bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decolonizing Neoliberalism: A Literary Critique of Western Influence in Ngugi Wa Thiong'o's Matigari
Authors: Alatrash Muhammad K.
Published: January 2024

This paper analyzes Ngugi wa Thiong'o's novel Matigari through the lens of allegory, highlighting the critiques of the neoliberal socio-economic system imposed on many African countries after independence. The paper examines the impact of Western influence on African countries, perpetuating class segregation, gender and labor violence, and socio-economic injustice. The paper argues that Matigari can be read as a counter-narrative to the neoliberal system that disempowers the local masses economically, socially, and politically. Moreover, the character of Matigari serves as a catalyst for the revolution, embodying the people's desire for change and their aspirations for a just and equitable society. Matigari's revolutionary actions demonstrate that the people have the power to resist and challenge the oppressive system. The paper also suggests possibilities for further examination of decolonized third world literary texts through this lens of allegory, emphasizing the potential for analyzing other texts that critique oppressive systems and offer hope for revolution and change. Overall, the paper contributes to the ongoing conversation about the impacts of neoliberalism on third world countries and the potential for resistance and change through literature.
Analysis of Translation Errors Among Jordanian Students When Translating the Text Al-Ġazāla Al-Ḏakillah: The Case of 4th-Year Spanish-English Students at Al al-Bayt University
Authors: Arar Tariq Emad
Published: January 2024

Translation is a much more complicated task than it really seems. It is a work in which nuances, knowledge, culture, and the transmission of science are important. The aim is to study the translation errors made by the students of the Translation - 2 course at the University of Al al-Bayt in order to improve their level and learn about and solve the difficulties that our students have. We have asked them to translate a text taken from the book Uncle Hamdī's Tales, which is considered a simple literary text full of sentences with different tenses and highly varied vocabulary. We have detected that there are many spelling difficulties, problems with the semantic meanings in the translation, and failures in terms of correctly translating the syntactic structure of Arabic sentences into Spanish. We have proposed several ways to solve these problems, including spending more time in the course to review tenses with students, strengthening their vocabulary, and having optional tasks to raise their level of writing and spelling.
Assistive Technology for Enhancing Saudi Female Undergraduate Students’ Reading Cognitive Abilities: An Investigation of Reading Models and Their Impacts on Reading Performance
Authors: Al-Othman Amal Abdul-Aziz Mohammed
Published: January 2024

This study examines the effects of assistive technology, specifically text-to speech (TTS) technology on enhancing Saudi EFL students’ reading cognitive abilities. The study utilized text to speech Natural Reader by Natural Soft Ltd (2022) to carry out a pretest-posttest quasi experiment, to measure students’ reading scores before and after the treatment. Instruments also include two questionnaires. 49 students, enrolled in level III reading course of the English Department at the College of Languages and Translation, at Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, participated in the present study. The experiment lasted 12 weeks during the first semester of the year 2022-2023. The first questionnaire results showed that 66.7% of the students face problems in reading, with 43.8% having problems with loud reading, and 31.3% of students read less than 100 words per minute. The results also showed that 40.81% face problems related to pronunciation, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. The total score of the pre-test and posttest are in favor of posttest with mean score of (74.73 ±10.65) compared to (41.48 ±7.94) for pre-test. The findings reveal that there is an effect of assistive technology on students’ reading cognitive abilities related to reading speed, comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking, affirming students’ strong satisfaction with the Reader software, reaching the percentage of 87.5%. The study recommends using the technology-based reading model, proposed by the researcher, in the reading courses at Saudi universities, and investigating the linguistic changes that students experience due to the use of assistive technology in EFL.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Publication on Novel as Literacy Source
Authors: Sudewa I Ketut , Gaho Rahmat
Published: January 2024

A novel is not always limited to long works of prose fiction (Hughes, 2002); a novel can inspire anyone in any field. This study employs a bibliometric analysis approach. The data used were 6.516 documents downloaded from scopus.com (see Figure 1). Microsoft Excel 2019 is used to analyze the average publication each year, while VOSviewer is used to create data visualizations and find the number of citations. The results show that the publication trend occurs in 2022 as many as 687. Then, the most researched research theme is “literature, novels, and identity”. In addition, there are several results of citation analysis based on searching the most influential documents, authors, organizations, sources, organizations and countries. It can be concluded that the development of novel publications is increasing to the present day. The researchers suggest a further research can be carried out on a comparative analysis of works of fiction and non-fiction.
The Emergence of a Globalized City Through Multilingual Local Practice: A Situated Reading of Signs in Jeddah
Authors: Ahmed Mahgoub Dafalla
Published: January 2024

The current research aims to add to the ethnographic studies by providing an overview to the linguistic landscape of the city of Jeddah which is considered as one of the most important historical and cultural cities in Saudi Arabia. It mainly attempts to analyse texts shown on public and private signs found in government buildings, streets, districts’ names, malls and commercial shops. The study makes use of a sample of 300 signs collected randomly from different parts of Jeddah, interviews and observations. Following Bourdieu’s (1991) design approach to describe an intellectual character to space with a new ideological load, the study intends to examine the influences of certain ethnographic factors on the linguistic landscape; namely the geographical distribution, power relation, globalization and the presence of English, modernity and prestige. To investigate information and symbolic functions, linguistic landscape analysis was carried out to the data collected. Results obtained from the study include that Jeddah’s linguistic landscape has specific characteristics influenced by the aforementioned ethnographic factors, occurrence of alignment between official language policy and language use and practice, slight variation in the linguistic landscape between the three parts of the city is noticed and that English language is gaining more prominent status compared to Arabic language.
Enhancing Pre-Service EFL Teachers' Teaching Performance Through Action Research
Authors: Mohamed Rafik Ahmed Abdelmoati
Published: January 2024

Action research supports and empowers pre-service teachers as they plan lessons, act in the practicum, observe, and reflect on their teaching experiences. This study presents a professional development program based on action research to provide pre-service teachers with effective teaching skills in the EFL classroom and improve their students' language performance. The researcher implemented the training program for twelve male EFL majors enrolled in their practicum using a mixed-methods approach. By incorporating both individual and group experiences, action research improved pre-service teachers' understanding of methodology, encouraged reflection on their beliefs, tacit knowledge, and teaching practice, and assisted in the development of their teaching and learning theories. The findings show that pre-service teachers' performance improved significantly during and after receiving training. Additionally, there was substantial improvement in the students' overall language performance as well as their performance in each language category (vocabulary, grammar, listening, reading, and writing). It is concluded that action research fostered the cognitive evolution of these pre-service teachers and encouraged their synthesis of teaching theory and practice. These benefits of action research mark the beginning of a journey toward becoming a professional educator who can enhance both teaching practice and student outcomes.
How Do Locally Produced EFL Textbooks Endorse Critical Thinking Skills in Indonesia? A Content Analysis
Authors: Hasnah Yenni , Ginting Pirman , Supiatman Lis , Kharisma Adib J. , Siahaan Halimah S.
Published: January 2024

Critical thinking skills (CTSs) are acknowledged as essential abilities students should acquire in learning and have gained considerable attention over the past few years. Thus, the CTSs should be integrated into the curriculum and introduced to students to boost their capacity for critical thought. The current study attempts to diagnose critical thinking elements endorsed in localized EFL school textbooks as reflected within questions. A qualitative content analysis was employed by adopting Ilyas’s (2016) framework of critical thinking for the analytic categories. In actuality, the questions exhibited in the EFL textbooks are only apparent in a few critical thinking criteria, such as clarification, reasons and evidence, viewpoints or perspectives, and agreement and disagreement. On the other hand, assumptions, implications, consequences and alternatives, questions, predictions, and summary and conclusion are excluded. Instructors and authors of books are recommended to consider the critical thinking features when creating lessons to help students learn effectively and develop them into well-cultivated critical thinkers.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) and EFL Learning: A Case Study Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Oraif Iman
Published: January 2024

The enhancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and related machine learning represents one of many recent technological developments, causing educators to consider the potential of AI for teaching and learning.  In this case study, opinions were gathered from six mature students of English as a foreign language (EFL) in a university in Saudi Arabia. The researcher especially explored the use of a voice recognition device (Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa) based on natural language processing (NLP) for deep learning. The participants were instructed to interact with Alexa individually for 30 minutes each, over the course of one week, including a game of ‘hide-and-seek’. Structured observations were performed of this activity, and semi-structured interviews were subsequently conducted to gather the participants’ opinions of the device. Main and sub-themes emerged from the results, related to deep learning through NLP. This theoretical perspective was adopted because Alexa was found to develop its voice recognition across different language structures and styles. Moreover, Alexa was very responsive to the participants, sometimes asking them to reword or modify their questions, so that it could find answers. The game also proved helpful for presenting the language, reflecting a real game of hide-and-seek. The participants mentioned that such technology could be useful in language labs, as it was fun, entertaining, convenient, and easy to use. It is therefore recommended to invest in these devices for learning activities in education. Furthermore, statistical studies are recommended to test the impact of voice recognition devices on teaching and learning for generalisable results.
A Scientometric Analysis of Language Teacher Emotions (2004-2022): Spotlight on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on LTE Research
Authors: Xu Xinrou , Xie Xiao , Nimehchisalem Vahid
Published: January 2024

Frontline language teachers have experienced anxiety, vulnerability, and emotional burnout as a result of the sudden transition to online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study extracted Language Teacher Emotions (LTE) literature from the Scopus database during the period 2000-2022. During the first round of data extraction, 169 relevant documents written in English were identified. Furthermore, the researchers conducted a scientometric analysis using the literature analysis tool, CiteSpace (v.5.8.R3), and employed co-citation techniques involving visualization and text mining. Our results indicate the following: (1) The first LTE publication was released in 2004, followed by a growing number of publications in the first decade. Nevertheless, more studies were published during 2020-2022; (2) The five countries with the highest number of publications were the USA, China, Iran, the UK, and Turkey; (3) According to Author Co-citation Analysis (ACA), the majority of researchers had expertise in language education, teaching methods, educational assessment, teacher education, and applied psychology; (4) Based on the Document Co-citation Analysis (DCA), emotional labour, emotional burden, and vulnerability were the primary topics of interest; (5) Cluster analysis of keywords indicates that the LTE research trajectory was inevitably affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the first scientometric review of LTE research, this study calls for a greater understanding of the impact of online and blended teaching during the post-pandemic period. It will be of interest to inter-domain researchers and frontline teachers in terms of identifying influential scholars, publications, and research trends, as well as considering future research projects.
A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Death Utterances in Jordanian Bedouin Society
Authors: Alshraah Shadi Majed , Hamideh Waed Naser , Nishat Arjumen Sultana , Migdadi Hamzah Faleh
Published: January 2024

This paper examines the sociopragmatic functions of death formulas used by Bedouins in eastern Jordan. It emphasizes discourse strategies Bedouins use, such as euphemisms and politeness, to refer to the deceased or to announce someone's death. The researchers collected 32 authentic expressions commonly used in death discourse. They examined and categorized them in light of the following sociopragmatic theories: politeness theory, Grice's maxims of conversation, and Austin's theory of speech acts. Seven strategies for using euphemisms in Bedouins' speech were elicited and analyzed in sections. The analysis reveals that death formulas serve contextual functions, such as maintaining social rapport, expressing condolences, and highlighting the predestination of death and life by God. This study adds to our understanding of Bedouin language and cultural practices in eastern Jordan, and it has practical implications for cross-cultural communication. Individuals can enhance mutual understanding and constructive connections with Bedouin communities in Jordan and worldwide by recognizing and respecting these cultural customs.
The Effects of Achievement‑Based Assessment on Reading Proficiency, Academic Impulse, Language Apprehension, and Learners’ Self‑Perceptions
Authors: Abdulaal Mohammad Awad Al-Dawoody , Shaalan Iman El-Nabawi Abdelwahed , Aly Mohammad Saied Ahmed , Khalifa Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed , Mohamed Ali , Abuslema Naglaa Fathy Mohammad Atia
Published: January 2024

The different sorts of assessment assignments have an impact on both the learners' psychological health and the learning process. Educationalists have spent years trying to identify and put into practice accurate and practical methods for effectively assessing students. Few research studies have tried to investigate how achievement-centered evaluation impacts reading perception, learning impulse, language apprehension, and students' self-confidence assessment despite the significant impact achievement-based has on second language learning. The current study set out to fill this gap in the literature by evaluating how achievement-based assessment affected the development of reading comprehension, academic impulse, language apprehension, and one’s self-confidence. To attain the study goal, 66 intermediate EFL students were randomly split into two groups: an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The students in the CG (N=31) received the conventional assessment over the course of this study (12 sessions). The learners in the (EG) (N = 35), received an achievement-based assessment. The One-Way MANOVA Test showed that students in the experimental group did better than those in the control group. The findings also demonstrated how important the role achievement-based assessment played in promoting reading comprehension, academic impulse, language apprehension, and self-confidence. The results of this study may have repercussions that are advantageous to language learners, teachers, curriculum designers, and policymakers presenting chances for further achievement-based practices.
MALL as a Language Learning Tool for Saudi EFL University Learners: An Empirical Study With Reference to TAM
Authors: Alharbi Jamilah Maflah
Published: January 2024

Veteran US technology writer and publisher Fred Davis defined the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as characterized by perceived usefulness and usefulness by users. However, these attitudes are largely determined by external variables such as age, gender, and social set up. This study aims to apply an extended conceptual framework of TAM to examine the adoption of MALL by English-major students, encompassing variables such as perceived enjoyment, instructor support, and MALL interactivity as exogenous factors. A questionnaire was administered to 392 English-major students at King Saud University, employing a cross-sectional research design. Using AMOS version 26.0, results from confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the convergent and discriminant validity of the study constructs. The structural model results demonstrated a statistically significant impact of external variables – perceived enjoyment, MALL interactivity, and instructor support – on students' perceptions of MALL usefulness and ease of use. As a result, students' perceived usefulness and ease of use significantly influenced their intention to adopt MALL for language learning. The model accounted for 62% of the variance in MALL tools adoption among Saudi English major students. In conclusion, the extended TAM framework effectively explains the adoption of MALL by Saudi English major students.
The Pragmatic Functions of Using the Expression Mayyɪt ‘Dead’ in Jordanian Spoken Arabic
Authors: Al-Saidat Emad M. , Kreishan Lana J. , Abbadi Renad M.
Published: January 2024

This study investigates the discourse analysis and the pragmatic functions of the expression mayyɪt (lit.: dead) and how students interpret it in Jordanian Spoken Arabic (JSA). It focuses on the intended meaning of using the expression mayyɪt in daily conversations among Jordanians. Data were collected from 72 undergraduate Jordanian students. The results of the study show that the connotative meaning dominates all the expressions explained in this study. None of the participants interpreted a single expression according to its lexical meaning alone. The results also reveal that the expression mayyɪt is used to serve 16 different pragmatic functions. However, the analysis shows that the expression mayyɪt is often used negatively in JSA; three functions are used positively, while the other functions of the expression are used negatively. This kind of knowledge can significantly benefit learners of JSA as a foreign language, without which learners may encounter some communication difficulties.
The Pros and Cons of Teaching English Language Speaking Skills Online From the Points of View of EFL Teachers at King Khalid University’s (KKU’s) Tehama Campus
Authors: Hamad Mona M. , Dafaallah Alrafeea S.
Published: January 2024

English language skills are generally divided into two groups: receptive skills (listening and reading) and productive skills (speaking and writing) with productive skills being the more problematic area for both teaching and learning. Therefore, along with a competent teacher, students need intensive practice to excel in productive skills. With the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 affecting all sectors of the educational field, the world was forced to shift from face-to-face classroom learning to online learning. As a result, instructors and students struggled to achieve their goals as many problems evolved, particularly in teaching productive English language skills. This study explores the pros and cons of teaching English language speaking skills online from the points of view of EFL teachers at King Khalid University’s Tehama Campus. To get the results of this study, researchers used the systematic descriptive analytical approach using a questionnaire to collect the data. Results were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings revealed many pros of teaching English speaking skills online such as developing students’ motivation, confidence, competence, and pronunciation, enriching their vocabulary, saving their energy spent in commuting, and overcoming speaking problems. These pros were compared to the fewer cons which included a lack of facial expressions and body language.
Toponymy of Bondaraya Village, Gorontalo Province: A Local Wisdom Study
Authors: Baruadi Mohamad Karmin , Eraku Sunarty Suly , Napu Novriyanto , Hendra Hendra
Published: January 2024

The present article delves into exploring the naming of a place (or toponymy) to unravel the potentials related to the history and legend of Bondaraya village as an effort to provide enrichment and education to the community. It further maps out and elaborates the naming processes of places that derive from the legend, the discourse, and the historical background, with which it outlines a recommendation for the government to develop policies regarding the promotion of cultural tourism objects and local wisdom education in Gorontalo Province. The study employed a qualitative design with an anthropolinguistic approach. It aimed to explore the local wisdom of the Bondaraya village community in the form of their culture and tradition through the lens of toponymy. The data were collected by in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussion. Further, the data were analyzed in a descriptive manner. The result shows that the toponymy within Bondaraya village accentuates the local wisdom, which is the identity of the village. The study finds out that the naming of places in this village is closely related to some of the local wisdom elements in the area, i.e., the musical art (oral literature) and societal system. In conclusion, the toponymy of Bondaraya village is closely related to the local wisdom within the community.
Cruelties of Occupation and Indignities of Dispossession: Advancing Palestinian Narrative as a Decolonial Praxis in Susan Abulhawa’s Mornings in Jenin
Authors: Ahmad Farhan
Published: January 2024

The proposed study explores the ways in which Abulhawa uses fiction to humanize the Palestinian condition of dispossession and displacement thus advancing the Palestinian perspective of the conflict. Analysing the important role of narratives in decolonizing the colonial imaginaries for example “Palestinians do not exist”, or “they are savages or terrorists”, it contends that, for Abulhawa, retrieving the Palestinian narrative is a fundamental praxis for seeking decolonization and to end dehumanization and exclusion. Reclaiming native narrative of the conflict will enable Palestinians to affirm their existence and propel their struggle against settler colonialism. The study will be done with the help of the analysis of Abulhawa’s Mornings in Jenin.
The Correlation Between Art and Death in Willa Cather's Lucy Gayheart: Fatality of Art or Artistic Failure
Authors: Bani-Khair Baker , Alkhalifah Ziyad Khalifah , Ahmad Mohammad Hilmi Al , Karim Majed Abdul , Rababah Mahmoud Ali
Published: January 2024

This study explores the representation of art in Willa Cather's Lucy Gayheart (1935), which is viewed as an essential aspect of the novel in terms of its vitality and dominance. The novel subtly yet persistently invokes new possibilities for general human behavior and supportive interconnectedness among women. As the female experience looms large in Cather's fiction, Lucy Gayheart illustrates the dangers of presenting women in a romanticized, ethereal light. However, the present paper intends to prove that Cather's attempt at romanticizing her heroine's stance leads to a war between artistic accomplishment and acquisitive spirit. Through examining Cather's Lucy Gayheart, this paper contends that women's perplexed possibilities are a miniature of the fragmented psyche that pervades Cather's work.
Improving Chinese Listening Ability Through Workload-Based Learning With Multimedia in Thai Universities
Authors: Sukjairungwattana Paisan
Published: January 2024

This qualitative research aims to examine the basics of Chinese listening ability by organizing workload-based learning with multimedia for first-year students learning Chinese as a foreign language at different universities in Thailand. As a result of workload-based learning with multimedia, Chinese listeners are better equipped to develop their listening skills. Using workload-based learning management with multimedia, the development of Chinese listening ability has been evaluated and improved by implementing workload-based learning. As interview participants, we selected 20 first-year Chinese language students randomly from several universities in Thailand. The experimental model was additionally developed and 7 Chinese teachers and experts were invited to evaluate it. According to the results, Chinese listening ability combined with workload-oriented learning management and multimedia for students has a significant effectiveness and the Chinese listening ability model with workload-oriented learning management and multimedia for high-level students has shown greater effectiveness. Chinese listening abilities are also being explored using a variety of workload-oriented learning arrangements accompanied by multimedia. The findings provide valuable insights into how multimedia can be used to enhance learning outcomes and identify ways to better support students in their Chinese language learning. The research also highlights the importance of workload-based learning management for Chinese listening ability and provides a model for how it can be implemented in the classroom.
“My Goal Is to Talk Like a Native”: Emergent Bilingual Students’ Use of Language Learning Strategies
Authors: Mickwitz Åsa , Lehtonen Heini , Cvetanović Dragana , Toom Auli
Published: January 2024

This paper investigates emergent bilingual students’ (Finnish and Swedish) use of language learning strategies (LLS). The focus is on the frequency of LLS use, the difference between Swedish and Finnish speaking students’ use of LLS and the effect on use of LLS to improve the students’ weaker language. The data consisted of students’ self-reports concerning the use of LLS and their proficiency in their L2 on a seven-point Likert scale online survey. The survey also included an opportunity to comment on the answers. The data were gathered in 2019/2020. The instrument was influenced by the SILL (Strategy Inventory for Language Learning) (Oxford 1990) but adapted to the current research context on the basis of the researchers’ expertise and previous interviews with students. The measured and analysed LLS were metacognitive, social, cognitive and compensation strategies. The response rate was approximately 30% (N=184). The results indicated clear differences between Swedish-speaking and Finnish-speaking students regarding the use of different types of LLS. Finnish speaking students made significantly more use of metacognitive strategies while Swedish-speaking students made significantly more use of compensation strategies. Regarding the students’ use of social strategies, it was obvious that some Finnish-speaking students associate the use of Swedish in real-life communication situations with stress and anxiety. Moreover, the students’ use of LLS significantly predicts their progress in the weaker language. We suggest that the students should be offered language strategy instruction for them to understand and more effectively apply language learning strategies, to improve their weaker language at all levels.
The Influence of Patriarchal Society on the Reconstruction of Feminine Identity in the Selected Novels of R. K. Narayan and Mulk Raj Anand: A Comparative Study
Authors: Suja J Jasmine , Bindu M. R. , A Prakash
Published: January 2024

The study compares how patriarchal culture affects the reconstruction of the feminine self in several novels by top Indian authors R.K. Narayan and Mulk Raj Anand. The writers examine social dynamics and cultural influences to highlight the difficulties women face when redefining themselves in patriarchal societies. In The Guide and The Dark Room, R.K. Narayan portrays women within Indian culture. Rosie and Savitri show how women struggle to escape cultural norms. Rosie breaks patriarchal norms by becoming a dancer, and Savitri's journey from modest housewife to confident woman illustrates women's challenges. Mulk Raj Anand's Untouchable and Two Leaves and a Bud graphically show how patriarchy affects women. Female tea plantation workers, Bakha's sister, and other Anand characters represent women's oppression and exploitation due to class hierarchies and societal norms. The characters' fight for equality and dignity is shaped by class and gender relations. The study uses secondary and qualitative research methods and pragmatism to understand the reconstruction of the feminine character in these two authors' novels. As the discussion and analysis section shows, both authors wanted to show women's efforts to escape their misery by empowering them because they could not make independent decisions. Both authors discuss how patriarchal ideas and social norms shape feminine identity and women's struggles for self-discovery, independence, and empowerment. Narayan and Anand's female protagonists challenge social norms and fight for equality.
Translating Social Items From the Tibetan Epic “King Gesar” Into English: What a Corpus-Based Analysis Reveals and How It Can Help
Authors: Zhou Yuqiao , Halim Hazlina Abdul , Ujum Diana Abu , Wong Ling Yann
Published: January 2024

The Ge Sa-er (also known as Gesar) saga has been handed down for above 1000 years by Tibetan Chinese, Mongolian Chinese, the Tu and the Naxi, describing a heroic story in present-day Kangba Tibetan area. This article analyse the English translation of social discourse in the Ge Sa-er version retold by Alai (2009). Due to different knowledge shared by source and target readers, it is difficult to represent the source social meaning in the English translation. Aiming to resolve the translation problems revealed by social cognition, this article uses statistical methods together with corpus to conduct stylistic analyses on Ge Sa-er Wang (Alai, 2009). An unexpected finding of this research is that the data from statistical methods can better predict the translation difficulties of Ge Sa-er Wang than the data from corpus. Based on the stylistic features of Ge Sa-er Wang, we propose a social discourse translation model for Chinese ethnic minority literature.
Types of Сovid-Protologisms Formed in the Language Content of Kazakhstanis During the Pandemic
Authors: Amirbekova Aigul , Essenova Kalbike , Ismailova Fariza , Baltabayeva Zhanalik , Nurdauletova Bibaisha , Ishpekbayev Zhanatbek , Takirov Sarzhan
Published: January 2024

Recently, the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic swept the globe. As a result, the epidemiological situation and restrictive measures in the country brought significant changes to the public life of the whole world including Kazakhstan – changes that even affected the language. Indeed, COVID-19 was an impetus to the formation of new names through the internal resources of the Kazakh language, the productivity of some word-building tools, and the rapid flow of language processes. In fact, the crisis brought on by the pandemic has replenished the vocabulary of all languages of the world with new terms. Although it has, of course, increased medical and ІТ terms, it has also expanded the range of both aggressive vocabulary, jargon and slang words. Furthermore, the stock of lexemes of phobias and agonies has increased. The vocabulary of fear would not be given much importance. Now in world linguistics, the vocabulary of phobias began to form. Along with the newer pandemic vocabulary, foreign words began to enter the lexicon of Kazakhstanis through the Russian language. The article analyzes protologisms that have appeared in the Kazakh language or have updated their meaning regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The study aims to systematize the covid-protologisms of the "coronavirus era" of 2020-2022 spread in the language of the media and through language content on social networks. At this point, the concept of protologism is defined. Additionally, covid-lexemes are organized according to word-forming methods, into semantic, term, and thematic groups, and are distinguished into types.
The Application of Trauma/PTSD Studies to Translation: Take Several Japanese Novels as an Example
Authors: Gu Qiushi
Published: January 2024

This research investigates issues associated with the translation of traumatic literary narratives in different languages. Initially, these narratives are constructed from the traumatic lived experiences of the survivors, serving as a means of recovery and making sense out of their painful experiences. However, in many traumatic literary narratives, when the survivor’s testimonies are represented in different languages and cultures, the foundational social trauma, traumatic aftereffects, and recovery are not adequately conveyed. The absence of a systematic and comprehensive theoretical framework in translation studies may result in translators offering uninformed and insufficient interpretations of traumatic elements in literary works. This issue necessitates a thorough and detailed understanding and perspective to assist translators in recognizing and representing the social trauma within literary works, while also acknowledging their social responsibilities. This study argues that trauma/PTSD studies provides an innovative, most fitting, and practical literary criticism to assist translators in adequately interpreting and appreciating traumatic narratives, as well as other serious literature that has heretofore not been discussed and recognized in psychoanalytical terms, by case studies of the translation examination of five Japanese novels.
Victimization in Walker’s The Color Purple: A Critical Stylistic Analysis
Authors: Sallomi Azhar Hassan , Obied Iman Mingher
Published: January 2024

The current paper investigates woman’s victimization in Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple from a critical stylistic perspective. It aims to show how victimization is realized linguistically in terms of some toolkits mentioned in Jeffries’s (2010) framework. Additionally, it aims to reveal the ideological implication of these toolkits in the data under study. The study adopts a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative approaches in the analysis. The researchers find out that woman’s victimization is recognized in The Color Purple through various syntactic triggers that symbolize Jeffries’s conceptual tools. Moreover, the study concludes that the tool of Representing Actions, States, Events is the most common among others as it is thoroughly interconnected with the brutal acts that lead to victimization. Further, Walker devotes these toolkits to reveal various negative ideologies that accompany victimization like slavery, oppression, ethnic discrimination and domination.
Exploring Global Identities in Mohsin Hamid's Exit West
Authors: Almutairi Nawaf Mohammed K.
Published: January 2024

Identity cannot be compartmentalized, as Amin Maalouf argues. Neither is it established on a rigid core of a single affiliation like the restrictive essentialist identities of some political/religious groups wreaking havoc in the world. Identity changes encompass various affiliations in a unique way for every individual. However, this does not refer to the absence of a cultural, religious, or national identity. Maalouf's concept encourages peace. The refugee crisis and the tumultuous events of the last few decades led to a devastating confrontation between rival restrictive identities that could have been avoided if the parties and the world had given up the redundant notion of singular restrictive identities. Mohsin Hamid's Exit West (2017) tells the story of two people falling in love in a disintegrating world. Their identities change as they escape their homeland to different parts of the West, highlighting the effects of their mobility and change of places and contexts. Using Maalouf's argument, this paper investigates how characters' identities change due to the catastrophe in their own country and the world they move into. The narration's tone, details, and character delineation show identity and notion stereotyping, especially in the Muslim world. As implied in Exit West (the major topic of this study) but expressly addressed in The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007), the novelist compares a restrictive, rigid fundamentalist identity with another fundamentalist identity.
Mona Baker’s Strategies Used for Translating the Arabic HAND Idioms
Authors: Faraj Bushra R. Abu
Published: January 2024

The issue of target language non-equivalence in the translation of various text kinds can be handled in a variety of ways. In this context, translation studies have extensively addressed Mona Baker's suggested methods for handling non-equivalence at the word level. However, no research has previously used both her description and evaluating the functional appropriateness of translating informative materials at the same time. Based on Mona Baker's recommended strategies for achieving Target Language Equivalence at the word level, this study compares word-level translation methodologies utilized in an informative text genre. The Arabic HAND idioms were chosen for examination. The primary issue /question is whether Baker's methodology can adequately explain and evaluate the word-level strategies utilized by translators to achieve functional Target Language equivalency? This study aims to achieve the following: pinpointing how Mona Baker views translation, identifying the main strategies suggested by Baker, and determining what “Universal of Translation” is.
Applied Arabic Textbook Readability Level for University Students at Al-Balqa Applied University
Authors: Ahmad Al Hatamleh Hanan , Hasan Yacoub Naser
Published: January 2024

Readability is considered one of the main indicators of students' ability to understand reading texts. The purpose of this study was to define the level of Applied Arabic textbook readability for university students at Al-Balqa Applied University in Jordan. In order to do so, Cloze Test was administrated on four texts that students didn't read before taken from the Applied Arabic textbook. A sample of (54) university students participated in the study. The results showed that the four texts were within the frustration level, as the students' results on the four texts ranged between (0.46-0.66). There were no statistically significant gender differences on the readability level; indicating that both male and female students are facing difficulty in reading and understanding the texts of books. The study suggested the need for experimentation of textbooks on students to determine their readability level before implementing them to students to be appropriate to students’ reading levels in order to address the problems students face while reading a text.
Children's Socialization to Gender Identity: A Study of Laurie Frankel’s This Is How It Always Is
Authors: Alqahtani Norah Hasan
Published: January 2024

The actions and behaviors exhibited by parents play a significant role in shaping the development of gender identity in their children. Several previous studies about gender identity formation in the family context have been published (Bandura & Bussey, 1999; Berenbaum et al., 2006; Boe & Woods, 2018; Friedman et al., 2007; Huston, 1983; Leaper, 2002; Martin & Ruble, 1998; McHale et al., 2003). However, though this study maintains this emphasis, it also broadens it in significant ways using an ecological perspective that focuses on the interaction between individual characteristics and ecological surroundings (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 1998). Moreover, this topic's application to literary works appears to be uncommon. There have yet to be any comprehensive investigations into the same subject. The objective of the current study is to examine the impact of parental influence and its consequences on the development of gender identity in a fictional child protagonist named Claude as depicted in Laurie Frankel's literary work titled This Is How It Always Is. The present investigation involves the analysis of data obtained from the novel to examine the topics of family socialization influences and its consequences of societal exclusion and marginalization through the lens of a sociocultural perspective in psychology. The analytical frameworks employed in this study are the Cognitive-developmental theory developed by Martin et al. (2002), and the Gender schema theory proposed by Bem (1981). Additionally, the study examines Claude's social failure to fit.
Historiographic Metafiction: A Study of Susan Abulhawa’s The Blue Between Sky and Water
Authors: Bokhtache Fatima Zahra Aissa , Taleb Hala Abu
Published: January 2024

This article aims to show the application of historiographic metafiction in Susan Abulhawa’s The Blue Between Sky and Water (2016), highlighting the embodiment of historiographic metafictional characteristics in rewriting Palestinian history, exactly the Nakba (1948). Since Linda Hutcheon calls for revision of the past in order to rewrite history, Abulhawa’s work has granted her a place among postmodern literary authors since she does so. Such an aesthetic and resisting act aims at acknowledging falsity and prejudice practiced by both ends responsible of historical documentation: the winner and the looser. This study argues that metafictional techniques allow the author to re-visit the Nakba (1948), re-present the events and eventually allow readers to re-pen history. Simultaneously, the novel’s historiographic metafictional characteristics will be underscored including challenging one historical truth, blending history and fiction, using self-reflexive narration, narrating through an openly controlling narrator, and importing real and famous historical and political personalities. The findings show that historiographic metafiction is applicable in Abulhawa’s novel. Interestingly, this paper demonstrates how the author enlarges her scope of writing, by adding postmodern dimension to the political and historical issues she depicts.
A Conversation Analytic Study on Scaffolding Strategies Applied in an Online English Class
Authors: KARAFİL Burcu , UYSAL İLBAY Özlem
Published: January 2024

In higher education, it is anticipated that English students should possess both proficiency in language and the capacity for critical thinking. Nonetheless, the dynamics of English as foreign language (EFL) classrooms often reveal a tendency for teachers to exert significant control over the class. Thus, this study aims to discover the scaffolding strategies applied by the teacher in an online EFL class in terms of classroom interactional competence (CIC). The participants were twelve English preparatory class students studying at A2 level of a state university in Türkiye. The majority of the students were Turkish and one of them was Somalian. They were enrolled in the same class. In the application process, the Microsoft Teams educational platform was used, and the lesson was conducted synchronously through this platform. The lesson lasted ninety minutes. By adopting a conversational analysis (CA) approach, a ninety-minute online English class was critically examined within the scope of Walsh’s (2006) self-evaluation of teacher talk (SETT) framework and concept of CIC. The interaction was analyzed by specifically focusing on scaffolding mechanism. According to the findings, the teacher was found to apply restating, reformulation, inviting participation from students, providing explanation, modelling, extension, further explaining students’ understanding and checking scaffolding strategies.
Faculty and Student Perceptions of Open Pedagogy: A Case Study From British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Ashman Melissa
Published: January 2024

A transformation in teaching and learning happens when students move from being consumers to creators of knowledge. While there is a growing body of research available on the use of open education resources by faculty and students, there is comparatively little research available with regards to open pedagogy (OP) in higher education. The few studies that have explored the perceptions of OP have focused on one specific OP practice in a small context (one or two course sections). The present review study surveyed the perceptions of faculty and students at a Canadian university across several courses and a range of types of OP. Quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed students and faculty alike were positive about the benefits and impacts of engaging in OP, but each expressed challenges with needing greater time for OP. Additionally, while students experienced challenges with process, faculty experienced challenges with supports. Recommendations are provided for ways faculty can support students when engaging in OP and ways institutions can support faculty who engage in OP. Ultimately, knowing more about the experiences and perspectives of students and faculty could help inform the development of best practices for faculty who wish to use OP with students.
Editorial – Confronting Challenges and Proposed Solutions for the Sudan Immunization Program Amid Ongoing Armed Conflict
Authors: Mohammed Muaath , Ali Ibrahim , Elmalaika Husain Nazik
Published: January 2024

This is an Editorial and does not have an abstract. Please download the PDF or view the article in HTML.
Association of Helicobacter Pylori Infection with Endothelial Dysfunction in Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Rasmi Yousef , Khadem-Ansari Mohammad-Hassan , Valizadeh Neda , Valipour Fariba , Nemati Mohadeseh , Khosravifar Fariba , Nemati Mahdieh
Published: January 2024

Background: Metabolic risk factors play a critical role in metabolic syndrome (MetS), and endothelial dysfunction is important in its development. On the other hand, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has an essential role in MetS. The goal of present study was to evaluate the effect of H. pylori infection on endothelial dysfunction in MetS patients.
Methods: Based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria, 80 MetS patients (59 females and 21 males, mean age: 48.94 ± 10.00 years) were selected. Plasma samples were assayed for H. pylori IgG using the ELISA method. Endothelial function was also evaluated by measuring plasma concentrations of endothelin-1 (ET-1), E-selectin, and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) using ELISA method. Also, NO2– and NO3– concentrations were measured by Griess method.
Results: Fifty patients (62.5%) had H. pylori infection. Plasma concentrations of ET- 1, NO2–, and NO3– were significantly higher in MetS patients with positive H. pylori infection than in MetS patients with negative H. pylori infection (ET-1: 2.92 ± 2.33 vs 1.9 ± 1.4 pg/ml; P = 0.037; NO2–:19.46 ± 7.11 vs 15.46 ± 4.56 μM; P = 0.003; NO3–: 20.8 ± 10.53 vs 16.85 ± 6.03 μM, P = 0.036). However, plasma concentrations of ICAM-1 and E-selectin did not show any significant difference in the two groups.
Conclusion: The results showed a relationship between H. pylori infection and endothelial dysfunction. H. pylori infection can lead to atherosclerosis by causing chronic inflammation and affecting the factors contributing to the MetS.