affective Computing, Anxiety, Cultural Moderation, Automated Feedback Systems, Emotional Engagement, Reading Motivation, Self-Determination Theory, Global Education,
Syntactic Complexity and Lexical Density in EFL Academic Writing: A Corpus-Based Investigation of Developmental Patterns
This study investigates syntactic complexity and lexical density in academic writing by Arabic L-1 learners of English as Foreign Language (EFL) through a corpus-based methodology. A 350, 000-word dataset of argumentative essays was compiled from learners at CEFR B1, B2, and C1, evenly distributed across humanities and material sciences. Automated analysis was conducted using the L2 Syntactic Complexity Analyzer (L2SCA) and AntConc, with Stanford POS tagging applied to calculate 14 syntactic indices and lexical density via the Ure formula. Results revealed a progressive developmental trajectory: mean length of T-unit increased from 12.87 at B1 to 19.04 at C1, while complex nominals per clause rose by 84%, surpassing clause elaboration. Lexical density also advanced from 48.7 to 56.3 with a competitive relationship at B2 (r =.32) shifting to positive synergy at C1 (r =.56). Humanities learners at higher proficiency levels produced more nominal structures than science learners. Multiple regression identified complex nominals and lexical density as predictors of writing quality, accounting for 58% of variance. Findings show phrasal complexity as a key marker of the academic writing maturity and designate B2 as a critical stage of linguistic restructuring. The research contributes to second language development theory and informs EFL pedagogy by emphasizing nominalization, lexical sophistication and disciplinary writing performance.
Instagram Stories as Literature: Narrative, Audience, and Form in Social Media Storytelling
In this paper, we will discuss Instagram Stories as a specific style of digital storytelling with its narrative patterns, interactions with the audience, and differences with other social media networks, along with the standard models of short narrative that are flash fiction and diaries. The paper utilises a qualitative content analysis method to analyse Instagram Storeys shared between March and May 2023 as a form of analysis of the essential elements of narrative, thus including plot, character, and interactivity of the audience. The overall result indicates that Instagram Stories are distinguished by their fusion of brevity, multimodality, and interactivity, creating a dynamic, participatory narrative experience flow. Contrary to sites such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitter/X, the presence of multimedia and interactive tools in Instagram enables more complex and flexible storytelling. Furthermore, the work demonstrates how Instagram Stories have additional features that are standard to traditional communicative narratives as they focus on conciseness and self-expression. Finally, this study reveals how Instagram stories redesigned digital storytelling, which explains how social media is changing the purpose of narration building. Keywords: Instagram Stories, Online Storytelling, Analysis of Narratives, Social Media Networks, User Engagement, Flash Fiction, Diaries, Multimodality, Interactivity, Comparative Analysis.
Hybrid Identities and Colonial Power: Negotiating Selfhood in Abdulrazak Gurnah’s Afterlives
This study investigates the impact of German colonial power structures on the identities of marginalised individuals in Abdulrazak Gurnah’s novel Afterlives (2020). It explores how colonial hierarchies, cultural displacement, and patriarchal oppression shaped fractured identities, while also highlighting the strategies of resilience and resistance that emerged within East African communities under German colonialism. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study applies close reading and thematic analysis, framed by Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism and Homi K. Bhabha’s theories of mimicry and hybridity. The analysis demonstrates that Ilyas’ tragic assimilation reflects the ambivalence of mimicry, Hamza’s selective retention of cultural identity illustrates the transformative potential of hybridity, and Afiya’s perseverance reveals the intersectionality of gendered oppression and agency in colonial contexts. Ultimately, the study argues that while colonial power fragmented subjectivities, it also opened possibilities for cultural reclamation and resistance, providing new insights into the psychological and cultural consequences of imperialism in postcolonial literature. Keywords: Abdulrazak Gurnah, Afterlives, German colonialism, Orientalism, mimicry, hybridity, identity, resistance, postcolonial literature, East Africa
Hybridity and Resistance in the Selected Works of Abdulrazak Gurnah and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o: A Comparative Analysis
This study examines the interrelated themes of hybridity and resistance in the selected works of Abdulrazak Gurnah and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, situating both authors within the broader discourse of postcolonial African literature. While Gurnah’s narratives often foreground the ambivalent negotiations of identity under colonial and diasporic conditions, Ngũgĩ’s fiction is rooted in the politics of linguistic and cultural reclamation in the wake of imperial domination. Drawing upon Homi K. Bhabha’s concepts of hybridity and mimicry alongside theories of cultural resistance, the research undertakes a comparative textual analysis of selected novels by both writers. The analysis reveals that Gurnah presents hybridity as a contested but potentially transformative site where fractured identities seek negotiation and renewal, whereas Ngũgĩ frames resistance as an uncompromising act of cultural assertion through language, memory, and collective struggle. Together, their works demonstrate how African literature both critiques the enduring legacies of colonialism and imagines alternative possibilities for cultural survival and self-determination. By juxtaposing Gurnah’s exploration of diasporic subjectivities with Ngũgĩ’s advocacy for decolonization through language, this study highlights the diverse strategies African writers employ to articulate resistance and resilience in the face of imperial power. Keywords: Hybridity, Resistance, Postcolonial Literature, Identity Formation, Cultural Negotiation, Mimicry, Decolonization, African Literature
Enhancing English Language Teaching through Technological Tools and Collaborative Approaches
English Language Teaching (ELT) in Pakistan faces persistent challenges due to large class sizes, limited resources, and diverse learner backgrounds. This study explores how technology and collaborative learning can address these gaps and improve teaching outcomes. Using a qualitative research design, the experiences of Pakistani educators and students were gathered through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and classroom observations. Traditional methods of instruction often struggle to engage learners and meet varied needs. However, the integration of technological advancements such as mobile-based language learning apps, virtual classrooms, and multimedia tools has the potential to enhance accessibility, personalize instruction, and encourage active participation. Furthermore, collaborative learning practices, including project-based tasks and online discussion forums, help develop essential skills such as critical thinking, communication, and teamwork within the Pakistani context. This paper draws on successful local case studies and examines both the benefits and challenges of applying these strategies in Pakistani classrooms. Findings highlight the transformative potential of technology and collaboration in ELT, offering context-specific recommendations for educators and policymakers to adopt these innovative approaches effectively.
Analyzing Positive and Negative Effects of Slang in Family Guy
This qualitative research aims to explore positive and negative effects of the slang used in the series “Family Guy”. The focus of the study is to identify and categorize the slang into different types based on the function they perform in an utterance, and the effect they have on the listeners. The study also examines the origin of the slang and the connotation associated with it. The review of the literature delves into the other relevant researches in the area of slang, considering the input of contemporary use and effects of it. It offers an insight into the etymology and various word formations that evolved during years. For analysis, the data are triangulated through a theoretical framework of a theory of effects of slang by Swanson and Golden (2010). The qualitative approach is adopted as research design. The data are analyzed through the postulates of the applied framework. On the basis of the findings, it was concluded that the slang used in Family Guy show is mainly negative and associated with vulgar connotations.
Closing the Gap in Corpus Linguistics: Introducing a Groundbreaking Multimodal Corpus of Informal Digital English, Encompassing Texts, Emojis, And Voice Notes
Mainstream English corpora, such as the British National Corpus (BNC) and the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), predominantly focus on edited prose and formal speech. This limited approach creates a critical gap in our understanding of everyday informal digital English, particularly in the dynamic interaction between text, emojis, and short voice notes. This paper decisively addresses this gap by proposing the design of an ethically sourced, balanced, and richly annotated multimodal corpus that thoroughly captures private-by-default digital conversations, particularly those occurring in messaging apps and group chats where English is utilized. This research provides an exhaustive review of existing corpus-linguistic methodologies and establishes robust design principles for sampling, anonymization, and multimodal annotation. Furthermore, it introduces comprehensive analytical pipelines aimed at examining lexis, pragmatics, sentiment, discourse moves, and phonetic-pragmatic features in voice notes. The study precisely formulates research questions and hypotheses, presents a reproducible methodology that includes comprehensive data governance and Institutional Review Board (IRB)-ready protocols, and delineates a meticulous evaluation plan. The proposed corpus, EDDE (English Digital Discourse & Emoji), is specifically engineered to: (i) model emojis and text as co-expressive units; (ii) operationalize pragmatic functions such as stance, politeness, and mitigation; (iii) capture prosodic correlates of stance in voice notes; and (iv) provide essential insights for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a second Language (ESL) learners. This endeavor will significantly advance both fundamental and applied corpus linguistics, closing the crucial multimodality gap in the field. Keywords: Corpus Linguistics, English digital discourse, Emoji, voice note, Text, digital corpus design, informal English.
Subtitling Tauntive Expressions in Pakistani Drama: A Pragmatic Analysis
This study explores the translation of sarcastic speech acts in the English subtitles of the Pakistani Urdu drama Chaudhary and Sons, with a focus on tauntive expressions. Sarcasm, mockery, and verbal irony are essential components of character interaction and humor in Urdu dialogues. They often present significant challenges in subtitle translation due to cultural specificity and pragmatic complexity. Drawing on Speech Act Theory, particularly the concepts of locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts, this research examines how tauntive expressions function in the source text and how their tone and communicative intent are preserved, altered, or lost in translation. The analysis reveals a consistent pattern of pragmatic dilution, where sarcasm is often transformed into neutral or factual statements. This article advocates for increased sensitivity to illocutionary force and cultural context in subtitle translation, particularly when addressing tauntive and performative language in audiovisual media. Keywords: Subtitle Translation, Sarcastic Speech Acts, Tauntive Expressions, Speech Act Theory, Urdu Drama.
International Testing Agencies: A Comparative Analysis of Global Assessment Practices
This study explores how international testing agencies and large-scale testing influence accountability, educational quality, and student adaptability. This study compares the performance of agencies such as Educational Testing Service (ETS), Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), the National Testing Agency of India (NTA), and the China Gaokao system to worldwide benchmark tests such as PISA, TIMSS, and PIRLS. A qualitative comparative study design was applied, including secondary sources (institutional reports, peer-reviewed publications, and global evaluation databases). Thematic data analysis revealed parallels and contrasts in governance structures, technology integration, psychometric consistency, transparency, and influence on international policy. The discoveries show that whereas the agencies such as ETS, UCAS place a premium on psychometric validity, and centralized efficiency, others such as NTA, Gaokao call on the reputation of large-scale national testing, but remain confronted by evenhandedness and impartiality. International tests such as PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS offer international standards but may be biased and excessively standardized. The paper concludes that international testing agencies play a vital role in education reform in the world, but should strike a balance between standardization and inclusiveness to achieve fair results. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17313760
Narratives of Therapy and Trauma: Representations of Mental Health in Contemporary Pakistani Fiction
This paper examines how contemporary Pakistani Anglophone fiction represents trauma, therapy, repression, and healing, focusing on Uzma Aslam Khan’s The Geometry of God, Bina Shah’s Before She Sleeps, and Mohammed Hanif’s A Case of Exploding Mangoes. Using trauma theory (Cathy Caruth; Dominick LaCapra) alongside psychological criticism, the study asks whether these novels normalize clinical therapy, treat it with suspicion, or refigure therapeutic practice in culturally specific ways. Through close readings and comparative thematic analysis, I show that formal strategies—silence and fragmentation in Khan, dystopian collectivities in Shah, and satire in Hanif—function as alternative modalities of psychic negotiation. Rather than foregrounding institutional psychiatry, the texts stage therapy as (1) protective silence that doubles as psychic injury; (2) clandestine relational practices that approximate working-through; and (3) humor and parody that operate as communal coping mechanisms. The paper argues that while Caruth’s notion of belated trauma and LaCapra’s acting-out/working-through remain analytically useful, they require cultural calibration: testimony and clinical recovery are not universally available or desirable in contexts marked by stigma, honor politics, and authoritarian risk. By situating these novels within both global trauma studies and Pakistan’s socio-cultural landscape, the study contributes a pluralistic framework for reading literary therapies—one that recognizes silence, solidarity, and satire as legitimate, politically inflected forms of healing. The paper concludes with suggestions for interdisciplinary work linking literary analysis to culturally sensitive mental-health practice.
Acting-Out and Working-Through: A LaCaprian Analysis of Trauma in Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe’s legendary novel Things Fall Apart is more than a story of colonial devastation; it is a meditation on the wounds that refuse to fade. As first advocated by Freud and later interpreted by LaCapra, trauma is not confined to a single moment. It lingers, recurs, and disrupts until it is compulsively acted out or consciously worked through. This paper situates Achebe’s novel within this framework of Dominick LaCapra and examines how trauma is inherited, reenacted, and sometimes transformed. While previous scholarship has analyzed Okonkwo’s psychology and the distortion of Igbo culture by colonizers, none has explicitly applied LaCapra’s ideas on the novel. Through close reading and engagement with LaCapra’s concepts of acting out and working through, this paper explores Okonkwo’s obsession with his father’s perceived weakness, which traps him in the constant cycle of repetition, collapsing the distinction between past and present. In contrast, Nwoye drives himself away from this inherited trauma, signaling towards the tentative but essential path of healing. Ultimately, this study argues that Things Fall Apart dramatizes the haunting persistence of trauma and also hints at the possibility of healing. Keywords: Trauma, Acting out, Working through, LaCapra, Achebe.
Linguistic Choices and Relevance of Essays Generated Through AI Tools: A Corpus-Assisted Analysis
This study aims to identify AI-based linguistic choices in various text types within the academic genre and to investigate the relevance of AI-generated text in performing the communicative function across informative and persuasive texts, employing a corpus-assisted mixed-methods research paradigm. The corpus for this study comprises AI-generated essays, classified into informative and persuasive text types within the academic genre. It uses Lexical Specificity by Hyland (2009) as a theoretical framework to synthesise the findings. The study's findings reveal that although AI generates genre-compatible content, a significant linguistic deviation from norms has been found in both the selected text types of the academic genre. However, AI tools generate more relevant content in informative writing than in persuasive writing, as evidenced by text-type-compatible linguistic choices. Thus, the study concludes on the reliability of the AI-generated content in informative writing within the academic domain. The study's findings could help developers enhance the outputs of such tools in the future, enabling them to be utilised by students in the academic domain, particularly in linguistics. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Corpus Linguistics, Linguistic Choices, Academics, Genre Analysis https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17328655
A Critical Discourse Analysis of Capitalist Ideology in Pakistan’s KFC Instagram Ads
The study aimed to analyze the linguistic and multimodal features of KFC Instagram selected advertisements to understand how KFC reinforces capitalist ideology within KFC Pakistan’s Instagram advertisements posted on 1st March 2025. Two culturally significant advertisements from 1st March, 2025, were selected through purpose based sampling. They were analyzed to uncover how linguistic choices, visual elements, and branding strategies promote consumerism, convenience, and brand loyalty within Pakistani context. Norman Fairclough’s Three Dimensional Model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was used to explore the interplay of language, imagery, and socio cultural discourse in influencing consumer perceptions and reinforcing market ideologies. Findings reveal that KFC constructs consumer desire through emotionally charged language, commodifies local traditions by integrating familiar elements like “Zingeratha” and “Karak Chai”. Also, it uses religious occasions such as Ramadan for commercial gain. Multimodal imagery and strategic use of brand logos and culturally resonant symbols further increase consumer engagement. Keywords: Critical Discourse Analysis, Capitalism, Advertising, KFC Pakistan, Instagram, Consumerism, Fairclough, Multimodal Discourse, Globalization, Ramadan. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17329252
Deforming Tendencies in the English Translation of Preemchand’s Kafan by Reeck and Ahmad: An Analytical Study
This study investigates the changes that occurred due to the translation of the original text (ST) of the short story Kafan, composed by Munshi Premchand in 1936. This story, originally composed in Urdu, focuses on the bleak realities of poverty and the struggles of the lower class in Indian society. The English version analyzed in this study is The Shroud, translated by Matt Reeck and Aftab Ahmad in 2004. Through a close reading technique and a qualitative approach, the study investigates selected passages from the English translation to identify deforming tendencies. The analysis reveals that certain deformities occurred in terms of syntax and semantics during the translation process. These shifts impact the stylistic and semantic unity of the source text. According to the theory of deforming tendencies by Antoine Berman (1985), translation often results in changes that reduce the beauty and spirit of the original text. The researchers found that the translator adopted many deforming tendencies to make the translation appear more admirable and clarified. In total, seven deforming tendencies were identified in this study including rationalization, clarification, ennoblement, expansion, the destruction of underlying networks of signification, quantitative impoverishment, and the destruction of linguistic patterning. The study analyzed these deforming tendencies and identified specific linguistic forms, including words, phrases, and sentences. Keywords: Munshi Premchand, Kafan, Matt Reeck and Aftab Ahmad, Translation studies, Deforming tendencies. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17361289
Exploring the Role of Peer Assessment and Digital Literacy as Tactics to Improve Reading Proficiency among ESL Students
In the 21st century, digital literacy is a vital skill for university students, yet many Pakistani ESL learners still face difficulties using online learning tools effectively, which affects their reading proficiency and engagement. This study investigates the impact of peer assessment-based digital literacy on the reading competency and engagement of ESL students in Pakistani universities. Using a quasi-experimental design, two groups of students were selected through cluster random sampling, with 30 participants in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. Data were collected through post-tests and a questionnaire, and analyzed using One-way ANOVA and MANOVA in SPSS 26.0. The results revealed that peer assessment-based digital literacy significantly improved both reading proficiency and engagement among ESL students. The combined effect suggests that integrating digital literacy with peer assessment enhances reading outcomes and active learning. The study emphasizes the importance of incorporating such strategies in higher education and recommends further research on learner motivation and institutional support.
The Weight of Quiet Grief: Intergenerational Trauma in Lahiri’s “The Third and Final Continent”
To explore how intergenerational grief colors the migrant experience, this essay re-reads Jhumpa Lahiri’s “The Third and Final Continent” through the lenses of trauma theory and the concept of post memory. Through careful silences, muted feelings, and jagged recollections, the story reveals the long reach of inherited and personal wounds, even as it outwardly tracks a Bengali immigrant’s orderly and outwardly successful ascent into American life. Drawing on Marianne Hirsch’s (1997) formulation of postmemory as the felt inheritance of parental trauma and Cathy Caruth’s (1996) argument that trauma eludes complete narrativisation, the analysis argues that Lahiri’s narrator carries, almost without knowing it, the unspeakable grief of his parents’ uprooting and colonial dislodgement, a grief that interfaces constantly with his own uncertain self and his tentative domestic life. This argument explicates Lahiri's favoring of subtle, non-stunning techniques—focalization shift, subtle details, the silence after the absence of accessible memory—over the overt showing of pain, thereby suggesting that the migrant's belief in a new start nevertheless holds under the inaudible knowing of inherited loss. The paper will engage with broader conversations about diasporic writing, the politics of cultural memory, and trans-generational trauma transmission via an, generally, contemporary trauma theory reading of Lahiri’s narrative.
A Morpho-Phonological Study of Inflectional Morphemes in English: The Case of Pakistani ESL Learners
This study investigates the morpho-phonological patterns of inflectional morphemes in English as produced by Pakistani ESL learners, focusing on short stories "Button, Button" by Richard Matheson and "Clearing in the Sky" by Jesse Stuart. Utilizing Chomsky and Halle’s (1968) generative phonology framework, the analysis examines assimilation processes influencing pronunciation. Results reveal that progressive assimilation, where the final phoneme of a base word shapes the articulation of inflectional morphemes, is predominant. For instance, voiced consonants in words like "eye" (/aɪ/ → /aɪz/) and "halve" (/hɑːv/ → /hɑːvz/) trigger voiced realizations of the plural morpheme "-s," while voiceless consonants in "chop" (/tʃɒp/ → /tʃɒps/) and "moment" (/ˈməʊmənt/ → /ˈməʊmənts/) result in voiceless articulations. Similar patterns occur with possessive "-'s" and third-person singular "-s" morphemes. These findings underscore the importance of understanding phonological assimilation for Pakistani ESL learners to achieve accurate pronunciation and natural speech. The study offers insights for educators to design targeted pronunciation curricula addressing these morpho-phonological challenges.
Style in fiction: A Stylistic Analysis of Historical Novel A Season for Martyrs ByBina Shah
Abstract: Stylistics is a modern critical approach that analyses and evaluates a piece of work with the tools, techniques and methods used in linguistics. The present study is a stylistics analysis of The Season for Martyrs (2014), a novel written by Bina Shah, a renowned Pakistani contemporary writer who has made a significant contribution in modern Pakistani English Literature. The selected novel shifts between past and present, depicting history, culture and politics in Sindh through a variety of characters. The main theme of the novel is love for motherland. Those who love their motherland and its people and are ready to sacrifice their lives are martyrs. The stylistics analysis has been carried out with the application of Leech and Short model (2007). It consists of four extensive categories i.e. Lexical categories, Grammatical Categories, Figures of Speech and Cohesion and Context. The study reveals that the apt usage of vocabulary along with figures of speech, local and foreign words and narrative style used by the novelist performs a key function in contributing towards the plot of the fiction. Shah has triumphantly dealt with the nationalistic tone through her extraordinary grip over the selection of vocabulary and patterns which otherwise could have been a challenging task to cope with.
Persuasive Strategies in Religious Discourse: A Pragmatic Analysis of Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza’s Lectures
The religious discourse is a critical tool of persuasion, as the beliefs are shaped and the authority is built. Amidst the emergence of digital preaching, rhetoric approaches have taken a new form in new communicative settings. Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza in Pakistan has become well known in his rational and reformist lectures which prompts an enquiry into the linguistic processes involved in his persuasive appeal. This study seeks to establish the key pragmatic measures used by Engineer Mirza in his religious talks and discusses how the pragmatic measures create authority and credibility in his lectures. Based on the Rhetorical Theory of Aristotle, this qualitative study uses reflexive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2019) on chosen lectures in Urdu language on YouTube. The themes considered in the analysis are the themes on ethos, logos and pathos in the lectures of Mirza. The findings indicate that the persuasion of Mirza is based on the use of rational argumentation (logos), moral integrity (ethos) and moderate emotional appeal (pathos) which allows his presentation of intellectual credibility and spiritual authenticity. The study emphasizes the fact that Aristotelian appeals are still useful in online religious, which complements the knowledge on persuasive pragmatics in contemporary Islamic communication.
The Perceptions of ChatGPT and Academic Integrity among Teachers: A Case Study of University Faculty in Pakistan
The present study examines the use of ChatGPT and its impact on academic honesty by university teachers. It uses the Uses and Gratifications Theory to investigate the perspectives of teachers regarding the use of ChatGPT, its potential overreliance, and the effects it has on academic stability. Data were gathered by applying qualitative design methods in which semi-structured interviews with purposely chosen teachers of universities were conducted and analyzed thematically. The results show that educators view ChatGPT as an effective learning resource that helps to optimize work and facilitate the teaching and research processes. They however raise concerns regarding overdependence on AI by students, lack of critical thinking, and threats to originality and authenticity. Respondents note that not only is ethical training required, but also institutional policies are necessary to help guide the responsible use of AI. The paper concludes that ChatGPT can be used intelligently in the academic field- innovation with maintaining academic integrity and trust. Keywords: ChatGPT, scholastic dishonesty, perception of educators, artificial intelligence, higher education.
International Climate Change Regime and Pakistan’s Response: Post-Paris Agreement
This paper examines the response of Pakistan to the issue of climate change following the Paris Agreement. It addresses the impact that the country has on climate risk as a security threat and its implication on its policies. The methods used were interviews and reading of the main policy documents. We evaluated the correspondence of the plans of Pakistan the National Climate Change Policy, 2012 and its 2021 revision with the expectations of the world and the needs of Pakistan. We discovered that Pakistan has done nice progress in initiating policy and preparation to climate change but still has huge challenges in implementing the same. These are the problems of inadequate funds, the issue of weak institutions and the interdepartmental lack of coordination between government policies. The research explains that in order to be effective, Pakistan requires stronger institutions, improved money alternatives, and political determination. Keywords: Climate Change, Pakistan, Paris Agreement, Securitization, Climate Policy, Adaptation Strategies
The Role of ChatGPT in Enhancing Pakistani ESL Learners’ Writing Skills
Artificial intelligence (AI) in education is a part of the ongoing development process, and its latest chatbot, ChatGPT is a part of it. This research investigates the role of ChatGPT in enhancing ESL learners' writing skills by addressing the following three main goals: (1) To find out the main perceptions of ESL learners to determine ChatGPT’s usefulness in enhancing their writing skills,(2) To investigate the ESL learners’ perceptions of ChatGPT’s ease of use in improving their writing skills among undergraduate ESL students, and (3) To measure the extent of ESL learners’ intention to use ChatGPT as a tool for enhancing their writing skills and to investigate the manifestation of this intention in actual use. Using cluster sampling technique, quantitative data were collected from 120 students of the University of Malakand (UOM) through a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Employing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the findings indicate a discrepancy between students' perceptions of ChatGPT and their real interactions with it. A lack of new technology literacy and inadequate application advice, low confidence, lack of awareness are attributed to it. The results of this study reveal challenges in adopting ChatGPT as a writing assistant and inform instructional strategies in ESL. Keywords: ChatGPT, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), writing skill
The Role of Language in Social Stratification: Examining How Language Affects Social Identity
In this study, the researcher has explored the role of language in shaping social class divisions and how language, through accents, dialects, and vocabulary choices, influences perceptions of class status in modern societies. Basedon Identity Negotiation Theory of Ting-Toomey, (2015), this research investigates how individuals use language as a tool for negotiating social identity, managing power dynamics and sometimes social hierarchy in everyday interactions. In addition to it, the study aims to answer two research questions: (1) What role does language play in the creation and maintenance of social class divisions in modern societies? and (2) How do accents, dialects, and vocabulary choices influence perceptions of class status? Moreover, data for this study was gathered through interviews with a diverse sample of individuals from different social classes, that provided a rich source of real-life examples of social stratification. The findings showed that language significantly contributes to social stratification, with accents and dialects work as markers of social class. The study also shows how individuals modify their language on the basis of context, such as shifting from formal speech in professional settings to informal language with friends. The research also highlights the continuing power of language in reinforcing class distinctions. It suggests that some individuals influenced by cultural, social, and educational factors, strive to change their language to align themselves with higher social classes. Furthermore, this paper actually contributes to the current discourse on language and social stratification and offer insights into how language shapes our understanding of class identity in both local and global contexts.
A Postcolonial Study of the Train as a Vibrational Force of Identity, Culture, and Hybridity in Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan
This paper examines how the train is used as a symbol of vibrating force that shapes and disrupts identity, culture, and hybridity through a postcolonial lens. In Train to Pakistan (Singh, 1956), the train is not only a mode of transportation but also a carrier of mixed identity and cultural hybridity. It is employed as a metaphor for the transformation and deconstruction of various communal identities, owing to the movement of passengers from different communities in the same train. The train carries Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus, following the same route with multiple mindsets and ideas between Faqiranwalla and Mano Majra. The main purpose of this research is to illustrate how the train, as a postcolonial metaphor, becomes both a unifying and dividing force. It brings together identities and cultures into shared spaces, while at the same time exposing the ruptures and traumas that Partition created. The study revolves around how the involvement of powerful outsiders plays a vital role in shaping the identities and cultures of these communities. It also highlights the trauma vibrating back and forth during the Partition between Muslims and Hindus. The train plays a vital role in harmony and disharmony of various communities. Although, with the passage of time, these trains turned into destructive forces. The train turning highlights the destruction with emergence of modernity. Key terms: Culture; Hybridity; Identity; Train; Transformation