bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agro-Ecological Zonation Assessment for Simultaneous Planting of Sunflower, and Berseem Cover Crop in Galugah County Farmlands, Mazandaran Province, Iran
Authors: Khajehnabi Kosar , Siahmarguee Asieh , Dadashi Mohammad Reza , Alizadeh Parisa , Zeinali Ebrahim
Published: June 2023

Given the beneficial effects of cover crops, their planting is a good way to improve soil fertility, reduce soil erosion, effectively control weeds, etc. some ecological variables were selected for sunflower and berseem clover land suitability assessment, and thematic maps were developed for each of the parameters in Geographic Information System (GIS). Finally, highly suitable, suitable, moderately suitable and unsuitable areas were detected by analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The findings indicated that the ordinary kriging interpolation model was the best model to evaluate the agricultural land suitability assessment for sunflower and berseem clover production in the region. Also, the climatic variables had a major role in the development of sunflower and berseem cultivation, and soil and topography variables ranked next. The final land suitability map revealed that the most highly suitable areas (3358.4 ha) were located in the north of the region, and the rest was suitable (15257 ha) areas for growing sunflower. Also, northwest and very limited areas from the northeast and southeast of the region showed highly suitable conditions (3534.4 ha), and other areas had suitable (15081 ha) condition in cultivation of berseem clover. Therefore, almost areas were suitable for it.
Impacts of Silicon Foliar Spraying and Nitrogen Application Techniques on Quantitative and Qualitative Parameters of Rice at Different Planting Spaces
Authors: Yahyazadeh Sarvenaz , Mobasser Hamidreza , Petroudi Elyas Rahimi , Daneshmand Alireza
Published: June 2023

The silicon (Si) foliar application along with timely application of nitrogen (N) can be help to increase the quantity and quality of crops. Also, planting spaces is an agronomic technique that can affect yield and quality of rice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Si foliar application and N application techniques on yield components, grain yield and accumulation of Si and N in rice grains at different planting spaces. The experiment was conducted as a split-split-plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications during two crop years of 2018 and 2019. The experimental treatments included the main plot assigned to planting spaces (25×10 cm, 20×10 cm), the sub-plot assigned to N application techniques (N application as 33.3% at basal + 33.3% at panicle initiation + 33.3% at full heading, N application as 40% at basal + 40% at panicle initiation + 20% at full heading), and the sub-sub-plot assigned to foliar application of Si (control or non-use of Si, Si foliar application). The results indicated that the reducing planting space (20×10 cm) resulted in an increase in the number of panicle number m–2 by 9.3%, followed by an improvement in grain yield by 9.7% compared with planting distance of 25×10 cm. The plants that received N in three equal splits had higher grain yield (6993.1 kg.ha–1 ). The Si-treated plants showed both higher yield parameters and greater physiological characteristics when compared with control plants. We observed an increase in grain yield (10%), N concentration (7%) and uptake (14.3%) in grain, protein content (6.8%), and nitrogen use efficiency (7.1%) by supplying Si fertilizer. Overall, our results revealed that foliar application of Si could be an effective technique for increasing rice grain yield and improving rice nutritional quality.
The Effects of Side-Dressing Different Rates and Release Types of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Hybrid Seed Maize Production
Authors: Haraga Lucian-Constantin , Ion Viorel
Published: June 2023

Chemical fertilizers have been for a long time similar to the original ones created in the 1960’s, only recently with the increase emphasis on environmental impact, and the need to reduce quantities of fertilizers used, we have seen the introduction of slow-release and controlled release fertilizers from small surface high value crops towards large field crop production. Side-dressing N fertilizers in maize crops has been a standard in Europe for more than 50 years and thus still has a wide rate of adoption in farms, as it has been the easiest option to apply nitrogen closer to the maximum consumption point, which starts after the plant reaches 8 leaves stage (BBCH-18). Thus, our research has focused on studying the impact of using different rates of nitrogen (40, 80 and 120 kg/ha) of the new release types of fertilizers (Urea NG, Multicote 34-0-7) side-dressing and to establish if there is any benefit, in hybrid seed maize production, of substituting classical fertilizers (ammonium nitrate) with newer ones. The study has been conducted for 3 years in irrigated field research plots in the soil and climatic conditions from north-east of Romania. Our research has revealed several key aspects in terms of the effect on vegetative and generative development of hybrid seed maize plants: longer vegetation period for plants fertilized with slow and controlled release fertilizers, better use of the nitrogen from classical fertilizers as their availability for uptake overlaps with the needs of the plant starting from the side-dress moment. Other aspects evidentiated are reduction in quantity of fertilizer needed, thus economic benefits and similar yield with classical nitrogen fertilizer dressing.
Managing Drought Risk on Lentil Using Deficit Irrigation in Arid Zones
Authors: Amiri Seyedreza , Ziaei Seyed Masoud , Zakeri Nader
Published: June 2023

Grain legumes (pulses) are important crops for global food security, especially in developing countries. They also play an important role in enhancing sustainability through intensification and diversification of agricultural production systems. Meanwhile, the deficit irrigation strategy is one of the most important options for reducing water losses and maximizing water use efficiency in arid zones. A 2-year field experiment was conducted in the Agricultural Research Station, Higher Education Complex of Saravan during the growing seasons of 2018 and 2019. The experiment was split plot based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The main plots included four levels of irrigation (60, 80, 100, and 120%). Subplots were two different landraces from Iran for lentil crop (Baluchestan and Kurdestan). The results revealed that the effect of deficit irrigation was significant on grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, and water use efficiency. Apart from the landraces, with increasing water consumption, the grain yield of control treatment (100%) grew by 107% in comparison to 60% irrigation treatment, but this elevation was not significant at 120% level in comparison to the control treatment. Further, 120% irrigation treatment led to reduction in water use efficiency. The highest water use efficiency (2.9 kg ha-1 mm-1 ) was obtained in 80% irrigation treatment with 10% reduction in grain yield compared with control treatment. The highest harvest index was observed in the interaction of Baluchestan zones × 80% water treatment (0.24). Although the interaction of Baluchestan landrace × 80% water treatment had 10% grain yield lower than control treatment, its biological yield decreased by 27% compared to control treatment, which eventually led to 20% rise of the harvest index. Thus, our study revealed that deficit irrigation was a useful method to protect the water resources and could be used in cultivation of other plants in arid zones.
The Structure of the Argumentative Discourse in Khalil Al-Sakakini's Letters to his Son (Sirri)
Authors: Amayrah Hanan , Alshora Miyasar
Published: June 2023

This study deals with the structure of the argumentative discourse in Khalil Sakakini's letters that he sent to his son Sirri, who went to America to complete his university studies. The study began with illustrating the term "argumentative" linguistically and terminologically, then , it revealed the most important argumentative techniques that Al-Sakakini employed in his letters represented in " the implicit, directive and allusive linguistic strategies". After that, the most significant argumentative links were revealed, and they varied between necessity, causation, conflict and disagreement. This diversity in the structure of the argumentative discourse that Al-Sakakini followed confirms his ability to use the linguistic methods to persuade his son to continue the educational path in the in America.
The Impact of Some Types of Physical Activity on the Level of Releasing Serotonin Hormone (A Comparative Study)
Authors: Bany Saeed Nedal , Bani Melhem Mohammad , Al-Ababneh Hadeel
Published: June 2023

The current study aimed to identify the impact of practicing some types of physical activity (moderate intensity aerobic exercise, moderate intensity resistance exercise, and moderate intensity badminton) on the level of Serotonin hormone. The researchers adopted the descriptive method as it fits the nature of the study. The study sample consisted of  (3) groups: group (A) consisted of  Yarmouk University long-distance athletics team players and their number is  (5) / males, Group (B) consisted of the Jordanian national weightlifting team players and their number is (5) males and group (C) consisted of  Jordan national badminton team players and their number is (5) males. All of the groups are homogeneous concerning age with arithmetic (21.40_+ 3.6). The researchers used the Nag. Blood Test to measure the level of  Serotonin among the players before doing any physical activity and after doing the specialized physical activity for an hour. After collecting and analyzing data the results showed an increase in the level of releasing Serotonin hormone between pre-tests and post-tests among players of (aerobic exercise and intensity resistance exercise), where the variances were in favor of  the post-measurements. The results also showed that there was no statistically significant increase at the level of releasing Serotonin hormone between the pre-tests and post-tests among the badminton players, and that  the rate of increase in the level of releasing Serotonin hormone between the pre-test and the post-test  among players  of players of aerobic exercises   was higher than the one for resistance exercises and badminton, whereas the rate of increase in the level of releasing Serotonin for badminton players was higher than the one  for resistance exercises. The researchers recommend the importance of educating community members about the importance of practicing periodic respiratory endurance exercises since they have a major role in improving the level of releasing Serotonin hormone, as well as to  conduct studies dealing with high intensity sports to show their impact on releasing Serotonin hormone.
The Level of Using Assistive Technologies in Inclusive Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder from Teachers’ Point of View
Authors: Khazaleh Ahmed , Abzakh Hanada , Alnasraween Mo’en , Mustafa San’a
Published: June 2023

The current study aimed to identify the level of using assistive technologies in inclusive education for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The sample of the  study consisted of 193 teachers who responded to the used scale in order to assess the reality of assistive technologies in inclusive education after verifying the validity and reliability of the scale. The study results revealed that the level of using assistive technology was moderate. Furthermore, the results revealed a statistically significant difference in the level of using assistive technologies in inclusive education for students with ASD due to the teachers’ educational qualification in favour of post graduate qualification. Finally, the study findings showed no statistically significant difference between the arithmetic means of the level of using assistive technologies in inclusive education for students with ASD due to gender variable. The study recommended providing special rooms in autism centers to use assistive technology in teaching children with autism spectrum disorder, and providing what teachers need from these technologies to use with the children.
تماسك النص القرآني عند علماء التفسير المتقدمين: أدواته وتطبيقاته
Authors: الحاج وليد
Published: June 2023

قام الباحث في بداية هذه الدراسة بتعريف مفهوم النص لغةً واصطلاحاً وما يرتبط به، كخطوة تمهيدية نحو الولوج إلى عالم الدراسات النصية، ثم انتقل البحث في خطوة تالية ليعرض أبرز الأدوات والوسائل التي اعتمد عليها علماء التفسير المتقدمون، بخلفياتهم النحوية أو البلاغية أو غيرها، في تحليلاتهم النصية للقرآن الكريم. حيث لم يُغفل البحثُ الحديث عن أدوات الربط وما لها من أثر في إحداث التماسك والترابط بين أجزاء النص، فتم ابتداءً دراسة العطف بنوعيه: عطف الجمل وعطف القصة، مروراً بدراسة الحذف والسياق، وانتهاءً بدراسة الإحالة بأنواعها الضميرية، والإشارية، والموصولية. ولم يغفل البحث رفد التنظير بالتطبيق؛ من أجل التوصل إلى تطوير نظرية نصية عربية، متوافقة مع طبيعة لغتنا العربية وليست طارئة عليها؛ رغبة في خدمة دراسة النصوص العربية وعلى رأسها القرآن الكريم.
القياس في العقوبات في الفقه الإسلامي
Authors: بني يونس أسماء
Published: June 2023

يهدف هذا البحث إلى بيان دور القياس كمصدر من مصادر الأحكام في إقرار الحكم بالعقوبة في باب العقوبات الشرعية، ومن ثم فقد نهج البحث إلى تتبع مذاهب الفقهاء واتجاهاتهم في إعمال القياس في الفروع الفقهية الخاصة في باب العقوبات والكفارات، والوقوف على أدلة المجيزين والمانعين لإعمال القياس، وما يرد على هذه الأدلة من توجيهات وردود، ثم الخلوص إلى ما يرجحه الفرقاء في كل مسألة، وقد نهجت الدراسة منهج الفقه المقارن في تتبعها خلاف المذاهب في المسألة وفي استقراء أدلتهم ومناقشتها والترجيح بينها، كما وهدفت إلى استقراء نماذج من مخرجات هذا الخلاف الشرعي في الأحكام المختلف عليها في باب العقوبات، سواء في باب الحدود باختلاف الفقهاء في أحكام بعضها بإجراء القياس فيها، أم في باب القصاص أم في باب الكفارات المقدرة.
Products for Financing Maintenance and Finishing Works in Islamic Banks: An applied fundamental Study
Authors: Mashoka Hamza
Published: June 2023

The subject of financing maintenance and finishing works is considered one of the serious issues that Islamic banks need today. The study aimed at the legal justification of financing products for maintenance and finishing works in Islamic banks and tracking the practical application of this type of financing. The study traced applying this product in Islamic banks operating in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The study concluded that the jurisprudential adaptation of financing maintenance and finishing works varies according to the workers commitment. That is, if the worker’s commitment includes materials and wages, this is considered a parallel Istisna’a, and if financing is limited to wages only, this is considered a parallel Ijarah. The study also found that some Islamic banks apply the financing of maintenance and finishing works in a separate product, some apply it within the Istisna product, and others apply it within the personal financing products (Tawarruq).
The Balance Between Benefits and Harms: An Applied Study on Some Financial Transactions Related to the Corona Pandemic
Authors: Sharier Esam , Ashou Muhammed
Published: June 2023

The research examines the balancing between benefits and harms, and its applications to some financial transactions related to the Corona pandemic. This is achieved by explaining the reality of the benefits and harms, and the rules of weighting between them in the event of conflict, and then addressing some of their applications related to the Corona pandemic in the field of financial transactions, such as monopoly, pricing, closing markets, and how the benefits and harms are balanced in judging them. The research adopted the descriptive and analytical method, presenting scientific material and jurisprudential applications, in addition to defining and analyzing them. Among the most prominent findings of the research is the importance of careful consideration and balanced jurisprudence between benefits and harms when judging the calamities of the Corona pandemic, especially those related to financial transactions.
The Sociale and Civilizing Guidances Through the Verses of Weigh and Scale
Authors: Shatnawi Zakariya , Al-khader Zakariya , Aldhoun Haytham
Published: June 2023

This research presented the social and civilizational directives contained in the verses of weigh and scale. The researchers worked to derive the social and psychological values and cultural and intellectual aspects of these wise directives. The study analysed and elaborated, in accordance with scientific disciplines, on scientific issues to which the interpreters referred, but which required more reflection and insight from the researchers to present the new content in this important aspect of the Quranic studies.
Deriving a Conceptual Framework for Scientific research from the Qur’an in Light of the Theory of Perfect Matching of the Qur’anic Language Propounded by Al-Hafiz Al-Khattabi (d.388H)
Authors: Labeeb Ahmad
Published: June 2023

This research aims to develop a framework from the Holy Qur’an that succinctly explain the essence of scientific research and the interrelationship among its basic components. This is to solve the problem of the ambiguity surrounding the concept of scientific research and the mechanism of dealing with its elements which are hitherto unclear to some student researchers. The researcher adopted the analytical method founded on the deductive methodology, where the theoretical framework of the research was formed from the theory of the perfect matching of the Qur’anic language propounded by Al-Hafiz Al-Khattabi (d. 388 AH). Verse 31 of surah al-Ma’idah was the Quranic text that was analyzed with emphasis on the internal and external contextual analysis of the two words “Yabhath” and “gurab”. In the results, the research found five main components on which any scientific research must be based, in addition to some characteristics of scientific research. The study also matches the “gurab” concept and the research context. The research also points to the importance of the perfect semantic matching theory to distinguish between interpreters’ viewpoints. In its recommendation, the research recommends a deeper theorization of the perfect semantic matching of the Qur’anic language, in addition to conducting a detailed discussion about its evidence. It further recommends authoring a textbook to teach scientific research with a detailed discussion of each element of scientific research, following the framework developed in this research.
Decision Support System Determining Leading Class Using The Web-Based Analytical Hierarchy Process Method (Case Study: Smp It Al Huda)
Authors: Zonyfar Candra , Hasbulloh Yusron , Maulana Yusuf Arif
Published: June 2023

The superior class is a superior program in every school consisting of selected students who have basic abilities and competencies that are well above the average of other students. A special learning method is needed so that students can develop well in learning, at IT AL-HUDA Middle School selects students to enter the superior class program, a decision support system or AHP is needed to select superior class students because so far this has been done manually and based on the selection of teachers/homeroom teachers and report cards so it takes time which is old and inefficient. The Hierarchical Analytical Process (AHP) method is used to determine each weight for each criterion to rank alternatives so that this system can assist in selecting superior-class students to be faster and more efficient and more accurate. The results of calculations with this method resulted in Nikita Destian Futri obtaining a value of 0.32 which is a merupak the highest score of 4 other students.
Sentiment Analysis Of Vaccination Using The K-Nearest Neighbor Algorithm
Authors: Aryanto Fajar , Fauzi Ahmad , Fitri Nur Masruriyah Anis , Lia Hananto April , Darmansyah
Published: June 2023

The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus that attacked the country of Indonesia made the government implement a policy, namely giving vaccinations. Since the announcement of the government's policy on administering the COVID-19 vaccine in January 2021, there have been a lot of discussions, especially on social media. One of the social media that is widely used by the public for opinions is Twitter. this has resulted in Twitter becoming a medium for expressing people's thoughts on administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Opinions generated can be positive, negative, or neutral towards vaccine administration. Based on the description of the problem, the study aims to analyze the sentiments of netizens regarding government policies in administering vaccinations. The method used is the KNN Algorithm to carry out sentiment analysis through public opinion on Twitter social media. The results sentiment with the highest value is positive which has more than 150 sentences. Then it produces an accuracy of 86.6% Precision of 85% and Recalls of 81%.
To Speak or Not to Speak:
Authors: Sengupta Mamata
Published: June 2023

In the hierarchized space of society, individuals are always expected to fit in and perform certain roles in order to be accepted and accommodated into it. Any questioning of the dominant ideology and deviation from the socially prescribed rules immediately brings the deviant individual under a social scanner, and every measure is taken to eliminate or silence such disruptive presence. Patriarchy, being a supremacist discourse, attempts to promote and perpetuate its hold on society as much through promoting narratives of male superiority and worthiness as through constructing a false discourse of female inferiority, ineligibility and lack. Needless to say, the most significant impact of this manipulated knowledge can be seen in the historical expulsion of women from the territories of speech and free expression. This paper re-reads the British playwright Arnold Wesker’s 1981 play Annie Wobbler with a view to highlighting how the female protagonist of the play breaks free from the shackles of a “normative” existence and reclaims her identity by voicing forth the silenced tales of her forbidden and potentially disruptive experiences. I have also tried to underline the various hazards of such a deviant act and how the female protagonist ultimately succeeds in subverting the patriarchal narratives of normalcy and respectability.
The Magical Heritage of Hindi Movies
Authors: Mortuza Shamsad
Published: June 2023

In Salman Rushdie’s Shame the narrative epicenter is a mysterious town called Q where three mysterious sisters give birth to a son called Omar Khaiyam who, rather accidentally, goes on to meddle in the military affairs of Pakistan. The magical son of a-unit-of-three-mothers, Omar keeps claiming himself as a peripheral man, yet finds himself in the political mire notwithstanding the aesthetic reputation of his Persian namesake. While the blurring of boundaries between fantasy and reality is common in texts that espouse magic realism, seldom do we get to find serious academics adopting a “fantastical” approach in their critical analysis of real life phenomena. Anjali Gera Roy’s search for an Arab-Persian tradition in Hindi films exemplifies one such attempt.
Teaching English Listening Skills at the Secondary Level in Bangladesh
Authors: Patwary Md. Nurullah
Published: June 2023

Teaching English listening skills, though very fundamental, is usually neglected at the secondary level EFL classroom in Bangladesh. This study primarily aims at discovering the current scenario of teaching and learning of listening skills at the secondary level and the reasons for this negligence. It also examines the English listening skills curriculum offered by the NCTB of Bangladesh. This study further proposes some strategies for the development of listening skills. Data was collected from 130 students and 22 English teachers of 11 schools based on the stratified random sampling. For collecting the data, a typology of mixed methods research (QUAN-QUAL) was performed where the data collection instruments were a semi-structured interview and a questionnaire. Secondary level EFL teachers and students participated in the study. The analysis reveals that in most cases the secondary level EFL teachers do not follow any particular method to teach listening skills and they lack knowledge of effective listening skills teaching strategies. The results also show that the NCTB curriculum does not provide proper directions in this regard. Finally, this paper discusses the implications of the findings and offers some recommendations for the considerations of all three groups of stakeholders: authorities, teachers, and students.
Editorial note
Authors: Editorial Note
Published: June 2023

CROSSINGS: A Journal of English StudiesDepartment of English and HumanitiesUniversity of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)crossings@ulab.edu.bdSpecial Volume on Marx 200 | March 2020 | ISSN 2071–1107
From Conference Convener: Marx at 200
Authors: From Conference Convener: Marx at 200
Published: June 2023

CROSSINGS: A Journal of English StudiesDepartment of English and HumanitiesUniversity of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)crossings@ulab.edu.bdSpecial Volume on Marx 200 | March 2020 | ISSN 2071–1107
Adventures of a Scholar Gypsy:
Authors: Haq Kaiser
Published: June 2023

Bruce King became a literary celebrity in India with the publication of Modern Indian Poetry in English (OUP, 1987). The book is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The two books under review offer a broad view of what lies underneath.
The Impact of Bangla-English Code-Switching in Advertisement Posters
Authors: Sajib Md. Nasim Fardose , Nahar Nurun , Zahan Nusrat
Published: June 2023

This study examines Bangla-English code-switching depicted on the advertisement posters in Bangladesh because of their widespread use where the role of language choice and language use carries a major significance in both socio-cultural and socio-economic contexts. A significant number of studies can be found on both code-switching and its impact on advertisement posters but the sociolinguistic impact of code-switching between Bangla and English in the advertisement posters of Bangladesh is yet to be explored. This prompted the researchers to explore the attitude of the stakeholders towards such application in order to define the impact of code-switching from the socio-cultural perspective. The study also investigates the influence of English embedded code-switching, where Bangla is a matrix language, in the relationship between language and economy. A total of 29 participants from all the stakeholders, i.e., the sellers, consumers, and producers, were chosen through judgment sampling to participate in this study. This study applies qualitative structure and introduces carefully designed open ended semi-structured questionnaires for interviewing all the stakeholders. After analyzing the data thematically on the basis of multiple perspectives, it was found that code-switching impacts the language, society, and economy of Bangladesh. Interestingly, a significant portion of the participants connected it with English language learning in both inside and outside of classroom contexts.
Hoarding Spaces:
Authors: Ishrat Ibne Ismail Md.
Published: June 2023

In The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and The Invisible Man, R L Stevenson and H G Wells respectively represent the laboratory as an invasive site that “hoards” public spaces. This paper argues that the two novels’ laboratory manifests as a heterotopic space that stands in radical opposition to the public space. This study further argues that the tensions in the two stories are founded on how the private practice of science within the laboratory invades public space. As a space of otherness cast in opposition to public visual accessibility, the laboratory in the selected novels becomes the approximation of concealment and hoarding of important, as well as dangerous, knowledge. Finally, this study compares the laboratory’s representations in the two books to show how the tensions between the private and the public spaces interact within and across narratives of the late Victorian period.
Roots of Power and Resistance
Authors: Kamal Munasir , Sarker Soumya
Published: June 2023

This paper traces the sources of power that Majeed, the protagonist of Syed Waliullah’s Tree Without Roots (1967), manipulates to claim his influential position in Mahabbatpur – a fictional village in the then East Pakistan. Tree without Roots is Waliullah’s own transcreation of his novel Lal Shalu (1948). While “lal shalu” literally means “red cloth,” the significant change in the title of the transcreation – with its recurrent use of images of roots, rootlessness and uprooting – reflects the author’s added emphasis on Majeed’s obsession with power. Exploiting social and cultural elements, such as religion, superstition, gender inequality and class structure, Majeed creates an atmosphere of fear to rule over Mahabbatpur. He becomes economically and socially powerful, for a time dominating the entire village with his narrative before any hint of resistance. This paper comparatively analyses the original novel and its transcreation, examining the works in the context of the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, a division based on religion – the chief of source of Majeed’s power. The paper interprets Majeed’s vulnerability and eventual downfall as an allegory of the futility of separate nation states based on religion.
The Trope of Death in Ahmed Yerima’s Mojagbe
Authors: Olaniyan Solomon Olusayo , Kehinde Ayo
Published: June 2023

Contemporary African nations are plagued with hegemonic, despotic, and unchallengeable leadership which is a major bane of meaningful development and growth to the black race in general. People often groan under such myopic leadership. In solving leadership crisis, which is like a deadly disease, Ahmed Yerima in his play metaphorically suggests death as a lasting panacea. Employing the postcolonial concept of hegemony as the theoretical framework, the study investigates the trope of death in Yerima’s Mojagbe with a view to exploring the representations of the deathly reign of Oba (King) Mojagbe and a foreshadowing of the “death” of such dictatorial leadership as Mojagbe’s in contemporary postcolonial nations. In order to liberate people from the hegemony of the absolute anarchical monarch, Death is consulted to put an end to the kingship of Oba Mojagbe. The collective effort of the Yeye who represent the judiciary paves way for the termination of Mojagbe’s autocratic reign. Expounding the trope of death in Mojagbe, Yerima deploys proverbs, incantations/chants, code-mixing, and code-switching. The study therefore establishes Yerima’s commitment to his polity by depicting one major problem bedeviling the milieu – leadership crisis.
Exonerating Eve:
Authors: Rahman S M Mahfuzur
Published: June 2023

For millennia, women have been demonized and denigrated through the metanarrative of Eve’s collaboration with Satan in Paradise as proof of women’s inherent moral inferiority as the progenitors of the “Original Sin.” Grandstanding poets such as Milton with their grandiose epics such as Paradise Lost have perpetuated and propelled the myth of the “second sex.” Thus, one half of humanity has been condemned and confined to their “place” indoors and reduced to the service of the “superior sex” – until the revolutionary age of the Romantics attacked all grand narratives. The two Brontë sisters, Charlotte and Emily, for instance, tried to upend the narrative of subjugation by championing the egalitarian struggle of Eve and Lucifer over the hierarchical order of Adam and God. The subversive strategy of delegitimizing the metanarrative of the Original Sin frequents in Shirley and haunts the gothic landscapes of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, where the female central characters, Jane and Cathy respectively, undercut and undermine their feminine performativity by bending the will of their male counterparts. Deconstructing the abovementioned novels, this paper aims to demonstrate how the Brontë sisters actually attempted to unravel the metanarrative of the Fall from within – to hail Eve as the genuine “hero” – and prove how the feminine intellect is at par, if not superior, to that of the masculine.
Exploring the Status of Teaching Listening and Speaking Skills after the Introduction of their Tests in Secondary Level Education
Authors: Bhuiyan Md. Nahid Ferdous , Huda Md. Shamsul
Published: June 2023

Among the four skills of a language, listening and speaking are often considered to be more frequently used skills in real life communication. Many studies show that English listening and speaking skills were less or rarely taught in the classroom mainly because these were not tested in public or internal exams in Bangladesh. But the National Curriculum (2012) also suggests testing these skills. The Ministry of Education (2015) consequently released a circular to administer these tests in the internal exams in secondary level education. This research intended to study the teaching of these two skills, the practice of tests of these two skills, and the challenges in administering the tests. It finds that the teaching practices of these two skills in the classroom have increased compared to those in the past but not at an optimal level. These tests are not given in the terminal examinations and administered only as continuous assessments. This study finds that 67% help learners develop their listening skills by using English in the class, 60% teach listening activities, and 53% teachers teach speaking skills. However, 30% schools still do not give their students these two tests. Practicing TEFL teachers identified some challenges in administering these tests. Their suggestions for solving these problems are also given.
State Oppression and Adivasi Resistance in Mahasweta Devi’s Chotti Munda and His Arrow
Authors: Mahzabeen Bushra
Published: June 2023

The independence movement in India against the British colonizers was driven by the hopes of freedom of speech, freedom of life, and rights over the land. However, it can be argued that the fruits of independence, which India secured in 1947 after years of struggle, have not reached every corner of its multilayered society especially to the indigenous people. Mahasweta Devi in her Bangla novel Chotti Munda Ebong Tar Tir (1980), translated into English by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak as Chotti Munda and His Arrow (2003), exposes the hypocrisy of the West Bengal government that allows a systematic alienation of the subaltern tribes and the consequential threat of annihilation to their existence. This paper analyzes how the indigenous Munda community in the novel was forced to remain outside the narrative of national development and repeatedly experienced violence at the hands of the corrupt people in power. The aim of this paper is to discuss the hypocritical grand narrative of a national independence and how a national culture prompts marginalization and exclusion of the minority citizens in policy making in Mahasweta Devi’s novel. The paper also explores various forms of struggle and resistance on the part of the adivasi to achieve their freedom in the already independent India and the way Devi’s protagonist resists the repressive core by using the powerful cultural identity of the adivasi inhabiting the social periphery.
Of Walls That Cannot Be Mended
Authors: Haq Kaiser
Published: June 2023

I do not know if the Festschrift as a genre has received extended critical attention. If not, it would certainly deserve such attention. For the time being, the academically minded reader has to be content with an interesting albeit brief Wikipedia entry, and hope that a graduate student keen to find a novel topic for a dissertation will spot this lacuna in literary studies.
The Chronicler of Hooghly and Other Stories
Authors: Chandra Rakesh
Published: June 2023

The Chronicler of the Hooghly and Other Stories by Shakti Ghoshal (Half Baked Beans Literature, New Delhi, 2020) is a collection of stories. A versatile personality, Ghosal has worked in the corporate world for decades, and now has come up with his first book of fiction. But his captivating style of narrating tales bears testimony to the fact that he is an accomplished writer of prose. According to the author, these four stories are inspired by his personal experiences. However, he has woven these stories into a multi-hued fabric of history and societal norms prevailing at that time and linking Bengali culture to modern times. The prominent aspect of the book is that readers get a taste of both the ancient and the modern times, and the switchover is amazing.
Docile Femininity:
Authors: Siddique Md. Hasinur
Published: June 2023

Construction of fat bodies in young adult (YA) literature comes up with the interception of cultural negotiation and empowerment of fat female identity. This paper studies the apparatuses that subdue fat bodies in YA novels, examining the fictions published between 2007 and 2019 where fat teens are the protagonists. The study offers a critical reading on eight such novels – Holding up the Universe; The Upside of Unrequited; Puddin’; Skinny; If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period; By The Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead; There’s Something about Sweetie; Fat Angie – and examines individual and social treatments of fat female bodies in association with sexuality, food, and body surveillance. The analysis highlights normative filters that allocate a separate set of ideas regarding the personal relationships of the large physiques. While their eating habits pass through abusive stereotyped filters, the protagonists fall victims to frequent scrutiny from others and surrender to self-surveillance. The paper reveals that even a surge of fat positive fictions could strengthen weight bias if the texts continue to fill up stories with mere descriptions of the characters’ struggle against existing cultural frameworks.
I am Keats:
Authors: Zaman Niaz
Published: June 2023

In a letter to Qazi Motahar Hossain, Kazi Nazrul Islam described how close he felt to Keats. He even feared that his sore throat was a sign of tuberculosis and he would succumb to it as Keats did. He was also in love, like Keats, with a woman who did not reciprocate his love. However, it was not only in his personal letters that Nazrul talked about Keats but also in his essays. It is possible that the inspiration for “Amar Sundar” (My Beauty) came from Keats’ oft-quoted line. This paper will examine selected letters and essays by Nazrul to show how he appropriated the youngest English Romantic in his writings.
Learners’ Attitude towards the Adaptation of CLIL in Undergraduate English Literature Courses in a Private University Context in Bangladesh
Authors: Kamal Asif
Published: June 2023

For a lack of competence in the English language, students of BA English programs in private universities in Bangladesh appear to struggle to understand the lessons involving literary content (Alam, 2018). To help students with adequate skills in English, adapting Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), with equal emphasis on subject teaching and language teaching for enhancing both the skills of communicating and transferring content knowledge, appears to be more effective than just lecture-based content teaching of literature. Then again, the success of CLIL in literature classes depends on learners’ positive attitude towards it (Dörneyi, 1990; Dörneyi, 2001; Gardner & Lambert, 1972; Heckhausen, 1991). Therefore, this research intends to explore learners’ perceptions about integrating task-oriented literary materials with both content and language teaching to develop students’ comprehension level of literary contents as well as enhance their English language skills. This paper, a fraction of a larger research, will focus on the findings of a questionnaire and interviews to address learners’ perspectives regarding the strengths of using CLIL in undergraduate English literature classes in Bangladesh. A group of first year undergraduate students of English literature courses in a private university participated in this research. The quantitative data from the questionnaire was analyzed using an Excel spreadsheet and the qualitative interview data was analyzed thematically. Based on the analysis of the findings, the research identified that the learners expressed a mixed attitude towards CLIL in literature classes regarding its strengths and weaknesses. The majority of the learners with weaker language skills enjoyed CLIL whereas learners with better language skills preferred lecture-based lessons instead of CLIL.
Scholarship 2.0:
Authors: Sharma Shyam
Published: June 2023

Scholars have shown how the politics of English(es) can perpetuate structures of unequal power, marginalization, and injustice (as well as being used to counter them). Yet, scholars in the global south remain complacent and complicit about the status quo. Focusing on social justice and equity, this paper, based on the plenary given at the Entangled Englishes Conference in Dhaka, will show how we can disentangle ourselves from the hegemony of English(es) and its localized power politics. Sharing what I call a “scholar 2.0” framework, I show how practically confronting the hegemony of English(es) requires transcending individual interest and ego, mobilizing all languages in the interest of local society and professions, and engaging in translanguaging and critical global citizenship. Only by producing new knowledge for our own communities and societies – in many languages and new local venues – can we give life and meaning to our critical perspectives on language.
Transcreating Lal Shalu:
Authors: Biswas Anik
Published: June 2023

Roman Jakobson classifies film adaptation as an “Intersemiotic Translation” (qtd. in Munday 5) and Andre Lefevere sees every translation as “potentially the most influential form of rewriting” (qtd. in Munday 142). Both of the ideas open up a space to think about the relocation of language from the source text to the re-written text and layers of transformation from the text to screen in case of making any film based on a literary text. In Speaking of Films, Satyajit Ray opines: “Just as a writer has words at his disposal, a film-maker has image and sound that make up the language of cinema” (28). Tanvir Mokammel’s film Lal Shalu draws attention significantly as an intersemiotic translation of Syed Walliullah’s Lal Shalu with all its changes and manifestations in cinematic language. There is no specific way of determining how much liberty one filmmaker can enjoy in converting the language of the source text into that of the target text, and it leads to creating room to rethink the parallelism between the language of the source text and the presentation of the “translated text” through image and sound. This paper aims at exploring how transformation takes place in Tanvir Mokammel’s Lal Shalu and its appropriateness as an intersemiotic cinematographic translation.
Front Matter
Authors: Front Matter
Published: June 2023

CROSSINGS: A Journal of English StudiesDepartment of English and HumanitiesUniversity of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)crossings@ulab.edu.bdVolume 13, No. 1 | Special Issue on Entangled Englishes | June 2022 | ISSN 2071–1107
Front matter
Authors: Front matter
Published: June 2023

CROSSINGS: A Journal of English StudiesDepartment of English and HumanitiesUniversity of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)crossings@ulab.edu.bdVolume 13, No. 2 | December 2022 | ISSN 2071–1107
Bridging Language Policy and English Language Teaching in the Chinese Context:
Authors: Xu Yidie , Fang Fan
Published: June 2023

With the increasing role of English as a global language, teaching and learning of that language have become a focal point of instruction around the world. Against this background, China has followed the global trend of implementing various language-related policies and practice decisions. This conceptual paper first provides a brief historical overview of language policy in the Chinese context. Given the importance of compulsory education and tertiary education in China, this article links the previous language policy to the recent development of the Double Reduction policy and English as a medium of instruction in relation to English language teaching (ELT). This paper also discusses the culture, ideology, and identity issues involved in ELT in China. It ends by arguing the importance of reflecting on the current situation of language policy and ELT in the Chinese context against the backdrop of globalization. It also suggests that foreign language policy and ELT practice decisions, in China and other countries, should be guided and informed by more robust empirical teaching and research results.
The Rise of An Individual:
Authors: Zaman Tahmina
Published: June 2023

This paper is an attempt to interpret Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House as a play where the author portrays a human being who encounters a situation which makes her aware of the position she is in, who then confronts the new person she will be through self-discovery. The characterization of Nora is discussed to show Ibsen’s purpose behind writing the play. By examining the historical background of the play and some of Ibsen’s letters, I’ve tried to find support for the view that Ibsen truly believes in the freedom of the individual, irrespective of the gender identity. I’ve, therefore, focused on the fact that there is not much difference between a feminist text and a text which vindicates individual freedom. That Ibsen’s aesthetic concerns are sourced by a tragic perception about the human life is also what I’ve shown.
Bangladeshi Literature:
Authors: Ahmed K. Anis
Published: June 2023

This paper explores the difficulty of reading or transmitting in translation. In recent decades, writings from certain cultures have found a great deal of global currency, both in translation (viz. Latin America) or in international languages (viz. Indian writing in English). At the same time, writing that is as rich in its content and artistry from other languages, termed ‘vernacular’, from the point of view of global marketplace, finds it quite hard to reach any audience beyond its linguistic boundaries. Is it mainly because, as Gayatri Spivak accused, these literatures are ‘stylistically non-competitive’, or is it due to other structural reasons? This paper argues that it is mainly due to limitations of the global reading protocols, rather than qualities inherent in the vernacular writings. While a great deal of such writings might be a bit too ‘local’. and makes access to its realm of reality and references a bit too prohibitive for readers not familiar with the history and context of the tales and the writings, that is not the only reason. Some of the recent ‘international’ writing has succeeded so well partly by learning how to manage this access without diluting the ‘localness’ too much, thus retaining just the right amount of ‘authenticity’, for a wider consumption than just in one’s own culture, or perhaps primarily for consumption in other cultures. But, it is possible both to write and read in vernaculars. primarily for a vernacular audience, while retaining a richness that would be rewarding for global readers too, if only they were open to widening the protocols of their reading. This paper takes a Bangladeshi novel, Shahidul Jahir’s Shey Ratey Purnima Chhilo to demonstrate the shape and nuances that such a reading might take.