Pakistan Languages and Humanities Review

Silenced Narratives, Enduring Wounds: A Feminist Examination of Trauma and Power in Anuradha Roy's Sleeping on Jupiter

Asma Rahim — 2024-09-30

This research paper examines the portrayal of women’s trauma and its frequent misinterpretation within the androcentric society, as depicted in Anuradha Roy’s novel, Sleeping on Jupiter. Through a feminist analysis of the novel, the study analyzes how societal norms not only shape the experience of trauma but also its recognition and authentication. The research is qualitative in nature and explores the concept of “insidious trauma,” and “secret trauma,” faced by the protagonist in the given novel which is often ignored due to the biased nature of the social and cultural norms. The research follows Cathy Caruth's concept of trauma as a methodological framework. The research concludes that the seemingly ordinary experiences, silenced narratives, and gender disparities significantly contribute to the inadequate representation of women’s trauma. This novel el can further be explored from the perspective of intersectionality to examine how race and d gender identity impact the experiences of abuse survivors.

Reconnoitering Khwaja Amir Khusrau’s Ambilingual Translingualism in his qawwali قوالی: Zihal-e- miskeen makun taghaful duraey naina banaey battiyyan زی حالِ مسکیں مکن تغافل درائے نیناں بنائیں بتیاں

Priya Anwar — 2024-10-11

This paper investigates the ambilingual & translingual stance by Khusrau’s (1253-1325) in his qawwali. Aitmatov, (1984) describes translingualism as writing in more than one language. Khusrau’s translingualism is analyzed from the vantage point of ‘yoking’ i.e., using two languages in one verse. This framework is used in Sufi literature, through Yoko’s (2003)’s ‘exophony’ and Aitmatov’s (1984), yoking. These involve using the Persian language in the first verse while Braj Bhasha in the second. Coding by Braune & Clarke (2006: 20-25) is used as a method to investigate tarnslingualism. Research on translingualism is mostly for Western languages. This paper contributes to Eastern translingualism, with Sufi transposition. The thematic analysis has shown the that thematic structures are universal for Western and Eastern languages. It will bring Western and Eastern corridors together for poets and writers from Eastern cultures who can use the findings to work on linguistic considerations of languages by producing trans-lingual texts. The future researchers are recommended to work on similar patterns on their own regional languages and discover similarities and differences in translingual patterns.

The Social and Psychological Impact of Migration upon Individual Life as Portrayed by Mohsin Hamid in His Novel Exit West

Badshah Hussain — 2024-10-12

The objective of this research paper is to examine various social and psychological aspects of migration in Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West. Utilizing qualitative research methods, such as thematic and narrative analysis, the study highlights the ways in which Hamid’s work supersedes xenophobic stereotypes and evokes empathy instead. This paper tries to achieve the goals to explain the paradox of racism and multiculturalism in Exit West so that the stereotypical image of migrants may be limited; understand the loss and the attachment and detachment to new identities in the context of displacement; and to analyse the relation between multiculturalism and geo-cultural integration through molecular exchanges in cultures that have no desire to become assimilated into the hegemonic culture. It follows that Hamid does not narrowly portray migration, rather embraces multiple dimensions of it: emotional experiences accrued as part of the physical movement, with the aid of magic realism enhancing the emotional progress of the migration experience of each character.

Lexical Analysis of Promotional Narratives on Social Media: Constructing Tourism Image of Pakistan

Muhammad Manshoor Hussain Abbasi — 2024-10-14

This paper analyzes the language in the promotion of Pakistani tourism on social media through lexical analysis. Through the repetition of words, phrases, and hashtags, the study deepens how language is being used to bring about a positive image of Pakistan relating to nature, adventure, culture, and heritage. Grounding is on the Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT) explaining how users seek and engage with tourism content to fulfill their informational needs and curiosities. The research utilizes keyword frequency analysis combined with qualitative lexical analysis to unravel words and associations defining Pakistan's scenic beauty, its cultural diversity, and opportunities in adventure. Results are evident, showing that hashtags and keywords play a very critical role in increasing visibility and user engagement, hence becoming an important lexical tool for usage. Trends of language in tourism marketing should be updated and followed constantly using strategic hashtags and keywords to increase interaction and enhance the digital image of Pakistan as a travel destination.

The Superhuman’s Transition to a Killing Monster: A Philosophical Approach to Frankenstein

Nouman Yousaf — 2024-10-14

This research paper explores the creature's nature in Frankenstein as transitioning from a superhuman to a killing monster. Through an exploration of human nature in the novel, the study analyzes how society plays a crucial role in forming one’s personality and how an individual changes owing to others' attitudes. The research is qualitative and offers a new way to analyze the unexplored reason behind the monster’s cruel nature. The research follows John Locke’s concept of Tabula Rasa as a methodological framework. The research concludes that the monster is superhuman but revengeful because of his master and the physical appearance of the creature misleads the characters and makes them treat him harshly which transitions him into a killing monster. The novel can further be explored from the perspective of eco-gothic to examine how disturbing natural order turns into horror and anxiety. It will challenge anthropocentric views and inspire ecological responsibility.

A Psychoanalytic Reading of Eustacia Vye: Exploring the Philosophy of Hardy’s Tragic Heroine

Qasim Ali Kharal — 2024-10-12

This research examines Eustacia Vye, the tragic protagonist from Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native (1878), through a psychoanalytic perspective, drawing on Sigmund Freud’s principles of the id, ego, and superego. Eustacia’s character embodies the profound internal conflicts that emerge when an individual’s desires, reality, and moral consciousness collide. The analysis examines Eustacia’s powerful id-led impulses – her longing for escape, passion, and satisfaction – which dictate her choices and steer her into challenging circumstances. This research is qualitative in nature and descriptive in design. Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, proposed in his works The Introduction of Psychoanalysis (1917) and The Ego and the Id (1923) is taken as a theoretical framework. The study highlights the complexities of human psyche in Hardy’s work, illustrating how the failure to reconcile desire, reality, and morality can result in devastating consequences.

Marxist Concerns in Anita Desai’s ‘The Village by the Sea’

Muhammad Ali Khan — 2024-10-15

Marxist critical theory views the superstructure as a reflection of the socio-economic conditions of a society. Literature as a manifestation of the superstructure is a tool either to perpetuate the hegemonic structure or to subvert the repressive ideologies which keep socio-cultural status quo intact. The foundation of the current research comes from the theoretical concepts of Marxist critical theory which primarily deals with the class struggle and resultant oppression of the proletariat at the hands of the bourgeoisie. An attempt has been made as to how and in what ways does the novel A Village by the Sea by Anita Desai reflect the socio-economic conditions and the resultant class war, poverty and exploitation of the working class in the backdrop of the novel. The study describes Marxism in brief and analyses Marxist elements in the selected fiction. Basic tenets of Marxist critical theory form a theoretical framework for this research. The study reveals class war and struggle of the proletariat against the onslaught of capitalistic industrialization.

Hegemony and Resistance in Aysha Baqir's Beyond the Fields: A Gramscian Analysis

Tuba Safdar — 2024-10-17

The research paper examines the themes of cultural hegemony and counter-hegemonic resistance in Aysha Baqir’s Beyond the Fields (2019). Drawing upon Antonio Gramsci’s theoretical concepts of hegemony and counter-hegemony, the study analyzes the text to understand how it positions its characters as agents or victims of cultural hegemony in a patriarchal society. The research is qualitative in nature and explores the complex and multilayered dynamics of hegemony in the novel’s postcolonial Pakistani society. The findings reveal that economy and culture play essential roles in the emotional, sexual, and social subjugation and dehumanization of the proletariat, especially women. However, Gramsci’s counter-hegemonic intellectuals like Zara and Umar give a sense of hope by revealing, challenging and subverting the hegemonic patriarchal structures. This study of hegemony in the recent Anglophone Pakistani novels like Beyond the Fields (2019) offers a foundation for future researchers to explore hegemonic power structures and counter-hegemonic resistance in fiction and society.

The Language Attitudes and Choices of English Language Learners at the University of Sindh A Comparative Study of Sindhi and English

Iram Sagheer — 2024-10-21

The current research study aims to analyse the language attitudes of undergraduate English language learners (ELLs) towards both (Sindhi and English) languages. It aims to investigate the language choices of undergraduate English language learners (ELLs) in different domains of language use. The study uses the quantitative research design, the questionnaire survey was distributed among 150 participants who were selected through purposive sampling. The results show that participants have almost the same attitude towards both (Sindhi and English) languages. Exploring their attitudes towards the Sindhi language. They stated that Sindhi is our mother tongue, it’s our childhood language, and it should be used in all domains of language use, it must be used in all domains of language use, nevertheless, they indicated that Sindhi should be taught side by side with the English language. Moreover, by exploring their attitudes towards the English language in comparison to the Sindhi language, the participants stated that it's important for them to speak English in all the domains. English should be learned everywhere because it’s the official language of the state. Knowledge of English made possible for them to advance academically, its necessary for their success in career. Lastly, they even declared that learning the English language improves their economic status.