Pakistan Languages and Humanities Review

Impact of Multiculturalism on Individual Identity in the Case of Muhsin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist: A Case Study

Badshah Hussain — 2024-07-01

The purpose of this research article is to analyze Mohsin Hamid's well-known book "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" in light of multiculturalism, utilizing James Troutman's theoretical framework. The main character, Changez, is a perfect example of how the author depicts concerns about racism, discrimination, identity crises, and violations of human rights that minority communities experience. In order to address racial, ethnic, religious, economic, social, political, and psychological aspects of multiculturalism, the research incorporates a number of epistemological viewpoints from fields such as sociology, anthropology, political science, psychology, and education. It looks at important issues, patterns, and debates in this field. The primary analytical method in this qualitative study is textual analysis, which provides interpretive insights into the research question. Thematic textual analysis is employed to interpret the intricacy; this involves steps such as familiarization, coding, subject generation, theme evaluation, definition, naming, and write-up. The book depicts a number of issues, including racism, identity crises, human rights violations, and prejudice against minority communities. Changez, the main character, serves as an excellent example. The results highlight problems like prejudice against minorities, the brittleness of institutional and political institutions, and the identity crisis that characters in the book like Changez go through. Themes of prejudice, rejection, and identity crises are also highlighted. In addition to providing aesthetic pleasure, the study suggests that more research into these matters enables a more thorough analysis of the text using a variety of theoretical frameworks, including psychological, post-colonial, deconstructionist, and cultural theories

A Study on the Use of English Language in on Urdu Novels: Literary and Sociolinguistic Implications

Saima Mukhtar — 2024-07-03

This research's main goal is to identify the linguistic variety in Pakistani Urdu Literature particularly present in Bano Qudsia's famous novels. Bano Qudsia is best known for her novels which explores the themes of love, morality, and spirituality and for language switching to portray the exact use of language in Pakistani societies. Her novels are beaded with language shift especially with Urdu-English fusion to display the real implications of diverse culture of Pakistani Literature. The constrained and open ended approach examines how Urdu borrows English terminology and shifts from one language to another and became the source of code switching and shows new diverse culture of Pakistani Society to show class by using Urdu and English side by side. By breaking it down into grammatical and domain-specific categories, the novel Piya Naam Ka Diya identifies the societal elements underlying Urdu-English code-mixing.

Implications of English Animated Movies on Speaking Skills of the EFL Learners

Maham Saleem — 2024-07-04

The research explores the influence of English animated movies on graduate-level EFL learners in District Rahim Yar Khan. It investigates the frequency of EFL learners watching English animated movies, their positive effects, and how they contribute to improving communication skills. The study also aims to identify teaching methodologies for incorporating English animated movies in EFL classrooms. The findings of this research includes the highest tendency of the learners to improve their linguistic skills have the potential to provide valuable insights for educators, language learners, and curriculum development in an increasingly globalized world. Likert scale questionnaires, post-tests, and pre-tests are used to collect data. Initial findings show that watching English animated movies improves students’ speaking abilities, indicating to the films’ potential as a teaching tool to enhance EFL proficiency. The results reveal enhanced speech skills and favourable opinions from the students. It is further reveled in this study that the use of animated English movies is helpful to improve the skills of the learners.

Academic Challenges: Development and Validation of an Instrument

Sabiha Zafar — 2024-07-06

The study was conducted to elaborate the concept of academic challenges and to develop an instrument to measure the academic challenges faced by prospective teachers. The process of instrument development started with the elucidation of the concept and phenomenon. Literature was reviewed and four factors namely Assigned tasks, Focused learning, Presentation and communication skills, and achievement results were identified related to academic challenges An instrument comprising of 18 items related to these factors was developed and administered to a randomly selected sample of 130 prospective teachers for exploratory factor analysis and to a sample of 600 prospective teachers for confirmatory factor analysis. The researchers concluded that Academic Challenges refer to the task difficulty assigned to students; they encourage students to get certain goals and polish their skills. It is important for institutions to keep measuring and updating Academic Challenges to achieve effective academic outcomes.

The Role of Literature in addressing Climate Change: An Ecocritical Analysis of Omar El Akkad's American War

Javed Iqbal — 2024-07-07

Ecocritical analysis of Omar El Akkad's novel "American War" examines how literature can raise awareness of climate change and its consequences. The study demonstrates how the novel's dystopian future of environmental catastrophe can spark critical environmental debate. Literature's power to transform society is key to addressing the global threats posed by climate change, which impacts ecosystems, health, and the economy. The qualitative study analyzes the novel's themes, characters, and story structures, revealing how it vividly depicts a future America devastated by climate change, rising sea levels, and ecological collapse. Dystopian stories like "American War" underscore the urgency of climate change and promote environmental consciousness in schools and society. Interdisciplinary methods combining literary and environmental science can further expand thinking and engage people in combating climate change.

Role of Environmental Education in Adopting Pre-Emptive Measures of Smog in Urban Areas of South Punjab, Pakistan: A Policy Review

M. Asif Nadeem — 2024-07-11

This article investigates smog prevention and mitigation policy strategies as well as the role of environmental education to adopt preemptive measures in Pakistan. Inhabitants of South Punjab (Pakistan) suffer from severe air pollution as a result of urbanization, industrialization, and agricultural practices. Existing literature on the effects of smog in metropolitan settings, as well as measures undertaken elsewhere, were evaluated. Specific challenges such as crop residue burning, automobile, industrial pollutants and interior air quality impacting smog levels were emphasized in case studies. Current environmental education programs in the region, as well as factors impacting learning, were also evaluated. The research concluded that environmental education, source reduction through rules, incentives, and community engagement are all necessary to combat pollution. Opportunities to enhance policies aimed at industries such as brick kilns and boost public acceptability of efforts remain. Environmental stewardship may be boosted through improved educational infrastructure and creative teaching practices.

Exploring Teachers’ Perceptions of Student Engagement in Pakistani ESL Classrooms

Nadia Khan — 2024-07-14

The aim of this study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of student engagement in English as a second language (ESL) classrooms in university. Several studies have been conducted on teachers’ perceptions of student engagement globally. However, there is a dearth of such research in Pakistani context. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 12 teachers teaching English to undergraduate students of semesters II and IV in public-sector universities of Lahore. The findings revealed that students from both prior Urdu and English medium of instruction (MOI) engage differently in an ESL classroom. However, students from prior Urdu MOI face more challenges in engaging in the ESL classroom. It is recommended that teachers should devise different strategies to engage students of both Urdu and English MOI to help them reach a level of autonomy where they can use English language in appropriate contexts in the best possible way.

Resistance Literature in Pakistan and Contribution of Kishwar Naheed

Gao He — 2024-07-15

The objectives of this research are analytical study of Kishwar Naheed’s work, her feminine writings and find out her the ways of resistance in her poetry and writings and highlights her experiences as women writers engaged in creative and civic areas. Literature always remains a mode of expression. In the country Pakistan where women have to face a lot of problems due to patriarchal norms, traditions, values and social discrimination. Kishwar Naheed (1940), a known poetess of Pakistan highlight the miseries of women in Pakistan through literature. She is known for direct and bold writings. She celebrates equal human rights, Justice and freedom through her writings. The names of her work are mostly feminine. She dealt with official, social and political backlashes. Poetry, articles and writings have chosen by the researchers to apply the Qualitative research method to draw some results about the status and role of women in Pakistani Society. Literature is mirror of society in which we can see the face of people. Literature is also the alternate source of history. History is not only reflected through achieves but also through writings of the contemporary period. The writings and poetry of Kishwar Naheed challenge patriarchy, social injustice, gender inequality in Pakistan. These writing paved a way for social reforms. This research also suggest the impacts of Kishwar,s writings in Pakistani society. Women became more conscious about their rights. Literary always paves a way for reforms and women get legal and constitutional rights in Pakistan.

Difficulties face by students of BS English in Literary Analysis

Atiqa Najeeb — 2024-07-15

This research paper investigates the challenges encountered by Bachelor of Science in English (BS English) students in analyzing literature. It focuses on difficulties such as recognizing symbolism, understanding historical context, identifying literary devices, grasping narrative voice, interpreting stage directions, discerning intended meanings, and analyzing plot structure. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving a comprehensive literature review and qualitative data collection through questionnaire conducted among BS English students. The literature review provided a theoretical framework for understanding the complexities of literary analysis, while the qualitative data collection offered insights into the practical experiences and perceptions of students. The findings reveal several noteworthy trends. Students often struggle to recognize symbolism, frequently misinterpreting or overlooking its significance in literary texts. Understanding the historical context of works proves challenging, with many students failing to connect the socio-political climate of the author’s time with the themes of the text. Based on these findings , recommendations are proposed to investigate how cultural background influence the challenges encountered by BS English students in literature analysis, considering factors such as language proficiency and exposal to diverse literary traditions.

Exploring the Effectiveness of Fleming’s Multi-Sensory Visual, Auditory Kinesthetic Technique to Teach Vocabulary at Primary Level

Hira Rafiq — 2024-07-19

Vocabulary learning is very crucial to be fluent in any language, specifically for second language learning. In Pakistan, teachers often rely on traditional methods like cramming or rote learning to teach vocabulary to second language learners. As a result, students associate words and their meanings with specific texts, limiting their ability to apply these words in varied contexts. To cope with this problem, the researcher employed Fleming’s (2006) multimodal technique which is the Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic technique to teach vocabulary. The research is an experimental study. Pretests and posttests are administered to examine the impact of Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic techniques on vocabulary learning of SLLs (Second Language Learners). The sample is selected through stratified sampling. There are 60 students in one class. This group is taught by lesson plans based on the VAK model. The pretests and posttests are analyzed through Rcampus rubrics. After marking them through rubric the data is analyzed through an independent sample t-test. Significant results have been seen that are indicated by p value which is .000. The research is helpful for language teachers who teach vocabulary to second language learners along with students.

Ideologies in Textbooks for O Level by Foreign and Local Authors: A Study through Critical Discourse Analysis

Muhammad Sheraz Anwar — 2024-07-20

Ideology is associated with a person’s belief system. The original impetus for the research study came from the need to explore the ideological manipulation and representation in Islamic Studies textbooks for the O level. To this end, this study focused on how ideologies are manipulated in the text and how the texts have been manipulated through ideologies. The study is exploratory and conducted through a qualitative research paradigm. Fairclough’s three-dimensional model is used to analyse the texts. Data were collected in the form of two textbooks of Islamic Studies titled ‘Islam: Beliefs and Practices’ by Yasmin Malik and ‘Islamiyat’ by David Thomas and Mustafa Draper. The findings revealed that the foreign authors used more linguistic devices of experimental values of vocabulary. On the other hand, the local author used more ideologically contested words and the experimental value of grammar analysis. It is recommended that the students should be provided with research-based content free from any kind of bias.

Gender Differences in Cognitive Learning Strategies in Pakistani Schools: Implications for Educational Practices

Sidra Shafi — 2024-07-20

This research analyzes gender equality in cognitive learning approaches among students in schools in Multan, Pakistan, and assesses their educational futures. The study seeks to evaluate how these variations affect students' educational prospects and suggests recommendations to cater this gap. The study examines gender differences in learning strategies influenced by access to resources, culture, and teaching styles by applying Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of cognitive development and learning strategies among male and female students. Structural data analysis tools such as standardized cognitive assessment tests, questionnaires, and interviews with urban and rural school students, teachers, and academic administrators are employed. These tools provide a comprehensive view of the cognitive approaches used by male and female students. The findings reveal that female students tend to engage more in cooperative learning and verbal communication, while male students demonstrate stronger inclination towards visual thinking. These gender-based cognitive differences highlight the need for gender-sensitive teaching models acclimating diverse cognitive patterns in educational access and cultural influences. The study suggests that effective interventions and policies in the Pakistani education system should address gender disparities in education and cognitive achievement.

Analyzing the Impact of Discourse Markers in Academic Writing: A Corpus-Based Approach

Rimsha Tarzeen — 2024-07-21

This paper explores the importance of discourse markers in promoting effective communication and discourse coherence in academic writing by describing their role. Through corpus-based research, different discourse markers are analyzed in various contexts by using AntConc (4.3.1). This corpus-based research revealed their role in organizing information, signaling the relationship between their ideas and describing the flow of conversation. This research examines the impact of discourse markers in communication, discourse comprehension and interpretation in academic writing by using a corpus-based approach. The findings of this research paper provide insights into how discourse markers contribute to developing linguistic coherence and discourse cohesion by highlighting their significance in academic writing.

The Unsettling Journeys: Exploring Uncanny Liminality in Selected South Asian Migrant Fiction

Aneeqa Zainab — 2024-07-22

This study analyzes liminal characters in the selected two novels by focusing on the Uncanny and liminality and its impact on the characters. The selected novels for the current study are, “When the Moon is Low” by Nadia Hashimi and “Exit West” by Mohsin Hamid. The present research work explores the elements of uncanny liminality in the selected novels by using Victor Turner’s theory of liminality (1969) and Sigmund Freud’s concept of “Uncanniness” (2003) as theoretical framework. It also looks into the impact of uncanny liminality on the personality of characters because characters have undergone a serious change and transition which ultimately lead to severe changes in the life and personality of characters. Furthermore it evaluates the relationship between liminality and uncanny and the impact of its interplay on character’s migrant experience and their journey. The study uses textual analysis and close reading techniques for collecting and processing data. The key findings of the study reveal that Fereiba Waziri in “When the Moon is Low” and Nadia and Saeed in “Exit West” are liminal characters as they leave their native lands in search of a peaceful and stable life. These characters undergo the process of migration and experience grave outcomes because it is a transitional process that involves significant mental, physical and spiritual transformation in the personalities of the migrants.

Depersonalization of Power: A Lexicogrammatical Analysis of a Legal Text

Amjad Saleem — 2024-07-23

This study aims at analysing the selected text i.e. a charge sheet letter, from three different dimensions–interpersonal (modality), ideational (transitivity) and textual (theme) (Halliday, 1994). The selected text is a charge sheet issued to an employee of a public-sector university in Peshawar for his non-compliance with prescribed terms of his duty. The selected text falls into two parts: the first part deals with the allegations levelled against the addressee for his failure to attend to his duties; the second part deals with penalties that might befall him in wake of his ‘disobedience’. The study offers a clause-wise qualitative textual analysis of the charge sheet and also anonymises the data by removing all references to the identity of the addressee or the workplace. The findings offer an insight into what Halliday calls ‘understanding’ of the text which in Hallidayan terms refers to the meaning(s), alternatives, and ambiguities. The analysis of the language of the charge sheet is focused on the construal of authority, control, and agency through the lexicogrammatical resources. Our investigation highlights the way the writer employs language as a resource of realizing power and authority in a legal text.

A Psychoanalytic Study of the Novel The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

Maleeka Zahra — 2024-07-27

The aim of this research is to perform a psychoanalytic analysis of Pat Barker's, The Silence of the Girls, with an emphasis on how the novel depicts trauma, silence, and the feminine experience. It also aims to study lack and desire as well as frustrated behavior of female characters of the novel. Specifically, via the lens of Jacques Lacan's psychoanalytic theory, the study aims to reveal how Barker's story challenges and subverts the patriarchal framework of Homer's Iliad by providing voice to the hitherto silenced female characters. Recounted from the viewpoint of Briseis, a Trojan princess who becomes Achilles' concubine, The Silence of the Girls is a version of Homer's Iliad. The book addresses themes of trauma and silence by reorienting the narrative from the normally male-dominated story to the experiences of women. This study uses a close reading of the book to examine the protagonist's journey. Using Lacan's theories of the Symbolic, the Real, and the Mirror Stage, the study investigates how silence in the story serves as a coping strategy for trauma as well as a means of resistance against patriarchal tyranny. The analysis shows that by giving voice to oppressed female characters, Barker's story successfully subverts the patriarchal rhetoric of the original epic. It illustrates how silence in the book is a calculated form of defiance against patriarchal systems that aim to silence the feminine voice, as well as a sign of trauma. This study advances our knowledge of how trauma, silence, and gender interact in modern literature, advancing both Barker's research and Lacanian psychoanalytic studies.

Representation of Cultural Values in Balochi Classical Poetry

Muhammad Yaseen — 2024-07-27

The study explores classical Balochi poetry from the 16th century onwards, tracing its evolution through different eras and highlighting key themes of bravery, love, and societal norms. The research methodology employs qualitative analysis, focusing on classical poetries from renowned Balochi literature works. Thematic coding is utilized to categorize and analyze recurring cultural themes, offering a deeper understanding of how poets represented Baloch cultural identity. The paper explores cultural elements such as the protection of "bāhoat," adherence to vows, the tradition of revenge ("Beirgiri"), and the social practice of "Shigaan" or taunting. The intricate analysis sheds light on the multifaceted nature of Balochi classical poetry, emphasizing its role as a preserver of cultural identity. The paper concludes by suggesting the need for further research to unearth hidden nuances within the poetic tradition and explore contemporary resonances of Balochi classical poetry in the context of cultural preservation and identity assertion.

A Qualitative Investigation of Blended Learning Practices in Higher Education Sector: Challenges and Future Prospects

Samina Akhtar — 2024-07-27

This qualitative research study aimed to examine the viewpoints of departmental chairpersons about the implementation of blended learning at public sector universities. The study focused on identifying both the difficulties and potential benefits associated with its implementation. A convenient sample selection approach was used to select a total of twenty (20) chairpersons, consisting of (9) males and (11) females, from three public sector institutions in the Multan area of Punjab, Pakistan. The data was analyzed using NVivo software to do theme analysis on qualitative data. The findings revealed a multitude of obstacles, including insufficient infrastructure and network-related problems. On the other hand, the research also emphasized positive possibilities such as improved availability of educational materials and chances for individualized learning experiences. The research suggested that promoting a culture of cooperation and creativity might help public-sector universities embrace blended learning more effectively.

Cognitive Poetics and Readers’ Experientiality in Contemporary Palestinian War Poetry

Shahida Riaz — 2024-07-28

War poetry voices the traumatic cultural productions and sensitivity through the formal, aesthetic and creative dimensions of psychical responses. A perpetual trauma is imprinted on the psyche and the cultural memory of the people living through wars. To witness the representative suffering, war poetry needs to be examined from experiential and embodied dimensions of cognitive perception. Mosab Abu Toha is an acclaimed Palestinian poet who represents his affective experiences, to lament over the displacement, loss and cultural clashes he witnesses, in his autobiographical poetry. The research highlights that Abu Toha, in his transitional poetic space of the selected poem, invokes the receptiveness of witnessing through the defamilairized graphic images and syntactic representation which are foregrounded. Further, the prototypical cognitive models in his selected poem are both situational and cultural. The research is significant in examining the embodied and experiential dimensions of language processing in the poetic space to encode the readers’ positionalities and the linguistic structures that invoke the specific perspective in readers’ imagination.

Analyzing Acculturation Strategies and Psychological Outcomes in Post-Colonial Narratives: A Study of "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" and "An American Brat" Using Berry's Acculturation Theory

Javed Iqbal — 2024-07-28

This research paper analyses the acculturation strategies and their psychological outcomes as depicted in postcolonial narrative. For this purpose, John W. Berry's Acculturation Theory is applied to analyze the protagonists in Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist as well An American Brat by Bapsi Sidhwa. It is a qualitative study that applies textual analysis technique to focus on the texts of the two selected novels. The research underscores the differential effects of these strategies in terms of their impact on cultural identity and emotional health by exploring Changez’s movement from acculturation to acculturation and Feroza's journey from separation towards integration. Based on textual analysis of the selected novels, these results illustrate how societal and cultural expectations powerfully shaped character experiences thereby showing that creating supportive environments is essential for a successful acculturation process within multicultural settings; with mixed findings about adaptive coping strategies. Here we have an insight into developing post-colonial identities and the nuances of navigating across cultures.

Portrayal of Gender Roles in the Saraiki Proverbs: A Sociocultural Study

Shaista Nadeem — 2024-07-31

This study examines the portrayal of gender roles in Saraiki proverbs through a sociocultural framework, focusing on the influence of culture and society on gender perceptions. The research analyzes a selection of Saraiki proverbs to uncover how they reflect and reinforce gender norms within the Saraiki-speaking community. Using sociocultural theory, the study highlights the depiction of both men and women, exploring the underlying values shaping these portrayals. The results reveal the traditional wisdom embedded in these proverbs and its impact on gender stereotypes and biases. The findings offer recommendations for integrating gender awareness into educational curricula and cultural studies resources. Additionally, the study supports initiatives for social change and contributes to preserving Saraiki cultural heritage. Comparative analysis with proverbs from other cultures is suggested to enhance cross-cultural understanding of gender representation, providing valuable insights for policymakers and advocacy groups addressing gender issues.

Smog and Individual Responsibility: A Transitivity Analysis of ‘Environmental Education’ in PCTB English 7

Memona Mujahid — 2024-07-31

This study aims to analyze the language of the ‘environmental education’ concerning the issue of smog in the PCTB Grade 7 English textbook and argues that a sense of individual responsibility can be imparted at an early age through educational texts. Halliday’s systematic functional grammar (SFG), particularly the transitivity system, as the analytical lens reveals that the first section of the text provides comprehensive information about the issue. While the second section heavily emphasizes human safety from harmful environmental forces and suggests practical measures, as evidenced by the frequent use of relational and material clauses. However, the essential message regarding individual responsibility and the negative impact of human activities on the environment is omitted. Hence, the text perpetuates an anthropocentric narrative, entirely focusing on and prioritizing personal safety over environmental protection. The study concludes that educational texts must address the issue of smog from all aspects to raise eco-sensitive and responsible individuals. Future investigation can analyze environmental discourse in Pakistani textbooks of various academic levels.

Postmodern Skepticism, Rejection of Absolute Truth, Cultural Homogeneity and Meta-narratives: A Postmodern Study of Naqvi's Home Boy

Muhammad Yousaf — 2024-08-03

The present study illustrates the postmodern world's cultural diversity, multiplicity, constructedness, and subjectivity. It examines shift in perceptions of Muslims in post-9/11 society and highlights the emotional setbacks in America. The incident of 9/11 turn Americans against Muslims and show suspicion for them in every respect. It highlights the rejection of meta-narratives of absolute truth, identity, and objectivity, which causes a shift in perceptions. To address rebellious traits of the contemporary world, Naqvi’s Home Boy is selected as relevant information to achieve objectives. The study employed postmodernism as a theoretical framework under a qualitative paradigm to reflect the way Muslims’ identity is manipulated and exploited against them. Belsey's textual analysis (2013) guides the study, ensuring analysis beyond the surface level. The study reveals that Muslims' perceptions shift because of the biased and suspicious treatment they receive. Furthermore, metanarratives are challenged, which in turn favoured multiplicity, subjectivity, cultural heterogeneity, and constructedness in the contemporary era. Based on the results of the study it is concluded that Naqvi’s Home Boy can be investigated from perspectives of intersectionality and psychological lens.

A Postmodern Analysis of Film Adaptation of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple

Farrukh Moin — 2024-08-04

This paper analyzes the cinematic adaptation of Alice Walker's novel The Color Purple through Linda Hutcheon's A Theory of Adaptation, focusing on the disparities between the original text and Steven Spielberg's film version. It explores how the adaptation process modifies or reinterprets the novel, particularly regarding resistance, reconstruction, and Black literary themes. The study employs qualitative, descriptive, analytical, and applied methodologies, including Hutcheon's theory, Karen Gocsik's Writing about Movies, and other sources to assess the film's accuracy. The analysis reveals significant differences in the portrayal of gender, cinematography, visuals, clothing, and setting, with the film emphasizing subplots to appeal to mainstream audiences. The findings highlight the impact of adaptation choices on audience interpretation and suggest the need for further research on how such decisions influence the preservation or alteration of original themes, potentially expanding to other literary works adapted into films.

Sovereigns of the Primitive: The Rise and Fall of Kurtz and Jack

Muhammad Yousaf Khan — 2024-08-05

This paper examines the thematic parallels between Kurtz from Heart of Darkness, and Jack from Lord of the Flies focusing on their descent from civilization to savagery. Both characters, in spite of their different social backgrounds, ages, and circumstances, expose the fragility and inherent vulnerability of civilization when individuals are kept in isolation, and removed from the societal norms, mores, and other social structures that sustain harmony and order in human society. Through this comparative analysis, the study explores the inherent forces that prompt their moral degradation, highlighting the broader themes of human nature and psyche, the debasing impact of unrestrained power, and the ultimate collapse of civilization. The study highlights the similar routes of both characters, illustrating how absolute power and lack of external checks contribute to their moral degradation. The findings suggest the significance of further scrutinizing these forces to better understand the dynamics of morality and power in isolated environments.

Gender-Based Analysis of Healthy Lifestyle Patterns and Healthy Habits of University Students

Shazia Zamir — 2024-08-08

University students often find it difficult to keep a healthy balance between academic demands and personal well-being. Adopting a healthy way of life is significant for their physical and mental health. This research aimed to analyze and assess university students' healthy lifestyle patterns in the context of gender. Data was collected from 75 students of B.Ed (Hons) through a questionnaire based on indicators of life style patterns and habits. The study found that most students have regular mealtimes with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Students eat fruits and vegetables, but rarely eat fast food. Majority has less sleep hours, low water intake, and rarely engages in physical activity. There is difference among male and female students in use of screen entertainment and experience moderate stress levels, with infrequent use of stress management techniques. The study suggested that universities should implement programs to promote healthy lifestyles for all students.

Orchestrating a Palestinian Holocaust: Navigating Trauma and Healing through Subversive Storytelling in Gaza Writes Back

Laiba Shahid — 2024-08-10

This paper explores the psychoanalytic dimensions of Gaza Writes Back through Dominick LaCapra's concepts of "acting out" and "working through," focusing on themes of trauma, memory, and resistance. "Acting out" refers to the compulsive repetition of traumatic experiences, trapping individuals in cycles of psychological suffering. In contrast, "working through" involves confronting and processing these experiences, allowing for mourning and potential healing. Applying these concepts to Gaza Writes Back, the paper examines the role of personal and collective trauma in shaping the psychological landscape of Gazans, with literature serving as a powerful tool for resistance and recovery. While "acting out" illustrates the re-living of past horrors, storytelling as a form of "working through" enables introspection and the navigation of grief. This paper highlights the capacity of literature to amplify marginalized Gazan voices, foster resilience, and offer a path toward healing in the face of the enduring impacts of war.

Job Stress and Work Well-Being: A Mediating Role of Turnover Intention

Iqra Ramzan — 2024-08-10

The present study investigates the mediating role of turnover intention in the relationship between occupational stress and work well-being. Occupational stress poses a significant threat to employees' psychological well-being and turnover intention, with far-reaching implications for organizational productivity and economic growth. Despite growing concerns, the complex relationship between occupational stress, work well-being, and turnover intention remains unclear. A quantitative-survey design was employed and to evaluate the variables of study. The total number of participants in the study was 201, aged 18 to 60, and all working. The result showed the significant mediating effect of turnover intention on the relationship between job stress and work-life well-being (p<0.05). The study’s result stressed the significance of managing job stress and facilitating employee well-being. This underscores the importance of managing job-stress and promoting wellbeing, revealing a complex interplay between stress, well-being, and turnover-intentions. This highlights the need for a comprehensive approach for promoting employee-wellbeing to foster a healthier and more sustainable work environment

Female Sexuality and Social Stigma: A Corpus-Driven Stylistic Analysis of Hardy’s Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Masroor Sibtain — 2024-08-12

In Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Hardy gives a piteous picture of the much talked about relationship between the creation of feminine sexual desire and the social sense of shame, through the character of Tess Durbeyfield. This study utilized AntConc software to extract the keywords’ collocations and clusters and then interpreted the results using the Mahlberg model (2013). It focused on analyzing the culture of Victorian England that punished women severely for violating the cultural sexual morality standards. Thus, the fate that befell Tess brought society’s misogynistic practices that subjugate and exclude women to an impeachment. Through the story told by the protagonist Tess, the author captures the existing societal injustice, where women’s virtue – their virginity is valued, while their sin – their sexuality, is punished. The findings of the study will benefit students of literature by looking at how authors encode meaning through simple linguistic features.

The Impact of Emojis on Text Perception: A Descriptive Analysis of WhatsApp Users

Mobeen Khalid — 2024-08-14

Social media platforms have become central to millennial communication, influencing emotions and behaviors despite their virtual nature. Emojis, ubiquitous social media cues, are often viewed as replacements for vocal tone. This study investigates the manipulative effect of emojis on user perception of textual messages. A series of experiments explored the interplay between text comprehension and emoji use. The research aimed to elucidate the motivations behind emoji usage and the impact of incongruent emojis (emoticons that contradict the message) on the recipient's mental state. Employing a theatrical perspective, the study conducted experiments with 50 participants using convenient sampling method. The results of the study clearly demonstrated that the usage of emojis intensifies the effect of message. The positive message shown to the respondents was perceived as more positive with the addition of cheerful and happy emojis. Similarly, the negative message was more inclined to the perception of negative or discouraging emojis. These findings were especially pronounced for the control group where the respondents perceived the message as slightly positive. It was found that using more emojis with the text message amplifies the perception of emojis. the negative emojis increase the negative effect of message and positive emojis intensify the positive perception of message. Future studies should explore the long-term psychological impacts of emoji use in digital communication and consider how this phenomenon can be leveraged for more effective emotional engagement in both personal and professional contexts.

Role of English Textbooks in Language Skills Development: A Case Study Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Inam Ullah Khan — 2024-08-14

The objectives of the study are to investigate how secondary school teachers view secondary textbooks in relation to the English Curriculum 2006's stated goals, and to identify the issues faced by teachers in using the textbooks to achieve the curriculum’s communicative goals. The study investigates the perception of secondary school teachers towards effectiveness of English textbooks (Grades IX–X) in realizing the language learning objectives delineated in English Curriculum for Secondary Level in Pakistan. Employing a Mixed Methods approach with an Explanatory Sequential design. The findings reveal a generally positive view among teachers on the effectiveness of English textbooks various aspects. The secondary school teachers also expressed satisfaction with how textbooks align with the stated aims of English Curriculum 2006. However, some challenges were identified. The research makes the following recommendations to close these gaps and improve language instruction at the secondary level: upgrading textbooks, offering focused teacher training, and including more interactive activities.

Dichotomy of Destiny: Unveiling Class Struggle in The School for Good and Evil

Hajira Khalid Sair — 2024-08-14

The objective of this research is to explore the theme of dichotomy of destiny and class struggle in Soman Chainani’s The School for Good and Evil. The methodology employed in this study is a qualitative content analysis, focusing on character arcs, plot developments, and symbolic representations of class dynamics. Close readings of the text are paired with Marxist theory to reveal the underlying economic and social tensions, particularly examining how the binary of "good" and "evil" mirrors the real-world polarization of social classes. The study concludes that The School for Good and Evil subverts traditional fairy-tale narratives by questioning the legitimacy of predestined social roles and the fairness of rigid class systems. It reveals that the concept of "destiny" within the novel serves as a metaphor for the deterministic forces shaping individuals' socio-economic status, offering a critique of class inequalities in both fictional and real-world contexts.

Secular Hermeneutics and Sacred Text: A Case Study of Reformist Translation of the Quran

Syeda Iqra Shabbir — 2024-08-16

This research examines the dynamics and interpretative concepts in Quran: A Reformist Translation by Edip Yuksel, Layth Saleh al-Shaiban, and Martha Schulte-Nafeh, emphasising the translators' influence on Quranic discourse. The translation employs a modernist viewpoint, contrasting the conventional interpretations by Yusuf Ali, Pickthall, and Shakir. Two principal enquiries are examined: Do we need Muhammad (PBUH) to understand the Quran?” and the second one is “Was Muhammad (PBUH) illiterate? Fairclough's three-dimensional model of critical discourse analysis is utilised to compare interpretations and paratextual elucidations. The study demonstrates the translators' ideological influence on the text; the produced translation is the parallel discourse and the translators seem present in the translations. Translators have manipulated the original text and translated it according to their views and ideologies. Subsequent research should investigate the effect of translator ideology on religious texts and its implications for interpretation.

Potential Drawbacks of Automated Paraphrasing Tools: Performance of QuillBot in Paraphrasing of Headline Discourse

Arshad Mehmood — 2024-08-16

Revolution in development of automated paraphrasing tools (APTs) has brought drastic change in paraphrasing text particularly through QuillBot. Studies indicate that performance of this tool is highly satisfactory. However, QuillBot has certain drawbacks that affect the paraphrased text such as it neutralizes the text by replacing subject with general statement, breaks appealing potential of text, confuses the context of the headline text, and increases number of words of the paraphrased text. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the performance of QuillBot. So, headlines from The Washington Post and The Times were selected randomly as data and were analysed on self-designed conceptual framework based on four standards namely neutralization, de-contextualization, semantic difference and violation of brevity of the text. The study found that there is 50% accuracy of QuillBot with respect to standard 1 and standard 2. Standard 3 showed 40% accuracy while standard 4 showed 99% accuracy.

Translating Humor: Cross-Cultural Challenges in Ramona Quimby Series

Mariya Gul Sittara — 2024-08-17

This paper seeks to identify and analyze potential difficulties in humor translation in children's books, specifically, Beverly Cleary's Ramona Quimby series, translated by Parvin Alipour into Persian. This paper looks at the influence of culture and language in the translation of humor using Newmark's cultural translation frameworks and Attardo's General Theory of Verbal Humor(GTVH). The socio-cultural context of the Ramona Quimby series, framed in the mid-twentieth-century American middle class, can be viewed as problematic regarding translation with special reference to Cultural-Specific Items and idiomatic expressions. The paper's research entails the comparison of both the English and Persian versions, along with identifying certain translation techniques, which include functional transferral, word-for-word translation, and condensation/expansion. Results indicate that the humorsome cannot be translated because it may contain cultural incongruity, but a majority of the humor can indeed be translated. Future studies should be directed toward a better understanding of the research methodology of humortranslation and the ways of employing humor in children's books to facilitate intercultural understanding while preserving the educational and recreational goals of the books.

Dream as a Gateway to the Collective Unconscious: A Jungian Interpretation of Ato’s Dream in The Dilemma of a Ghost

Minhal Sarfraz — 2024-08-17

This paper undertakes a psychoanalytical exploration of Ato's dream in The Dilemma of a Ghost, intricately framed within Carl Jung's theoretical construct of the collective unconscious. Ato's journey to Elmina and Cape Coast—historical sites of the transatlantic slave trade—signifies inherited trauma within the collective unconscious. These locations transcend personal experience, embodying ancestral and historical pain. Through Jungian archetypes, the dream reflects Ato’s psychological transformation as he grapples with suppressed aspects of his ancestral past. The coast in the dream symbolizes the threshold between conscious and unconscious, revealing Ato’s confrontation with his darkness and post-colonial identity. This dreamscape, charged with historical meaning, illustrates the tension between individual and collective identity, portraying Ato’s inner journey toward self-discovery amid the enduring shadows of colonialism.