Pakistan Languages and Humanities Review

Negotiating Identity and Confronting Racism: A Postcolonial Analysis of Mohsin Hamid’s The Face in the Mirror

Javairia Soomro, Dr. Muhammad Ajmal, Dr. Saima Yousaf Khan — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The main objective of this research is to analyze Mohsin Hamid’s The Face in the Mirror which highlights issues of identity and racism. This research is qualitative in nature and utilize a postcolonial theoretical framework of Homi K. Bhabha. The analysis is undertaken within the post-colonial context to show the struggles faced by people on a personal level as they search for identity in a racially defined society. The moment of the protagonist’s engagement with her image in the mirror testifies to the effect of society on the self, pointing to the origin of prejudice and the desire to be accepted in a certain kind of society. The research explores how Hamid portrays the identity of his characters as being in constant flux and dependent on special and sociocultural circumstances. The findings imply that racism and identity are testing, clarifying the complicated relationships that influence experiences of people.

Unraveling the Eco-feministic Perspective of Pakistani Drama Sultanat: A Critical Study

Munaza Javed, Abida Parveen, Gulzar Bibi — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The present study aims to explore a Pakistani drama entitled Sultanat through the lens of ecofeminism. The main objective of the study has been to explore the patriarchal mindset that does not perceive women more than a property or possession and usurp all their basic rights in the context of this particular drama. However, the secondary objective has been to reveal the way those female characters react to all these types of oppression. Warren (1987) Eco-feministic notion has been applied as the framework of this study. As for the sample is concerned, the researcher selected fifteen scenes from ten Episodes of the particular drama. The findings revealed the oppression of the female characters by the male protagonist who considered them his own property and wanted to maintain his firm control over their lives at any cost.

Enhancing Communicative Competence: Pragmatic Instruction in English Language Learning

Shafaq Khalid, Dr. Saira Maqbool, Kishwer Nazli — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The main objective of this study is to explore the use of pragmatics in teaching and learning of English at undergraduate level. Pragmatics is known as the science of language in context. However, pragmatic competence is not frequently given more concern in instructional approach to languages where the focus is mainly on grammar and vocabulary. This paper explores how pragmatic features including speech acts, politeness strategies and cultural relevance influence the language acquisition process among undergraduate students. This research is a case study and data are collected through interviews, questionnaires and classroom observations to evaluate the practical dimension of students’ pragmatic learning context. The findings raise the awareness of pragmatic awareness in classroom practices. This research offer recommendations in relation to the identified gaps that will enrich the discourse on how best to promote communicative competence and integrate a holistic approach of meaning and form in teaching English.

Analyzing Pragmatic Markers of Gender and Power in James Joyce's Araby

Dr. Ghulam Mujtaba Yasir, Uzma Safdar, Kanwal Fatima — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The objective of this research is to investigate the pragmatic markers in James Joyce’s Araby in connection with language and power. This pragmatic analysis explores the speech acts, and inferred meaning when the protagonist of the play interacts with other characters. Analysis reveals the protagonist’s youthful idealism as a result of the immediacy of conveyed information and socially constructed notions of gender. The study reveals how requests, directives and refusals are used in communicating power relations. The study also analyses how these pragmatic markers facilitate disillusionment of the hero and how Joyce framed the problem of perverted desires, power and established norms. This reading of Araby as a pragmatic study of communication as a social accomplishment provides a powerful appreciation of how language is used as a resource not only for symbolic interaction but also for manipulation of the gendered power dynamics in the story’s social setting.

Conflicting behavior between US and Afghanistan and Its Implications on Tribal Areas of Pakistan

Hassan Ali — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The US-Afghan relationship, marked by decades of conflict and strategic alliances, has considerably effected Pakistan, mainly its tribal areas. This paper employs Realist Theory to analysis the geopolitical dynamics between the United States, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, focusing the socio-economic and security challenges posed by Pakistan’s tribal areas. The study delves into key players of the US-Afghan conflict, such as strategic goals and power struggles, and scrutinizes the spillover effects, containing militant actions, refugee influx, and economic instability in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Pakistan’s realist approach, shaped by military operations such as Zarb-i-Azb, FATA’s union in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and strategic involvement with Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, reveals its struggles to regulate sovereignty and regional stability. Qualitative methodology is used also have secondary sources utilized for data collection, providing a detailed understanding of the interconnectedness of local, regional, and global dynamics encompasses these complicated triangular relations. The study underlines the importance of multilateral cooperation, economic resilience through initiatives like CPEC, and governance reforms in combating long-lasting challenges. This study suggests to address the interrelated security, economic, and governance issues in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the surrounding area by taking a regional strategy. Show a consistent dedication to and involvement in advancing regional security and stability. Put an emphasis on sustainable and inclusive development to raise quality of life, alleviate poverty, and advance stability in the region. To confront common security challenges, regional stakeholders should strengthen their counterterrorism collaboration.

Effectiveness of AI-Based Corrective Feedback in Improving Academic Writing Skills of IELTS Candidates

Nayab Waqas Khan, Madya Asgher, Amina Shah — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The main objective of this research is to explore the impact of corrective feedback that is in the use of artificial intelligence in enhancing the performance of IELTS prospective candidates in Lahore. The present study employed a mixed-methods research approach involving 30 IELTS candidates who used AI-based tools, including Grammarly and Writefull, to provide them auto feedback on their writing tasks for six weeks. The quantitative data was obtained through the pre and post- test scores. The qualitative data was obtained through interviews. The study establishes a clear demonstration of a positive effect in candidate’s grammar, their use of appropriate terms and the overall quality of their writing coherence and cohesion. The participants expressed their ability to modify their work independently using AI feedback with greater self-directedness. However, concerns including absence of the context-based recommendations and excessively strong reliance on certain AI technologies as potential pitfalls were raised. The findings of the study reveal that corrective feedback that is based on AI is useful in the improvement of students’ academic writing.

Self-Esteem and Facebook Addiction: An Impact of the Global Outbreak on University Students

Dr. Syed Murad Ali Shah, Dr. Syed Muhammad Farrukh Bukhari, Iqra Syed — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

Facebook has been instrumental in the lives of people; specifically amongst the students. The objective of the work underhand highlights the impact of the pandemic on the Facebook addiction and also on the self-esteem of university students. With an intent to check and prove a low or high degree of self-esteem particularly in university students due to the excessive use of Facebook especially after the global outbreak in the shape of COVID-19; 100 of students from the University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad whose age ranges around 19-26 were tested by collecting their data with two standardized scales namely Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem (RSE). The data analysed by computing reliabilities of scale, correlation coefficient, and independent-sample t-test. It is concluded that excessive use of Facebook activities during the global outbreak has increased self-esteem. The study also proposes positive use of Facebook, including connection and learning.

Role of Pakistan in Doha Peace Accord: An Analysis

Nazik Ali, Muhammad Saeed, Dr. Ghulam Mustafa — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This paper aims to analyze the role of Pakistan in Afghanistan peace dialogue, bring Taliban and US to the table talks, held in Doha in 2020. Afghanistan has historically been haunted by civil wars and invasions and peace in the region has been a subject to the peace in Afghanistan. The latest peace process-initiated years ago was completed by Doha Accord held in Doha, Qatar, between US and Taliban leaders. Pakistan being a spontaneous neighbor and sharing multiple borders with Afghanistan has always been keen in a peaceful Afghanistan. In the Doha Accord Pakistan has used its influence over Taliban to bring them into the talks. This qualitative research found that the role of Pakistan negotiating peace deal among Taliban and US was significant. Pakistan has been a key ally of US and also has a prominent influence over Taliban leadership since the war against Soviet Union. Using this influence Pakistan managed to play its role in the Doha Peace Accord. However, results of the article also found that sitting government of Afghanistan was ignored in this peace process and hence a participation of all stakeholder lacked. Therefore, it is recommended that Pakistan should play its role for intera-Afghanistan peace dialogue as well to hold a prolonged peace and stability in the region.

A Structural Manifestation of Barthes's Five Codes in Hussein’s Another Gulmohar Tree

Misbah Rehman, Dr. Amna Saeed — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The current paper aims to explore the manifestation of Roland Barthes’s Five Codes in the novella Another Gulmohar Tree by Aamer Hussein. The analysis of the novella is qualitative, and the theoretical framework of Five Codes by Roland Barthes is applied. Moreover, the methodology of Textual analysis by Alan Mckee is opted for the analysis of the text. The study results showed that all five codes, which are hermeneutic, proairetic, semantic, symbolic, and cultural codes, are present in the text. As a result, the codes play a role in enhancing the effect of the structural knitting of the novella. This research also features important writing techniques of Barthes to overcome the issue of ill-structured short stories. In the end, the study highlights Aamer Hussein's talent in creating a novella that contains important ideas and themes.

The Desire for Recognition in Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

Anila Masood, Samina Ashfaq — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This research paper analyses the different ways which the society adopts to categorise emotions, feelings and desires on the basis of the gender of a person. The paper investigates why the society does not accept those who do not adhere to the gender binaries. It highlights the biases of the society towards the feelings of gender non-confirmative and attempts to underline the ways these people are marginalised and treated as others. Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017) has been selected to probe the biases of the society towards the feelings and natural desires of gender non-conforming, employing Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity. Butler presented her theory of gender performativity to highlight that gender is a set of repetitive actions and not innate. She asserts that society has constructed gender roles and whosoever fails to perform their gender is alienated and othered. Research design is qualitative. Research approach is inductive. This study concludes that feelings and desires, being universal, should not be categorised on the basis of the gender of a person. The main cause of the issues that the gender non-normative face, needs to be explored and eradicated as a solution for a harmonious settlement. This novel can be analysed from a postmodern perspective of other theorists.

Climate Change and Geopolitics: How China’s Policies are Transforming Arctic Shipping

Javeria Kanwal, Muhammad Awais Khalid, Dr. Bilal Bin Liaqat — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This study examines China's Arctic plans through analysis of the Polar Silk Road initiative alongside Chinese Arctic infrastructure development and cooperation with Arctic states. This research investigates China's strategies regarding Arctic energy security while also advancing its trade competitiveness and extending geographic presence in this region. The Arctic ice depletion resulting from environmental changes created maritime opportunity through the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and Northwest Passage. The research utilizes its findings on qualitative analysis of trade routes that serve as core components of China's Belt and Road Initiative's implementation. The routes present faster transportation alongside economic advantages which change historical trading patterns. The Chinese Arctic strategy improves global trade networks but challenges assessments of Arctic governance obligations as well as environmental preservation and Arctic security procedures. These internal environmental and security matters require universal governance standards that balance worldwide cooperation against geopolitical tensions.

UK–EU Political and Economic Relations: An Exploratory Study

Eizza Riaz, Ayesha Naseem — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This study observes the economic and political effects of the EU and the UK. The phrase "brexit" refers to the process by which Great Britain left the European Union. Brexit is a significant political shift in the existing European political system. It affects both the UK's and the EU's political and economic future. Since its start, the UK has benefited from its participation in the EU. With the UK's vote and the EU drafting an exit agreement, the UK is scheduled to depart the union on March 29, 2019. It resolved its meanings and dimensions. Since many Britons believe that Brexit is bad for the UK, there are views opposing a fresh referendum on the matter. Researchers have examined and settled the economic and political implications of "UK and EU relations" in this descriptive study. Contextualizing helps the EU play a significant role in diplomacy, improve peace and prosperity, uphold fundamental rights, and adhere to international standards. In order to support economic progress, security stability, and the freedom of human rights, the European Union also implements policies to combat hunger and preserve domestic resources.

Identity Construction and Stereotypical Roles of Women in Pakistani TV Dramas

Muhammad Ali Khan, Dr. Nazakat, Dr. Muhammad Imran — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The article dismantles the representation of women by focusing on the identity construction and stereotypical roles associated with their characters in the selected Pakistan Television dramas. This study is based on the premise that these drama serials play an important role in constructing social beliefs and attitudes. By drawing upon the models of Fairclough (1989,1995) and Baehr (1980) the study analyzes the two popular Pakistani television Drama series of HUM TV, ZindagiGulzarHai and Hamsafar. As revealed from the analysis, traits such as freedom, boldness and outspokenness are associated only with the women of the upper class. The upper-class women are stereotyped as bad mothers but those from lower middle class are deemed as perfect in terms of the traits that can be idealized by society. The research suggests a more just and non-reductionist representation of women in general and upper class women in particular.

Cultural Connotation of Forbidden City Architecture

Wang Chao, Mahboob Hussain — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The Forbidden City, as the royal palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in China, carries rich historical and cultural connotations and is an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese architectural art. This paper focuses on the cultural connotation of the Forbidden City's architecture, and explores the cultural significance and value behind it by analysing its architectural layout, decorative arts and building materials. It adopts a combination of documentary research and fieldwork to explore the cultural connotations of the Forbidden City architecture through the combing of relevant historical documents and the fieldwork of the Forbidden City architecture. Through the study of the cultural connotation of the Forbidden City architecture, we can better understand the trajectory of the development of ancient Chinese architectural art and the change of aesthetic concepts, and provide useful reference for modern architectural design and urban planning.

The Role of Christian Missionaries in Colonial India: An Exploratory Study

Chaman Shahzad Masih, Dr. Ghulam Shabbir — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0500

During British rule in India, Christian missionaries made essential contributions through their educational institutions, medical facilities, and societal reforms. The analysis explores their educational work by discussing their foundation of learning institutions for socially disadvantaged populations, starting with schools through colleges to universities. These establishments facilitated literacy access to minority groups such as female students alongside lower-class groups. Through their hospitals, missionary efforts implemented contemporary medical systems and developed better medical facilities. The missionary movement conducted active campaigns against Sati practices, female infanticide, and caste discrimination, which later inspired early reform campaign groups. Indian nationalist leaders, together with Hindu reformists, rejected these efforts because they considered missionaries to be agents of Western imperialism. The research relies on qualitative historical methods to evaluate missionary documents, colonial archives, and academic publications. The research presents evidence of missionary legacies in Indian society that requires more investigation on their impact regarding post-colonial education and healthcare institutions and native Indian responses.

Gender Dynamics in Sorrows of Sarasvati: A Corpus-Based Transitivity Analysis

Samina Ishaq, Aisha Zulfiqar Choudhary, Ghulam Muhei ud Din — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The present study aimed to analyze transitivity patterns in the novel Sorrows of Sarasvati. The purpose of the study was to analyze how certain meanings were being construed through the use of particular transitivity patterns. By doing so, the study planned to explicate the representation of characters of both the genders, male and female, by the author. The study is mixed method in nature. For the purpose of analysis, four characters, two male and two female, were selected. The total of 120 dialogues, 30 from each character, was purposively selected as sample data for the analysis. The corpus of the data was compiled in text form. Drawing on Halliday's (1985) transitivity model, scheme for the analysis was prepared, and the transitivity patterns were manually tagged in UAM corpus tool. The frequencies of the components of the transitivity were calculated overall as well as for each character. Further, the frequencies across male and female characters were compared. The results revealed a complex nature of character construal for the gender. The findings suggest that female characters were observed to be using more mental, relational, and material processes signifying that the characters were a mix of stereotypical and independent personas. Interestingly, the transitivity patterns used by male characters seemed to defy the typical strong, courageous, careless, and independent image of masculinity. The study is helpful for the academicians, both teachers and students, and researchers interested in the field to explore patterns of transitivity along with portrayal of both male and female gender.

Subverting Gendered Identities in Faiqa Mansab’s This House of Clay and Water: A Post-Feminist Study

Javed Iqbal, Zainab Ayaz, Hafiz Adnan Riffat — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The present study is aimed to explicate the space for gender with assumption that how gendered identities are subverted. This research has analyzed Faiqa Mansab’s This House of Clay and Water by drawing on Nicola Rivers’ Postfeminism(s) and The Arrival of Fourth Wave: Turning Tides. The data was selected in the form of extracts from the different parts of the novel and were analyzed accordingly. It concerns neither with feministic nor misogynistic perspective but to repatriate a balance in genders, deteriorated by the subversion of identities. The significance of the study lies in the fact of urgency to redefine the gendered boundaries in the present societies. The chief objective of the present attempt was to assess the imbalance of space and subversion of identities for all genders. It also considers the pseudo feminists’ portrayal of women as vulnerable subject under observation. The basic concern of the present attempt was to evaluate the imbalance of space and subversion of identities in the present era. The results and discussions have rendered the mitigation of imbalance in genders articulated in Faiqa Mansab’s This House of Clay and Water.

Uzma Aslam Khan’ Trespassing: A Postcolonial Ecofeminist Analysis

Saima Bashir, Nimra Yasmeen — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The article examines Uzma Aslam Khan‘s Trespassing (2003) as a postcolonial text within the context of Vandana Shiva-influenced ecofeminism. Postcolonial ecofeminism is about environmental and gender inequities created by the legacy of colonialism and contemporary capitalism. The views of Vandana Shiva and Gayatri Spivak are combined here to understand how Trespassing addresses the difficulties faced by nature and women in the particular context of Pakistan. The qualitative method of research, close reading approach, ecofeminist and postcolonial literary theories are used to interpret the plot, characters, and symbolism of the narrative. By highlighting the ingenious knitting together of women‘s contributions to environmental challenges and power dynamics in postcolonial contexts, the study establishes what role literature can play in the fostering of a sustainable and just society. Hence a postcolonial ecofeminist point of view not only censures neocolonial practices but also attempts to inspire and embolden the resistance of the marginalized ones.

From Literal to Loaded: The Semantic Pejoration in Social Media Discourse

Uzma Khalil, Dr. Irfan Ali Shah — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This study aims to analyze the cognitive representation of the process of Semantic change in the politically charged terms used in social media. The study uses Conceptual Blending Theory (CBT) as a framework to explore our mental processes in social interactions to create expressions which are equivalent to the metaphors and are used in a completely different meaning from its literal one. The study focused on three popular phrases for analysis: "Molana Diesel," "Mujhe Kyun Nikala," and "Program to Warr Gaya". This research shows that the phrases used in social media change the meaning of the phrases used in the political context. Social media transforms political expressions, quickly changing their meaning in everyday public conversation. The term "Diesel" might be used to indicate the fuel; however, it has changed its meaning to refer to the person of a specific political figure. Similarly, “Mujhe Kyun Nikala” has a very general meaning however, it has changed its meaning to a specific political context, reflecting both literal and political meaning. The study concludes that the cognitive underpinning of these phrases used in social media leads to the change in their meaning associated with political context. This study also concludes that the metaphoric use of terms express cultural and political ideas while also offering a new perspective on cognition and social media. This research highlights the evolving nature of language in social media which leads to semantic pejoration. Semantic pejoration can further be studied through print media discourse.

Exotic Othering of Indigeneity in Khan’s In the Company of Strangers

Ayesha Afzal, Amina Abbas — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The purpose of this research is to analyze othering of Pakistani people and cultural markers, in addition to, oriental narrative strategies used in Khan’s In the Company of Strangers. The theoretical framework is based on Lau’s Re-Orientalism: The Perpetration and Development of Orientalism by Orientals (2009) and Huggan’s The Postcolonial Exotic (1994) to investigate renewal of oriental discourse with the materialization of new trends including the authorial repositioning and experiential authority of native writers. The textual interpretation is based on McKee’s Textual Analysis: A beginner’s guide (2003). The results of this research reveal that representation of Pakistani Muslims is replete with oriental othering through gender stereotypes to depict men as violent and women as oppressed yet seductive creatures. Moreover, it includes exotic portrayal of Pakistani culture, food and urban spaces as a paradox of sensuousness and mayhem. A re-oriental analysis of Pakistani poetry in English is recommended for further research in this area.

Sustainable Distance Learning in Higher Education: Exploring Artificial Intelligence's Role in Personalization and Engagement

Tayyaba Zain, Yashfa Tauqeer, Muhammad Sikandar Ali — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The present research uses the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) functions in higher education through onlinelearning in terms of individualization, participation, and sustainability. 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted to using a phenomenological qualitative technique to learn about the experiences of pupils using artificial intelligence-powered learning resources. Results show that AI improves classroom presence by automatic feedback, focusing on educational directions, and providing immediately educational guidance. While AI reinforces ability to think through dynamic models, personalized tests, and engagement components, it also improves interpersonal interaction by encouraging collaboration among peers and lowering isolation. Concerns around confidentiality of information, accountability, and bias in artificial intelligence, however, draw attention to moral dilemmas. Additional research on artificial intelligence function in learning through experience, interpersonal communication, and responsible leadership is suggested by the study. Future based on artificial intelligence education must prioritize inclusion, convenience, and human-AI cooperation in order to produce long-lasting, fair, and successful remote learning opportunities.

An Investigation of Stylistic Strategies in Wole Soyinka’s Telephone Conversation

Dr. Sadia Rahim, Muhammad Tanveer — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The purpose of present study is to investigate stylistic strategies in Wole Soyinka’s poem Telephone Conversation. The present research is mainly based on qualitative method. It incorporates Leech and Short’s Style in Fiction while focusing on different levels of stylistic analysis. The findings reveal that Wole Soyinka has very exquisitely employed stylistic devices at phonological level in the form of alliteration, consonance, assonance, onomatopoeia, contractions and rhyme in this poem. At morphological level, the poem contains inversion, compounding, backformation, slang and jargon. Capitalization is graphological deviation. At Lexico-semantic level the writer has employed different stylistic devices such as simile, hyperbole and hyponymy to convey deep meanings. Syntactic deviation in the form of parallelism and foregrounding play a great role. These stylistic devices contribute in conveying the overarching theme of racism. The present research is delimited to Wole Soyinka’s one poem it can be further extended to his other poetical works.

Evolution of Poverty Reduction Policies in China 1947-2020

Dr. Qu Qiumei — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0500

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, a series of economic changes have taken place, and anti-poverty has achieved remarkable results, during which poverty alleviation policies have been evolving in line with the state of economic development at different times. This study focuses on China's poverty alleviation policies from 1947 to 2020. This article adopts a combination of historical analysis and literature reading to systematically sort out policy documents and government reports from different historical periods. It also refers to journals and books on anti-poverty policies, with the aim of providing reference and information for the formulation of future anti-poverty policies. The study finds that China's poverty alleviation policies have achieved remarkable results at different historical stages. However, the policy implementation process also faces challenges such as unbalanced regional development and lack of flexibility in policy implementation.