Pakistan Languages and Humanities Review

The Masks We Wear: False Self as a Response to Existential Isolation in No Longer Human

Momal Masood Malik, Saima Bashir — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This research analyses Yozo Oba, the protagonist of Osamu Dazai’s No Longer Human (1958) and his existential dilemma of isolation alongside his need to belong. Such a conflict creates anxiety, leading to fabricated personas, and the study investigates its sociological impacts as well as Yozo’s lack of resolution. Through the application and integration of Irvin Yalom’s existential isolation and Donald Winnicott’s false self, the study interprets Yozo as ultimately hiding behind the mask of this false self and failing to realise his truth. The research employs close reading and qualitative analysis of the text to reveal that in a world littered with elaborate facades and social pressures, to be human is to embrace one’s truth, cast off one’s mask and navigate the delicate balance between isolation and Additional research is required to explore the relationship between existential isolation and the false self and its representation within the literary domain.

Postcolonial Feminism and the Collapse of the American Dream: A Postwomanial Comparative Analysis of Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Asma Mustafa — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

Within Western feminist discourse, in reaction to the constraints of traditional narratives, postcolonial feminism scrutinizes the interconnectedness of gender, race, and histories of colonialism (Mohanty, 1988). This study analyze how Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah and Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things use narrative disruption to challenge hegemonic structures and illuminate the exclusions implicit in dominant ideologies, like the American Dream, respectively. From the approach of a postcolonial feminism analysis, this allows ways of understanding both Feed - Ifemelu in this novel and Ammu as an object whose identity is shaped by the systemic inequalities relative to race, class, and gender. Ifemelu’s disillusionment with the myth of the American meritocracy and Ammu’s marginalization in patriarchal India are both instances of the imposing restrictions of imperial and patriarchal systems. Collectively, these works make visible the significance of recognizing lang/hter feminist paradigms and a call to rediscover that includes global stories often framed as exclusionary due to the palladiums of feelings of progress and success.

Delving into Speech Act of Suggestion: A Case of Pakistani EFL Learners

Dr. Asra Irshad, Dr. Nadeem Haider Bukhari — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

Pragmatic instruction specially related to speech acts focuses on providing awareness to the language learners to determine language functions in different social contexts for the enhancement of their pragmatic skills. This study examines the use of suggestion strategies in English by Pakistani EFL learners. The results of the study show some differences in the pragmatical and grammatical appropriateness as well as in the use of some suggestion strategies between first year and final year EFL Pakistani learners at bachelor’s level. The study reveals no significant difference in the preferences of major suggestion strategies by both male and female Pakistani EFL learners. Interestingly, the female learners were observed to use more softened categories of suggestions than the male students, whereas the male students were observed to use more direct categories of suggestions than the female learners. The study also indicates that Pakistani EFL learners often suggest in English and are aware of the status differences for using suggestion strategies in English. The study implies the incorporation of pragmatic instruction of speech acts in ESL courses in Pakistan.

Metacognitive Awareness and Its Effect on Reading Comprehension among Intermediate ESL Students

Sajida Nazar, Dr. Haroon ur Rashid — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The aim of this study is to provide a detailed analysis of the effectiveness of metacognitive strategies on reading comprehension skills among intermediate students. Reading comprehension plays pivotal role in academic achievements; however, many students face challenges like; extracting relevant information, summarizing text, and vocabulary issues. In order to access these issues a quasi-experimental research approach is adopted, which involves pre and post-tests assessments of control and experimental groups. In the intervention phase, the control groups were taught through traditional method, while the experimental groups were taught using metacognitive strategies. T-test was used to find the differences among both the groups through statistical means. The results show that after the intervention phase, experimental group showed significant improvement. Hence, it was devised from the results that metacognitive strategies should be applied to improve reading comprehension skills, instead of teaching traditionally. English language teachers should include metacognitive strategies in their lesson plans to improve reading comprehension skills.

Legal Strategies for Addressing the Environmental Challenges: A Pathway to Sustainable Governance in Pakistan

Shuhab Ud Din Shaikh, Rabel Mangi, Khuram Abro — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The article examines the legal systems and sustainable governance practices Pakistan uses to handle environmental crises. The implementation of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act of 1997 meets financial support requirements but suffers from inadequate institutional capabilities and weak enforcement ability thus diminishing its operational effectiveness. This research examines environmental law effectiveness in present times before proposing governance development strategies. Legal and policy documents serve as the basis for qualitative research conducted by authors who demonstrate that institutional capacity together with public involvement and standard adherence play central roles. The analysis shows emergency regulatory shortcomings that need advanced institutional systems and better public knowledge. The paper points out that environmental problems need customized legal treatment. Environmental sustainability and governance management in Pakistan needs development of three fundamental elements which include accountable systems alongside transparent operational procedures and institutional resilience for enduring administration.

Translation and Validation of Basic Need Satisfaction in General Scale

Syeda Asma Gillani, Palwasha Nasir Abbasi, Sara Taj — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

Using Pakistani teenagers, the current research aimed to convert and validate the Basic Need Satisfaction in General (BNSG) scale into Urdu. In line with Brislin's (1980) theory, the translation included forward translation, backward translation, and expert group review to verify cultural and conceptual suitability. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was run on data from 200 teenage to verify the construct validity of the Urdu version. The model displayed a good fit after eliminating one item with a negative factor loading and adding error covariances because of item overlap; hence, the structural validity of the modified scale was confirmed (CFI = .96, TLI = .93, RMSEA = .052). The results indicate that the Urdu translation of BNSG is a psychometrically strong instrument for gauging psychological demands in Pakistani youth. Recommendations suggest that future studies should confirm the scale over many territories and age groups in Pakistan and use longitudinal and mixed method designs for more extensive applicability and more full cultural adaptation.

A left Critique of Neoliberalism and Resistance in Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Ayaz Muhammad Shah, Muhammad Sheeraz — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

Neoliberalism, as a latest phase of capitalism, is countered by the recent left. Using the paradigm of the recent left critique that is a kind of “neo-Marxist” critique against neoliberalism, the present study aims to investigate the novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist’s critique and resistance towards neoliberalism. According to the left critique, neoliberalism advances the interests of corporate elites, dominant groups and states and has negative consequences for the working classes and peripheral societies that ultimately results in schism. The findings shows that the novel reveals that neoliberalism promotes the wellbeing of prosperous corporations and the leading states, and it has negative implications for the working class and third-world countries. Consequently, neoliberalism engenders oppositions among the downtrodden towards the rich. The study is handy in exploring the contemporary left critique of neoliberalism in art works, particularly, in Anglophone Pakistani writings. Thus it is suggested to carryout further research in the area.

Translation and Validation of Parent as Social Context (Child Report) Scale

Syeda Asma Gillani, Palwasha Nasir Abbasi, Marwa Khan — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The objective of this study was to translate the Parent as Social Context Questionnaire (Child Form) into Urdu and to culturally adapt and validate it for use in Pakistan. This is important because culturally appropriate tools are needed for assessment. After translation as per the guidelines of Brislin (1980), the questionnaire was validated for a sample of 200 children using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The initial results of CFA did not reveal a good model fit; however, after the adjustments of error covariance, the model fit indices improved significantly (CFI =.94, RMSEA =.06), thus supporting the construct validity of the adapted version. The factor loadings were between .40 and .91, with most items showing acceptable squared multiple correlations. The validated scale is an excellent and reliable measure of children's perception of parenting behaviors in Pakistan. On the downside, the study addressed limitations facing the small, homogeneous sample and subjective self-reports, suggesting the need for generating culturally relevant tools. Recommendations incorpoate validating the scale within a larger sample and longitudinally.

Untying Pakistani Drama Dunya's Political Theory using Machiavellian Lens: A Critical Study

Imran Aslam Sial, Muhammad Zeeshan — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This study examines the popular Pakistani drama serial "DunyaPur" through the critical lens of Niccolò Machiavelli's political philosophy, specifically focusing on the characters' relentless "lust for power" and their willingness to employ "power at any cost." By analyzing key narrative arcs, character motivations, and strategic interactions, this research aims to identify and interpret the Machiavellian principles at play within the fictional world of "DunyaPur." The analysis explores that how the characters manipulate, deceive, and even disobey moral boundaries in their pursuit and maintenance of dominance, reflecting Machiavelli's observations on the acquisition and retention of political authority. In the end, this paper aims to investigate how "DunyaPur" presents the intricate interaction of ambition, strategy, and ethics in the framework of family and society power conflicts, so illuminating the continuing relevance of Machiavellian theory in comprehending human behavior inside a modern Pakistani narrative.

Socioeconomic Background as a Factor Contributing in Semilingualism

Maryam Sabir, Professor Dr. Zafar Iqbal Bhatti — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This paper investigates the role of socioeconomic background as a significant contributing factor to the phenomenon of semilingualism, especially in underprivileged areas in Pakistan. Semilingualism describes an individual who has limited skills in multiple languages which yields inadequate communication with reduced cognitive growth. This study design involves the collection of qualitative data by conducting semi-structured interviews and direct observations with a total of 100 participants, including university and college students. Cummins' threshold hypothesis together with critical capitalist perspectives to evaluate how social economic inequality affects bilingual and multilingual language development patterns through their analysis of gathered data. Research findings demonstrate that students from under privileged backgrounds face restricted language growth because they lack enough language exposure in their native tongue and their additional language. Moreover, this study explores the multifaceted relationships between economic status and linguistic progress while offering beneficial solutions to educational administrators who work to achieve linguistic justice and bilingual excellence among students from different backgrounds.

Exploring Phono-Stylistics Pattern and Implications on Children Language Learning Process

Urwa Naeem, Sajda Parveen, Zainab Hameed Ullah — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This research explores the Phonological patterns in nursery rhymes i.e. different sound features and the implications to enhance children’s language learning and cognitive development. Nursery rhymes have long been an essential tool for early childhood education, aiding language development, phonological awareness, and memory retention. Moreover, research paradigm is qualitative and stylistic approach is used to analyze the samples from four selected rhymes i.e. Baba Black Sheep, Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty and Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Furthermore, the data collection process has been comprised of two phases firstly textual method is used to analyze the samples secondly, conducted a semi-structured interview of 30 pre-school teachers to know their perspective on the role of rhymes in enhancing students’ Linguistic and cognitive development. The findings of the first phase revealed the occurrence of particular sound patterns such as alliteration, consonance, assonance, rhyme scheme, onomatopoeia, and rhythm to ensure the children's engagement and learning English language through its sounds. Hence, the findings of the second phase80% of participants asserted that the repetitive structure of the nursery rhymes help children in the recognition and memorization of these sounds by enhancing their cognitive and linguistic development.

English as the Medium of Instruction: Exploring Comprehension and Writing Challenges Students Face at University Level

Muhammad Faisal Qureshi, Raheel Memon, Zahoor Ali Junejo — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The use of English as the Medium of Instruction is growing in academia, from school level to university level. As the trend is growing, a plethora of challenges are emerging, impacting both teachers and students. EMI in Pakistan is one of the most under-researched areas. This article explores the challenges students face in terms of comprehension of content and writing at a local university in Sindh. This research was conducted with 129 undergraduate students randomly selected using a quantitative survey through a closed-ended 9-question, 4 about comprehension and 5 about writing, on a 5-point Likert scale. The results were presented in the tables in numerical form. The findings reveal that students mainly struggle with understanding vocabulary and jargon. Moreover, they also struggle with grammatical accuracy, expressing ideas, finding the right words, and using punctuation while writing. On the basis of these findings’ researchers presented some recommendations for future researchers and scholars.

Cultural Synergy in Learning English: Co-Cultural Communication’s Role in Collaborative Learning at Northwest Institute of Health Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan

Shagufa, Muhammad Waqar Ali — Thu, 01 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This study explored how co-cultural communication affects group learning among students at Northwest Institute of Health Sciences, Peshawar. Classrooms today are more culturally diverse. Students from different backgrounds bring unique communication styles which impact their intragroup collaboration. A 5-point Likert Scale questionnaire was employed to collect data 100 undergraduates. The survey asked about culture, communication, and learning satisfaction. Descriptive and regression analysis were used. Divergent views prevail among participants, many preferring working with students from similar backgrounds, others prioritizing solo study. Regression analysis reveals a positive correlation between collaboration and communicative comfort and respect was identified. Communication style predict 18.2% of satisfaction levels. The findings further highlight the salience of respecting communicative diversity, teacher’s role, and learning style for collaborative learning. The findings suggest training for teachers is needed. Culturally aware classrooms support all learners, preparing them for real-world teamwork in diverse healthcare settings.

Linda's Self-Actualization: A Maslowian Analysis of Paulo Coelho’s Adultery

Urooj Fatima, Muhammad Bilal Khan, Aqib Mujeeb — Sat, 03 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This study aims to psychoanalyze Linda, the protagonist of Paulo Coelho’s Adultery, through Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, focusing on her journey toward self-actualization. Linda experiences emotional stagnation despite fulfilling her basic and psychological needs. Her dissatisfaction with a seemingly ideal life leads her to seek deeper meaning and personal growth, consistent with Maslow’s theory. Using a qualitative psychoanalytical approach, the study analyzes Linda’s motivations and behavior through close textual analysis, framed within Maslow’s theoretical method. Findings show that Linda’s extramarital affair, while socially controversial, becomes a psychological route to explore unmet needs for passion and authenticity. Her actions reflect a natural drive for development, aligning with Maslow’s concept of self-actualization. This research encourages deeper exploration of how psychological constructs like happiness, well-being, and resilience interact with self-actualization and how literature provides unique insights into personal growth, enriching both psychological theory and literary understanding.

The Role of Motivation in Enhancing Students’ English Speaking Skills at Secondary Level

Rafaqat Hussain Shah, Prof Dr. Zafar Iqbal Bhatti, Waqas Ahmed — Sat, 03 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This research study is based on the role of motivation in enhancing students’ English speaking skill at intermediate level. The objectives of the research study are ‘to find out the trigger point like motivation which increase students’ speaking skills’ and ‘to find out the prominent factor of motivation in second language learning’. The research is conducted through the help of simple random sampling and the data was collected in the light of Dornyei’s framework (2005). The findings of the study reveals that students’ motivation is largely ignored at intermediate level. Furthermore, the researcher noticed that the intermediate level students’ motivations are generally based as extrinsic not intrinsic. Teacher’s role is mandatory for motivating students for encouraging them to speak English language. The recommendation is that future researchers can conduct their study on the vast area i.e., at Province level to get huge level data for the advancement of study.

Constructing a Persuasive Tourism Narrative: The Role of Specialized Language in Shaping Pakistan’s Tourism Image

Irram Waheed, Dr. Sarwet Rasul — Tue, 06 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The objective of this study is to examine the specialized language employed in Pakistan's tourism promotional materials (TPM), with a focus on the denotative elements and how they help to create the Pakistan’s image as a viable and alluring travel destination. It looks at how specialized language on tourism promotional material of Pakistan successfully conveys Pakistan's main attractions, useful information and unique characteristics. It investigates the ways in which linguistic components including function, euphoric adjectives and the absence of sender identification serve to influence and persuade prospective travelers. It is revealed that the denotative component of language is crucial in influencing how people view Pakistan's tourism by promoting clarity, dependability, and trust. The results show that specialized language use not only informs tourists but also strengthens the persuasiveness of advertising, which in turn strengthens Pakistan's image as a destination with a diversified and rich cultural heritage for the potential tourists.

Navigators of Change: Leadership Practices that Shape Tomorrow’s Classrooms

Shazia Hamid — Thu, 08 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

An unanticipated upheaval or crisis demands catalytic leadership for maintaining educational organizations. The present review aims to analyze the theoretical background and applicability of the six types of leadership: transformational, transactional, invitational, situational, instructional, and servant leadership style which lead to catalytic style of educational change. Also, it is crucial to acknowledge that some attributes of leaders including flexibility, ethical responsibility, continuous learning, trust and creation of visions are crucial in relation to emerging challenges in education. The review also discusses the interaction between leadership processes and personal actions in the development of an innovation and resilience culture based on the previous empirical studies. Implications of the study stress the importance of contextual factors, stakeholders, and globalization to the development of contextualized leadership theories. This paper concludes with practical implications and research avenues to improve the practice of educational leadership during crisis and transformation.

Love, Loss, and Liberation: Tracing Feminine Trauma and Political Awakening in Against the Loveless World

Aneesa Rameen, Saima Bashir — Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The research investigates how feminine trauma and identity affect political awakening through Susan Abulhawa’s novel Against the Loveless World. The paper examines how Nahr converts her experiences of love, loss, and repression into political resistance and personal emancipation. The investigation is built upon Freud’s Afterwardness (Nachtraglichkeit), Lacan’s symbolic disruption and Caruth’s trauma approach to establish trauma as a political and temporal framework. The article analyzes displacement and patriarchal and wartime psychological effects through close textual analysis within a qualitative research framework. The study demonstrates that the trauma in the book shapes character growth by transforming Nahr from an oppressed subject into a person with political awareness. The analysis in the conclusion shows how Abulhawa uses her narrative to expose systemic oppression and present powerful examples of female strength. The research recommends additional analysis on Arab women’s literature due to its dual function in psychological and political resistance.

Infrastructure Diplomacy and Economic Growth: Impacts of Regional Connectivity Projects on Pakistan

Dr. Muhammad Imran Rashid, Dr. Ghulam Sarwar — Sat, 17 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

Regional connectivity projects in Pakistan are one of the most important factors having both long term and short-term impacts over country’s economy. This article highlights the role of regional connectivity projects such as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), CASA-1000 and TAPI’s potential in economic development of Pakistan. To gain in-depth knowledge, qualitative research design has been used in this research article. Secondary data sources have been used to analyze questions under consideration. The study concludes that regional connectivity projects contributed significantly in economic growth by creating opportunities for trade, infrastructure development, energy needs, and attracting foreign direct investment by regional connectivity. Furthermore, the study argues that these projects resulted in employment opportunities and economic growth that require policy continuation. The article recommends effective governing framework, careful management, inclusive domestic policies and need to counter violent extremism in Pakistan to maximize gains of these regional connectivity projects.

A Study of Robert Frost’s Mending Wall Through the Lens of Stylistics

Farah Zaib, Reeba Anwar — Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This paper aims to examine the stylistic features of the poem Mending Wall at the lexical, grammatical, phonological, and graphological levels and the contribution of the overall tone and mood of the text in emergence of key themes in the poem. The stylistics field centers on the investigation of linguistic features inherent in literary works. The study adopted Leech and Short's model of stylistic analysis as its framework to explore the interplay between language and meaning. As the research methodology, the study employed close reading for analysis of the stylistic elements. The findings are significant and synthesised all linguistic levels in a single study. The findings also demonstrate how Frost employs stylistic tools to question the necessity of walls in interpersonal relationships, simultaneously critiquing societal norms while promoting introspection. Further studies are recommended to grasp a deeper understanding of the stylistic analysis of literature and its evolving role in literary studies.

Effects of Task-Based Language Teaching on Creative Writing of EFL Elementary Students

Wafa Mohammad, Dr. Nasir Ahmad, Seema Safdar — Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This study examines the effects of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) on the creative writing skills and achievement test results of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in Pakistan. The research explores the influence of three key variables: gender, location (urban vs. rural), and medium of instruction (Pashto vs. English) on students' language proficiency, specifically their creative writing abilities. A total of 600 elementary students from KPK (Peshawar), Pakistan, participated in the study, using a quantitative approach. Data were collected through surveys, achievement tests, and independent-samples t-tests. The findings show that gender did not significantly affect students' creative writing performance, as both male and female students demonstrated similar limitations. However, a slight difference in achievement test scores revealed that girls performed better, suggesting that gender may play a minor role in academic performance within formal educational contexts. The study found no significant impact of location on creative writing abilities, as both urban and rural students performed equally well. In contrast, students taught in English performed better in creative writing compared to those taught in Pashto, indicating that exposure to the English language positively affects creative writing skills. Although the effect of the medium of instruction was modest, it was significant, suggesting that English-medium education can enhance creative writing proficiency. The study concludes that TBLT can effectively improve learners' creative writing abilities and recommends incorporating TBLT at all educational stages. Additionally, it highlights the importance of professional development for teachers and suggests introducing collaborative learning methods to foster creativity and interaction in the classroom.

Exploring Environmental Representation in PCTB’s English Language Textbook (Book I) of Grade XI

Dr. Munazzah Rabbani, Maheen Fatima — Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

Language has the potential to construct and reconstruct ideologies among masses through formal education. Formal education is also used to teach about the natural phenomena in the form of “Sustainable Eco-Conscious Environment.” The present study uses Multimodal Analysis, i.e. textual and visual analysis of Book I of Grade XI English Language Textbook to figure out the portrayal of environmental content. The study aims to explore the eco-representation in PCTB’s Book I of Grade XI. The study opts for qualitative analysis to unveil the environmental content within the selected PCTB English textbook. The findings highlight a strong lack of eco-sensitive content, particularly in the visual domain of Book I of Grade XI. The study is significant as it will help learners to think outside the anthropocentric box. In addition, the study strongly recommends to the curriculum designers the inculcation of eco-sensitive content in PCTB textbooks at all levels.

Language Ideologies in Practice: Elementary English Teachers’ Perception of Students' Multilingual Resources

Imdad Ullah Khan, Syed Dawood Shah, Raheela Naz — Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This study explores the language ideologies of Pakistani elementary English teachers regarding Pashto, Urdu, and English. English is associated with colonialism, power, and elitism, while Urdu is tied to Islamic education and national identity. Pashto, though emotionally valued, is seen as lacking instrumental worth and is marginalized due to negative media portrayals. Using qualitative methods—observations, interviews, and field notes—the study examines six teachers across three school types: English-medium private, Urdu-medium private, and Pashto-medium government schools. Findings reveal complex attitudes where English is pragmatically prioritized, Urdu holds symbolic value, and Pashto is underappreciated. Teachers' beliefs reflect internal conflicts shaped by sociopolitical hierarchies and linguistic capital. The study highlights the need for inclusive teacher training that acknowledges multilingual realities, integrates students’ diverse linguistic repertoires, and informs language-in-education policy for more equitable classroom practices.

Text Mining and Fuzzy Logic in Literary Analysis: A Computational Study of The Book of Dede Korkut Using Voyant Tools

Huma Asif Malik, Dr. Summaira Sarfraz — Fri, 23 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This study explores the computational and stylistic features of The Book of Dede Korkut using Voyant Tools and fuzzy logic. The research applies Corpus Linguistics and draws on Kamal Abdulla and Rafik Aliev’s (2023) theoretical insights, highlighting how fuzzy logic, centered on uncertainty and symbolic reasoning, mirrors the non-linear nature of mythological storytelling. A corpus-based methodology was employed, analyzing sentence structures, co-occurrence patterns, and stylistic trends through visualization techniques such as word clouds and dispersion plots. Frequent terms included "logic" (239), "fuzzy" (203), "text" (112), "epos" (95), and "language" (94), with 3,213 unique word forms identified. The study demonstrates that combining text mining and fuzzy logic deepens the understanding of stylistic patterns and the complex organization of mythological narratives. Customized visual dashboards could improve VT’s usability for complex corpora, while collaboration with linguists and computational scientists is key to refining the application of fuzzy logic in textual analysis and advancing computational studies of traditional narratives.

The Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Its Implications for Regional Security: Assessing the Impact on Pakistan’s Stability and Strategic Interests

Khdija Shahbaz, Dr. Muhammad Muzaffar — Sun, 25 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The purpose of this qualitative research is to examine the impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on regional security and Pakistan's internal stability. The 2014 Russia-Ukraine conflict had far-reaching effects on the geopolitical landscape, threatening the safety and stability of the whole region. The current confrontation between Russia and Ukraine stems from their long history of fighting and their divergent future goals. However, Russia saw Ukraine's progress towards the EU and NATO as a danger to its own geopolitical interests. Conclusions from the study emphasize the need for a comprehensive assessment of potential threats, including the impact on Pakistan's bilateral relations with Russia, Ukraine, and other regional actors, as well as the dynamics of Pakistan's internal security. Pakistan's commercial, investment, and energy industries face threats as well as opportunities for diversification and strategic partnerships because of the conflict. The study recommends that Pakistan should make concerted diplomatic efforts to encourage communication and de-escalation between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Echoes of Patriarchy: A Study of Gendered Language in George Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss

Saima Jamshaid — Mon, 26 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This paper aims to investigate Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss from the gender point of view. In the analysis of the two excerpts, the study assesses how the use of language reinforces and subverts the Victorian gendered power relations. Using Deficit Theory presented by Robin Lakoff, (1975) and Dominance Theory (Zamarman & West, 1975) this study delineates the subtle distinction between speech, gender, and power in The Mill on the Floss, providing a richer understanding of the Victorian society’s dynamics and its gender communication tradition. The results show that the male characters of this novel use command, explicitness, and dynamism, which are consistent with dominance theory because men use language to dominate. Their speech continues to portray the male dominance and rationality in the society. On the other hand, the female characters use positive and polite words and avoid direct communication, which supports the deficit model, asserting that women’s language is less formal and less effective than men’s. Their interactions also expose some instances of minimal resistance in defiance of the claim of weakness in a woman’s language. In this opposing approach, the study demonstrates how Eliot challenged gender roles present in the past, revealing strategies through which language erases inequality and social norms. The study would offer a more nuanced understanding of gendered interactions beyond binary power structures. Empirical data can support or refine existing qualitative interpretations, adding rigor to literary-linguistic studies.

Ideologies in Advertisements of ‘Fair & Lovely’ and ‘Glow & Lovely’ by Unilever Pakistan: A Comparative Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis

Hafsa Bibi, Hassan Raza, Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Qasim — Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 +0500

The study examines the ideological shifts in two advertisements for Unilever Pakistan's beauty creams, ‘Fair & Lovely’ and ‘Glow & Lovely’. It analyses how concepts of fairness and beauty are constructed to show colourism and gender bias in advertising. Employing the qualitative approach, the study analyses two advertisements, applying Fairclough’s three-dimensional model for Critical Discourse Analysis and Machin and Mayr’s Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis framework. The results show that the first advertisement reinforces racist and antifeminist ideologies by promoting fairness as the ideal standard of beauty. In contrast, the second advertisement challenges these norms by portraying diverse skin tones and emphasising an inclusive ideology. This shift in messaging highlights the broader societal criticism faced by the company. The study concludes that the rebranding reflects a shift towards ideologies that challenge traditional beauty norms. Companies should align advertising strategies with inclusive values and avoid beauty standards that marginalise identity and diversity.

Explore the Construction of Ideologies and Identities in Beauty Advertisements through Linguistic: A Study through Critical Discourse Analysis

Muhammad Sheraz Anwar, Aaesha Liaqat — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0500

This study unveils how the beauty Ads manipulate the people's perception about the beauty standards by using discursive techniques. The objective of this study is, the identification of identity and ideologies that are shaped by using words and phrases in Advertisements. Qualitative Research method is used to examine the connotative ideologies in Ads of most famous companies like Dove, Fenty beauty and L’Oreal through the lens of Critical Discourse Analysis. Fairclough Three Dimensional Model is used in this study to denote how Ads are used for manipulation and for making money. In this study, purposive sampling is used to explore the unfair beauty standards. In advertisements, the appearance is shown as a natural which stimulates the public to buy this product. Findings show that the Language is used in Advertisements manipulates customers for buying their products. The Advertisements of beauty products Dove, Fenty beauty and L’Oreal manipulate people.