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Reconfiguring Identity Through Historical Consciousness: A Rüsenian Reading of Vishakanya in Roshani Chokshi’s Mythic Fiction
Our inherent tendency toward retrospective meaning-making is interrogated through a critical examination of past narratives, which are often shaped by bias and presentist concerns. This paper proposes historical consciousness as an expanded interpretive framework for navigating the present and anticipating the future through engagements with the past. While the transmission of historiography through formal education has been widely examined, comparatively less attention has been paid to the role of fictional narratives in cultivating historical consciousness. Mythic fiction functions as a narrative medium in which myth and history intersect, facilitating the articulation of temporal consciousness while reflecting cultural and historical sensibilities. This study analyses how historical consciousness is mediated through select mythic works by Roshani Chokshi, namely A Crown of Wishes (2017) and the short story “Poison and Gold” from Star-Touched Stories (2018). The analysis centres on the character Aasha, a Vishakanya, to examine the interplay between cultural memory, temporality, morality, and identity formation. Employing hermeneutic textual analysis, the study explores the reinterpretation of the Vishakanya motif within shifting cultural and historical contexts. The application of Jörn Rüsen’s framework demonstrates Aasha’s evolving historical consciousness and its implications for psychosocial and moral transformation, shaped by inherited cultural narratives. The findings suggest that mythic fiction operates as a significant narrative site for reinterpreting cultural memory and fostering historical consciousness in contemporary readerships.
Copyright (c) 2026 Theory and Practice in Language Studies
Affective and Motivational Dynamics in Peer Scaffolding for Academic Writing Among Vietnamese University EFL Students
Grounded in Sociocultural Theory (SCT), this mixed-method study investigates the underexplored emotional and motivational dimensions of peer scaffolding in academic writing among Vietnamese EFL university students. Addressing the dominance of cognitively oriented research, the study examines learners’ perceptions and experiences of affective support in collaborative writing. Data were collected through surveys (N=150), interviews (N=20), and observations of peer interactions (10 dyads). Findings reveal a strong shared perception of the emotional value of peer scaffolding (M = 4.19/5) and identify a two-layer support system combining dynamic peer motivation and emotional support, forming an Emotional ZPD that facilitates cognitive risk-taking. However, Confucian face-saving norms simultaneously foster harmony and constrain critical feedback. The study advances SCT by operationalizing perezhivanie and extending the concept of Emotional ZPD with pedagogical implications for similar EFL contexts.
English to Arabic Translation of Medical Texts: A Review of Research (2015-2025)
Translating medical texts from English to Arabic is challenged by terminological inconsistency, register variation, and uneven methodological practices, with direct implications for patient safety and medical education in Arabic-speaking countries. This study adopted a systematic literature review methodology guided by the PRISMA framework. Five major databases—Scopus, ERIC, SpringerLink Nature, Nature, and BMC—were searched to identify relevant studies published between 2015 and 2025. A total of 22 studies were included and analysed to map publication trends, translation procedures, the use of digital technologies, and implications for medical education. The findings show that most research has focused on instrument development, with particular attention to patient safety and the translation of clinical instruments and leaflets. The analysis further reveals that only a very limited number of studies have examined the use of technology and artificial intelligence in this field. The review suggests that AI-based tools, when used alongside human-led translation workflows, may help expand access to high-quality medical translations for Arabic-speaking populations.
Ecological Aspects in the Poem of Exile: Saadi Yusuf’s Poetry as a Model
The ecological aspects in Yusuf’s poetry are important because they reveal how the poet establishes a perception of exile through his relationship with nature. This study aims to explore these aspects as presented in the poetry of this Iraqi poet through: Detecting the most important mechanisms embodied in environmental imagination. Illustrating how the incorporated symbols reflect the nature of the relationship that links the poet to his surroundings as manifested in the experience of exile. Unfolding the poet’s concern with ecological issues to create an awareness of nature, which helps protect it from damage. The study poses the following crucial question: How does the poetry of exile harness the environmental imagination to express an exile experience that has existential and ecological dimensions? To explore how the environment in the selected texts was used to reflect the poet’s experience of exile, the researcher adopted a descriptive-analytical approach. She also made use of some eco-critical essays that helped reveal how important the environment is. Study results unveiled that Yusuf’s exile poetry has ecological qualities that convey awareness, values, and concerns of nature. Yusuf could achieve environmental imagination by using symbols from nature, combining reality with imagination, poetic artistry with the philosophy of vision, and the profound meaning of the environment’s message. The study concludes that the exile poetry of Yusuf can serve as a model for ecological reading, as it relates human suffering to nature’s concerns. It emphasizes that ecocriticism has to be employed in analyzing contemporary Arabic texts.
An Acoustic Study of the Stop Consonants in Wu Dialects: Evidence From Tongdong Dialect
This paper presents key findings from an acoustic study on the stop consonants in Tongdong dialect, a language variety in Wu dialects. The research was conducted through voice recording and analysis of data collected from Tongdong native speakers. Recordings of 3240 overall tokens were collected and analyzed using Praat phonetic software. The mean VOT values, vowel lengths, vowel pitches and vowel intensities obtained from Chinese words with both prevocalic stops and intervocalic stops were compared and statistically tested using One-way ANOVA. The research findings show that in Tongdong dialect first, the prevocalic voiced stop has a positive VOT; the voicing begins just after the release of the stop followed by a strong voiced aspiration; the adjacent vowel is significantly longer in length and lower in pitch, which makes the stop sound voiced; and the stop is actually a voiceless stop followed by a voiced aspiration. Second, the intervocalic stop has a negative VOT; the voicing begins before the release of the stop, making a voicing lead in the spectrogram and followed by a less strong voiced aspiration; the adjacent vowel is significantly longer in length and lower in pitch; and the stop is a voiced stop followed by a voiced aspiration. The research presents proof that as a border region in Wu dialects, Tongdong dialect is relatively faster in its voiced stops devoicing. Meanwhile it still keeps the three grades of stops: voiceless unaspirated; voiceless aspirated and voiced aspirated, which is a distinctive feature of Wu dialects.
Code-Switching Practices in Digital Communication: A Case Study of EFL Learners in Southwest Papua, Indonesia
This study investigates the digital code-switching practices of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sorong, Indonesia, across three prominent social media platforms: WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research draws on naturally occurring digital interactions and semi-structured interviews with eight purposively selected participants. Through an interactive analytical framework, the study identifies systematic patterns of inter-sentential and intra-sentential code-switching that function as intentional communicative strategies rather than indicators of linguistic inadequacy. The students employ code-switching to convey emotions, construct personal and social identities, enhance narrative expression, and manage audience relationships within digital environments. English commonly indexes prestige, global orientation, and emotional emphasis, whereas Indonesian maintains cultural resonance and interpersonal closeness. These practices reflect a translanguaging process shaped by the affordances of social media platforms and the multilingual ecology of Eastern Indonesia. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on digital multilingualism by emphasizing code-switching as an essential element of digital literacy and intercultural communicative competence.
Apology as Public Mediation: An Analysis of Three Crisis Cases in Kazakhstan
The article examines official apologies issued by representatives of state institutions (in the context of the political and social crisis in Kazakhstan) as a public act of mediation. Establishing direct and effective communication with the public is the primary tool of public mediation for authorities, aimed at reducing social tension and increasing confidence, particularly trust in the institution of power. The aim of the study is to identify and describe the linguistic criteria for the effectiveness of official apologies by institutions of power. The theoretical basis for the research is grounded in speech act theory and the concept of mediated communication. Particular attention is paid to analysing the lexical-semantic, pragmatic, and discursive characteristics of formal apologies. The texts of public speeches and official statements by representatives of state institutions were used as empirical material during various crisis situations. A comparative analysis allows us to identify the main linguistic criteria for effective aspects of apologies, such as open acceptance of responsibility, sincerity and empathy, promises of compensation, and orientation towards collective values and social cooperation. The research findings show that, as part of public mediation, a formal apology not only serves as a communication that reinforces the legitimacy of authority and fosters open dialogue with citizens, but also fulfils a socio-political function. The conclusions drawn will serve as a basis for further study of discourse in crisis situations and the development of practical recommendations for the effective use of apologies in institutional communications.
Online Discourse and Cultural Reproduction: The Impact of Social Media Tags on Shaping Identity and Ideology
Digital tags function as important linguistic markers that enhance cultural cohesion and signal ideological perspectives within digital spaces. Although social research on cultural reproduction has examined how conventions and codes persist across generations, few studies have explored the specific discursive mechanisms through which such norms are transmitted or transformed in online contexts. This study adopts a pragmatic approach, drawing on concepts from indexicality, digital discourse, and pragmatics. The dataset consists of 160 English-language social media posts containing 361 hashtags. The analysis focuses on indexicality, framing, pragmatic functions, and presupposition. The findings show that hashtags are used to express identities, ideologies, and shared cultural awareness. They also position users within broader cultural discourses, frequently constructing contrasts between traditional values and modernity. Moreover, hashtags facilitate both the reinforcement and the critique of conventional values, sometimes through mockery or sarcasm, demonstrating their dual role in reproducing and challenging social norms. Overall, the study concludes that hashtags are pragmatically rich linguistic units that contribute to the maintenance of cultural norms in digital discourse and play a central role in shaping social identity and transmitting culture in online communication.
Representation of Thainess to the Eyes of the West in Lapcharoensap’s Sightseeing as Thai American Literature
Thai American literature, despite enriching the field’s heterogeneity, remains an understudied branch of Asian American literature. This study investigates Sightseeing, a collection of short stories by Rattawut Lapcharoensap, as a representative of Thai American texts, focusing on how Thainess is represented to Western readers. Through the framework of Asian American criticism, this literary work moves beyond the themes of exclusion and the attempt for assimilation to connecting America to Asia. The textual analysis reveals that the author represents Thainess in three critical aspects, including tourism, prostitution, and corruption, which are social realities shaping contemporary Thailand. These aspects of Thainess indicate that Thailand is not merely an exotic tourist paradise, but it is also a site of sexual exploitation and systemic injustice. The portrayal of sex tourism and domestic prostitution reveals the commodification of Thai female bodies as a result of neo-colonial contact, while the depiction of corruption suggests that bribery is normalized in Thai society, exposing structural inequality and injustice. These two negative aspects of Thainess are juxtaposed with the romanticized image of the country perceived by Westerners as a tourist paradise. This Thainess is integral to the author’s transnational identity as a Thai American writer, whose writing is shaped by the context of his home country. While foregrounding Thainess and diversifying the voices in the broad field, this book also challenges the dominance of East Asian American literature.
Kennings in English and Arabic: A Comparative Study
This study presents a comparative analysis of kennings in English and Arabic. It compares the structural, functional, and cultural aspects of kennings in English literature and kennings-like constructs in Arabic, particularly the metonymy of a modified object. Although such a figurative substitution is used to enhance poetic language in both languages, their forms and objectives are different. In contrast to Arabic kennings, which prioritize social refinement and Qur'anic eloquence, English kennings are recursive, two-part compounds with deep roots in mythical and oral memory traditions. Both cultures' historical emergence of these terms suggests distinct literary inspirations. Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon literature's poetic tradition is the source of English kennings, which are frequently used to enhance narrative through abstraction and multi-layered meaning. The present study attempts to shed light on the metonymical wordplay employed by English and Arabic to promote cognitive playfulness. Such use of language necessitates active interpretation by the readers, depending not only on their linguistic but also cultural knowledge, for decoding several hidden meanings. The study demonstrates that kennings are culture-bound expressions shaped by sociocultural norms. The main objective of this study is to advance language studies by demonstrating how kennings and metonymy reflect cultural thinking patterns and by offering a framework for examining figurative language across diverse linguistic traditions. The findings show that although English and Arabic kennings share indirect figurative expression and similar poetic functions, they differ sharply in structure, substitution patterns, and cultural-religious foundations.
The Linguosynergetic Model of the Concept “Qut”
This article develops a linguosynergetic model of the concept “Qut” drawing on historical-cultural sources and the methodological principles of synergetics. The analysis reconstructs the concept’s diachronic semantic trajectory across four major stages: (i) an archaic mythological interpretation characterized by semantic diffuseness; (ii) a Turkic-period rationalization in which “Qut” becomes embedded in political philosophy and state ideology; (iii) an Islamic-era reconfiguration that introduces a religious-spiritual bifurcation of meanings; and (iv) a Kazakh-stage axiological expansion in which “Qut” is linked to prosperity, social harmony, and the unity of people and land. To describe these transformations, the study applies key synergetic notions–nonlinearity, self-organization, attractor formation, and shifts to new semantic levels under external socio-cultural pressures. “Qut” is therefore interpreted as a semiospheric and culturally adaptive structure that preserves a stable semantic ядро while continuously generating new peripheral meanings in response to changing historical contexts. In Turkic political discourse, “Qut” functions as a marker of legitimate authority and state stability; in Islamic tradition, it operates as a spiritual attractor associated with divine light and sustenance; and in the Kazakh worldview it acquires a pronounced value dimension connected with wellbeing, land-peace, communal concord, and national cohesion. Contemporary expressions such as qutty qadam (“auspicious step”) and qutty meken (“auspicious place”) illustrate the concept’s productive integration into modern linguistic practice. The findings show that “Qut” constitutes a multilayer, dynamically self-organizing cultural-conceptual system with a stable attractor, and they support the use of linguosynergetics as a methodological framework for investigating Kazakh linguistic consciousness.
This article sheds light on the phonological phenomenon of emphasis spread in Ḥā’ili Arabic (HA), a variety of Arabic spoken in the region of Ḥā’il, within the framework of Autosegmental Theory. It mainly focuses on the behavior of emphasis spread, its directionality, and whether emphasis exhibits any preference for one direction over the other across the prosodic word, domain, and the interaction of emphasis spread with opaque segments. The data are elicited by using a digital recording device and an Aduix OM2 dynamic microphone from twenty native speakers of HA. It reveals that the primary emphatic phonemes occur in different vocalic environments and all word positions. The scope of emphasis spread is minimally over the syllable if there is an opaque segment that blocks emphasis spread, and maximally over the entire word if there is no blocker. The results manifest that emphasis spread is not limited to one direction, but it can operate regressively, progressively, or bidirectionally without any restrictions. However, in some cases, it is assumed that opacity appears if a phoneme blocks the emphatic feature. The paper concludes that certain segments can block the spread of emphasis within the phonological word, depending on the position of the emphatic trigger.
Linguistic Foundations for Automatic Simplification of Kazakh Texts
Universal and multilingual large language models cannot correctly simplify Kazakh texts in accordance with internal linguistic patterns. Using LLM without a linguistically sound simplification model leads to uncontrolled generation and increases the risk of lexical and grammatical errors. Therefore, there is a need to create formalized linguistic patterns for Kazakh text simplification, which will facilitate the creation of automatic simplification systems within LLM. This can be achieved through the analysis of manually adapted materials. A corpus of 20 Kazakh texts was annotated by the authors for the analysis, each presented in three versions such as the original (O) and two successive adaptation levels (A1 and A2). At the A1 stage, syntactic transformations predominate, while A2 demonstrates lexical stabilization. The text size is comparable at all levels, which ensures control and reliability of the analysis. The process is formalized through a two-level tagging system: lexical (LS) and syntactic simplification (SS) that records each operation. Frequency analysis revealed a limited core of dominant techniques, supplemented by peripheral layers, forming structured polyoperational architecture. Transitions from A1 to A2 demonstrate a process shift toward lexical changes while maintaining discursive coherence. The results emphasize the importance of linguistic expertise, operation typologies, and manual annotation for the interpretability and quality of systems. Hybrid approaches with humans in the loop improve the accuracy and reliability of ATS.
The Impact of Integrating Digital Literature Based on Local Wisdom and the "One Value, One Literary Work" Technique on the Creativity in Writing Short Stories
The majority of students still have difficulty writing creative short stories. Their weakness lies in the quality and creativity of the short stories. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of integrating digital literature and the "one value, one literary work" technique in literature learning on creative short story writing skills. A quasi-experimental method was used in this study involving 250 students. Participants were divided into two groups: the experimental group received digital literature intervention and the "one value, one literary work" technique, while the control group received manual text literary media intervention with conventional instructions. Data collection used several instruments, namely the Short Story Quality Assessment, the Torrance Creative Thinking Test (TTCT), and interviews. The data analysis used was the t-test and descriptive analysis. Research findings indicate that the integration of a digital literary platform based on local wisdom and the "one value, one literary work" technique can improve the quality of short story writing and creativity. Improved short story quality is evident in the appropriateness of theme to content, the completeness of intrinsic elements, the cohesion of intrinsic elements, the complexity of the story, and the flexibility of language. Improved creativity is evident in the dimensions of fluency, flexibility, originality, elaboration, and sensitivity. This research implies that the use of digital literature media and the "one value, one literary work" technique is more optimal in improving the quality of short story writing and short story creativity.
Echoes of the Unspoken: Comparative Poetics of Silence and Speech Breakdown in Ca Dao and Anglo-Scottish Ballads
This study investigates the cross-cultural poetics of silence and speech breakdown in Vietnamese ca dao and Anglo–Scottish ballads through an integrated Form–Cognition–Affect–Culture framework. Combining corpus-based and performance analysis, it explores how silence operates simultaneously as a structural device and a culturally embedded act of meaning-making. A comparative corpus of 100 texts (50 per tradition) reveals three dominant mechanisms—ellipsis, truncation, and enjambment—whose distribution reflects contrasting semiotic ideologies. In ca dao, silence cultivates communal empathy and indirect moral guidance, aligning with Confucian–Buddhist communicative ethics. In the ballads, by contrast, it generates moral ambiguity and emotional rupture, transforming omission into narrative tension. Quantitative and qualitative findings demonstrate that silence constitutes a generative semiotic field mediating cognition, emotion, and contextual value. The study refines existing theories of performance and aesthetic response (Bauman, 1986; Fischer-Lichte, 2008; Iser, 1978) and introduces a transferable comparative model for analyzing the unspoken across oral traditions. Its implications extend to folklore pedagogy, translation studies, and cultural heritage preservation, highlighting silence as an active agent in intercultural poetics and collective memory.
FIFA World Cup Host Nations in Media: A Critical Discourse Analysis Perspective
With the announcement of the winning nations to host the upcoming World Cups in 2026, 2030, and 2034, global media started reporting on this pivotal event to international readers. Such media narratives play a crucial role in shaping readers’ perceptions of the host countries’ cultural identities, offering insights into their social, historical, and cultural contexts. However, these discourses may carry bias or prejudice, reinforcing or contesting dominant global narratives. The present study examines the discursive construction of the host nations in global media from a critical discourse analysis perspective. The dataset comprises a corpus of news stories and reports from various international news outlets. The underlying themes that dominate the discourses on the host nations were identified using a corpus analysis tool, and a qualitative analysis of their discursive strategies. The results emphasize the economic benefits of the World Cup and the opportunity to promote the host nation’s culture and legacy. However, media discourse implies bias in favor of developed nations (the United States, Canada, Europe) compared to other host nations (Mexico, Morocco, Saudi Arabia). A range of subtle discursive strategies was employed to influence public perception about the host nations’ sociocultural identities.
Semantic Evolution of the Word Qatyn in the Kazakh Language: Identifying the Causes of Negative Connotation
This article investigates the semantic evolution of the lexeme qatyn in Kazakh from an originally respectful designation for a married woman to a socially marked, often pejorative label. Drawing on historical dictionaries, early Kazakh texts, Old Turkic inscriptions, and contemporary media discourse, the study combines methods of historical lexicology, etymological analysis, and sociolinguistic interpretation. The analysis systematizes competing etymologies that derive qatyn from Old Turkic qatun and from internal Turkic word-formation, and relates them to cultural models of marriage, kinship, and social hierarchy. Particular attention is paid to the role of Soviet-era language policy, purism, and ideological regulation of public discourse in shifting the evaluative profile of the word, as well as to the continuing coexistence of respectful and pejorative uses in present-day Kazakh. The paper argues that the semantic degradation of qatyn is not the result of purely internal linguistic change, but reflects broader transformations in gender ideology, urbanization, and the reconfiguration of Kazakh–Russian bilingual practices. By tracing micro-level changes in collocations, phraseology, and genre distribution, the article demonstrates how a key element of the Kazakh kinship lexicon has become a site where issues of linguistic correctness, national identity, and gendered respectability are negotiated.
Analyzing Taboo Words in Tenganan Pegringsingan Village as Preliminary Insight Into Cultural Change
This study examines the use of taboo language within the Desa Tenganan Pegringsingan (DTP). DTP is a Bali Aga village known for strict customary norms. Traditionally, DTP’s taboo lexicon carried strong moral, religious, and social sanctions, functioning as a linguistic boundary marker. Generational change, digital media exposure, and cultural contact have led to significant reinterpretations of the past. The research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with ethnolinguistic and socio-pragmatic orientations. Taboo words are analyzed as culturally embedded expressions reflecting transformations in social norms, generational values, and ritual practices. Data were collected from ten indigenous respondents across three age groups. Findings reveal widespread semantic bleaching. Formerly offensive terms such as kawah, bangsat, and bedogol are now used in humorous, hyperbolic, or solidarity-building contexts. Non-native borrowings, such as jancuk, have entered youth speech through media and tourism. Even once-unspeakable genital-related terms now appear in casual or online discourse. These shifts demonstrate pragmatic diversification, as taboo language expands from serving as an insult or source of anger to also function as humor, emphasis, and cultural indexing. Politeness norms in DTP are increasingly context-dependent, challenging classical universality claims in politeness theory. Traditional forms, such as Samodana, remain in ceremonial contexts, but the control of language has shifted. Instead of external customary enforcement, internal moral awareness now prevails. Ultimately, these changes represent not a regression of tradition but an adaptive strategy for preserving cultural identity amid modernization and globalization.
Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Developing Language Skills Through Teaching Literary Texts: Based on Selected Kazakh Novels Published in the Post-Independence Period
This research article examines the theoretical and practical significance of developing linguistic competence in the process of language teaching through literary texts, based on Kazakh novels published after the independence of Kazakhstan. The aim of the study is to scientifically substantiate the effectiveness of language teaching through literary texts, to systematize teaching methods based on literary works, and to formulate conclusions aimed at improving the development of language skills in modern educational contexts. In this research, particular attention is given to the structural, semantic, stylistic, and linguistic characteristics of literary texts and their role in the language learning process. Literary works are considered not only as objects of aesthetic study but also as effective pedagogical tools that contribute to the development of vocabulary, grammatical competence, communicative abilities, and cultural awareness of learners. The study also examines how literary texts help learners understand complex linguistic structures and interpret cultural meanings embedded in language. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the pedagogical and linguistic analysis of the novels Akboz Üy by S. Elubayev, Akorda by D. Doszhan, and Zharmak by M. Magauin, which represent significant examples of Kazakh prose written during the period of independence. These works are analyzed in terms of their linguistic richness, stylistic diversity, and educational potential. Linguistic units from these novels are examined through specific textual examples, and methodological recommendations are proposed for the effective integration of literary texts into language teaching.
The Impact of AI Tool Familiarity on the Reading Performance of Saudi EFL Learners
This study explored the impact of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ familiarity with AI-driven tools on their EFL reading performance. Participants consisted of 30 EFL learners with different levels of AI familiarity, depending on whether they had used such tools a lot, sometimes, or never. They were given an authentic reading test demanding interactive, higher-order cognitive skills. The results were interpreted through SPSS, one-way ANOVA, and post hoc Tukey’s HSD. Based on the results of multiple means comparisons (significant at p < .001), the study rejected the null hypothesis that AI familiarity would have no positive influence on reading skills. The group that was the most familiar with these tools showed significantly higher improvement compared to the other two groups. In contrast, there was no significant difference between the groups with less AI familiarity (p = .067). According to the findings, greater familiarity with AI tools could help EFL learners improve their reading performance, signaling a need for more professional training on AI integration in language education.
Vietnamese Personal Terms of Address Reflecting Family Cultures and Relationships Based on Halliday’s Interpersonal Metafunction
The article analyzes the role of terms of address in Vietnamese family relationships through three basic elements of the interpersonal metafunction according to M.A.K Halliday's theory of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG): (1) personal expression, (2) social distance, and (3) relative social status. Terms of address not only reflect feelings and mental states but also express social and cultural positions in the family. The paper uses descriptive and discourse analysis methodologies to clarify the communicative functions and cultural significance of the terms of address' system in the relationships between husband and wife, grandparents and grandchildren, parents and children, and siblings. These terms assist in maintaining family cohesion and affirm cultural values such as affection, respect, and family responsibilities. The preservation and adaptation of these pronouns in traditional ways can contribute to maintaining harmony and sustainability in Vietnamese family relationships.
Reflections on Taboo Symbols in Tamkesi Sacred Spaces
The purpose of this study was to examine the symbols in taboo expressions in the sacred places of the Tamkesi traditional village. The symbols in taboo expressions were examined through an ethnosemiotic lens to explore the deep cultural meanings that represent the cultural values of the Tamkesi community. By implementing a qualitative method with an ethnographic approach, this study utilised meticulous reading to reveal the meaning and cultural values of symbols in taboo expressions of the Tamkesi community. Data were collected from usif (king) and tribal chiefs, through in-depth interviews and continued with in-depth observations of the lives of the Tamkesi community to obtain a deep and comprehensive understanding of culture. Data were analysed through a structural systematic approach comprising data reduction, presentation, and conclusion. The results revealed that the taboo symbols of the Tamkesi community in sacred places were full of meaning, both literal or denotative meaning and cultural or connotative meaning that represent the cultural values of the local community in building harmonious relationships with God, nature, society, fellow human beings, and themselves. The existence and belief in this sacred place emphasised spiritual values that support human behaviour in building relationships with nature, society, fellow human beings, and oneself. The findings of this study contribute to the fields of ethnosemiotics, linguistic anthropology, and several data user authorities such as village governments, the Department of Tourism and Culture, language institutions and field of education to archive and formulate policies related to taboos as part of local wisdom.
Determining and Systematizing the Grammatical Minimum Required for a Lexicogrammatical Dictionary of the Kazakh Language
This article examines the theoretical and methodological foundations for identifying the grammatical minimum to be included in a lexico-grammatical dictionary designed for teaching Kazakh as a foreign language. The study is grounded in the communicative needs of foreign language learners (non-native speakers) and adopts frequency, structural simplicity, and cultural-cognitive significance as the key criteria for selecting grammatical material. The grammatical categories of the main parts of speech in Kazakh (nouns, verbs, adjectives, numerals, pronouns, adverbs, particles, and interjections) are systematized and presented through a contrastive analysis with English. Grammatical forms are introduced not through direct translation but via functional explanation and descriptive equivalents. Grammatical units that lack direct equivalents are explained through examples that reveal their semantic and pragmatic functions. The results demonstrate that presenting lexis and grammar as an integrated system enhances learners’ communicative competence and increases the practical value of the dictionary. The article provides a theoretical foundation for instructional and lexicographic works aimed at teaching agglutinative languages as foreign languages.
Misinterpretation of Diplomatic Language and Conflict Escalation: A Comparative Linguistic Analysis of Four International Crises
Diplomatic crises are commonly examined through strategic or institutional frameworks, yet the role of linguistic interpretation in shaping escalation dynamics remains under-theorized. This article analyzes how misinterpretation of diplomatic language contributes to conflict escalation through a comparative qualitative study of four international crises: the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), the Iraq War (2003), the Russia-Ukraine conflict (2014), and the Israel-Hamas war (2023-2024). Drawing on speech act theory, pragmatics, intercultural communication, practice theory, signaling theory, and translation studies, the analysis traces how illocutionary intent, pragmatic inference, diplomatic repertoires, and cross-linguistic mediation interact under strategic uncertainty. Across cases, the findings reveal recurrent patterns of communicative breakdown, including misalignment between illocutionary force and perlocutionary effect, failures of diplomatic recognition, and meaning shifts introduced through translation. The article conceptualizes miscommunication as a structural feature of crisis diplomacy and highlights the central role of language and mediation in shaping escalation and restraint.
Fairy-Tale Character Names and Sound Symbolism: An Experimental Study of Back and Front Vowels in Kazakh
This study aims to experimentally investigate how the sound-symbolic functions of back (low) and front (high) vowels are realized through the semantics of fairy-tale characters. The experiment was conducted online using the Google Forms platform and involved 55 participants. As research material, six short fairy-tale-like texts were used, each describing semantically opposed characters (e.g., a brave Lion vs. a cowardly Rabbit, a strong Wolf vs. a weak Calf). After each text, participants were presented with pairs of artificial words that were phonologically contrasted: forms dominated by back vowels versus forms dominated by front vowels (e.g., bobobo vs. bibibi). Participants were asked to rate how well each artificial word matched the given character on a 5-point ordinal scale (1–5). The collected data were analyzed in the R statistical computing environment using non-parametric statistical methods. The results demonstrate that the effect of sound symbolism varies depending on character semantics. Artificial words dominated by back vowels were consistently rated higher for characters associated with “bravery”, “strength”, and “largeness”, whereas forms dominated by front vowels were preferred for characters associated with “cowardice,” “weakness,” and “smallness”. These differences were statistically significant. In contrast, characters related to movement speed showed an asymmetrical sound-symbolic effect, while no significant differences between back and front vowels were observed for light–dark imagery or texture-based characters. Overall, the findings indicate that the sound-symbolic potential of back and front vowels is dependent on the specific character image and its semantic domain.
Narrating Inequality: Social Criticism, Power Structures, and Moral Crisis in Ayu Utami’s Saman
Social phenomena in Indonesia continue to reflect social inequality, human rights violations, and gender injustice despite advances in technology and freedom of expression. This study examines the forms of social criticism represented in Ayu Utami’s novel Saman, focusing on poverty, crime, family disorganization, violation of norms, and environmental degradation. The study employs a qualitative descriptive design using a sociocritical or literary-sociological approach, which views literary texts as reflections of the interaction between the author and social reality. The data consist of excerpts from the novel that represent social phenomena. Data were collected through close reading and systematic note-taking, then classified based on Soekanto’s categories of social criticism. Data validity was ensured through bibliographic triangulation and citation consistency checks. The analysis was conducted descriptively and interpretively to reveal the social messages and human values contained in the novel. The findings show that Saman strongly voices social inequality and the failure of social systems in protecting society, as seen in the portrayal of poverty, crime and sexual violence against women, family disorganization, violations of legal and social norms, and environmental damage caused by forced plantation clearing. This study enriches the understanding of social criticism in Indonesian literature and demonstrates how literary works function as a medium of moral and social reflection, encouraging awareness of justice, humanity, and social responsibility.
Predictors of Learner Satisfaction in Video-Based ESP Assessment: A Factor-Analytic and Regression Study From Vietnam
This study employs exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and multiple regression analysis (MRA) to identify the key predictors of learner satisfaction with video-based assessment (VBA) in an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) context. Data were collected from 100 Public Relations students at a private university in Vietnam. Six constructs were examined: English skill gains, soft skill development, external motivation, internal motivation, perceived difficulties, and overall satisfaction. EFA confirmed the factorial validity of the instrument, while MRA revealed that only two factors exerted a statistically significant positive effect on satisfaction: soft skill improvement (β = 0.322, p < .05) and English language gains (β = 0.295, p < .05). Contrary to expectation, perceived difficulties and both motivational constructs showed no significant predictive effect. These findings suggest that skill acquisition — rather than motivational orientation or contextual challenge — is the primary driver of satisfaction in technology-mediated language assessment. Implications for ESP course design and digital assessment practice are discussed.
The Role of English Language Skills in Promoting Leadership in Energy and Industry Sectors: Insights From Saudi University Teachers
This study examines teachers’ perspectives regarding the relevance of the English language skills for developing leadership in the Saudi higher education context for the energy and industrial sectors. The data was collected using structured questionnaire based on quantitative method from 40 ESP instructors through a structured 25-item questionnaire covering leadership development, teaching practices, skill development, challenges and career readiness. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean scores and coefficients of variance. The results indicated that teachers had a strong belief in the contribution of English language teaching to the development of leadership qualities, communication skills, critical thinking, employability and global competitiveness. Interactive ESP activities including presentations, discussions and negotiations were seen as useful for developing leadership skills. However, the study indicated a few obstacles such as students’ lack of English proficiency, unavailability of industry-specific teaching materials, lack of institutional support, time limitations and the need for more teacher training. The study suggests that ESP-based English instruction plays a vital role in preparing students for leadership and professional achievement in energy and industrial sectors, especially, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
Characterization of the Historical Figure Isatay Taimanov in Sherniyaz Zharylgasuly’s Poetry
This qualitative study examines how Sherniyaz Zharylgasuly characterizes Isatay Taimanov, the leader of the liberation uprising, and demonstrates his embodiment of the warrior-hero archetype reflecting the historical and cultural essence of Kazakh society in the early 19th century. Using characterization techniques such as embossing, consistency, typification and contrast, Sherniyaz creates a multifaceted and morally courageous character, symbolizing resistance to oppression and the defense of national dignity. The comparative analysis with other significant literary works confirms the archetypal consistency of Isatay as a heroic leader and defender of the people. While Sherniyaz Zharylgasuly emphasizes Isatay’s military prowess and moral integrity, Makhambet emphasizes his spiritual sacrifice and broader social ideals, and Shorekov and Yershu portray him as a defender of honor and a voice of vengeance. Such images enhance the psychological depth and social significance of Isatay’s character, highlighting the enduring cultural relevance of the warrior hero archetype in Kazakh literary and historical memory. They also illustrate how artistic narratives can serve to reconstruct a historical figure, embody collective values and address themes such as justice, leadership, and national identity. Sherniyaz Zharylgasuly’s poetry, situated within this broader literary tradition, affirms the crucial role of poetic discourse in preserving and reviving Kazakh heroic heritage, enabling a better understanding of the interplay of history, literature and cultural identity in Kazakhstan’s literary heritage.
Social Justice in Mbue’s How Beautiful We Were: A Marxist Perspective
This research delineates the specific manifestations of social injustice within the novel How Beautiful We Were (2021) and provides a theoretical analysis of these phenomena through a Marxist lens. The writer uses a qualitative descriptive analysis method. Data collection was conducted through careful reading, note-taking, and identification of dialogues and narrative sections that reflect social justice issues, which were then analyzed using Karl Marx’s theory. The results of this study reveal that the novel depicts a widespread “metabolic rift” in which Pexton prioritizes capital accumulation over the environmental and biological sustainability of the villagers. This study also shows the radicalization of the oppressed class as they transition from seeking restorative justice to using retributive revolutionary violence. Ultimately, this study concludes that the struggle ended with the total physical and cultural eradication of the village of Kosawa, validating the Marxist critique that capitalist expansion requires the destruction of indigenous social orders to serve the needs of the global market.
Linguostylistic Features of Representing the Concept of ‘Hunger’ in Selected Kazakh Prose of the 1930s
Contemporary linguistics shows a growing interest in studying language as a polysystem, with particular attention to the interrelation of language, thought, and the cultural worldview. Within this framework, the analysis of literary concepts that represent collective traumatic experiences becomes particularly relevant. This research aims to identify and describe the distinctive linguostylistic features used to represent the concept of “hunger” (golod) in the Russian-language segment of Kazakh prose of the 1930s. The study is based on an integrative approach combining methods of corpus linguistics (frequency, concordance, and collocational analysis employing statistical metrics such as t-score and Mutual Information), cognitive-discursive analysis for reconstructing mental models. A specialised text corpus of works by the key authors of the period (S. Mukanov, B. Mailin, G. Musrepov) was compiled. The findings reveal that the concept of “hunger” (golod) is represented through a stable set of linguostylistic devices. The lexical core of the semantic field is formed by the nominatives “bread” (khleb) (13.6 per 10,000 words), “hunger” (golod) (12.3), “death” (smert’) (9.3), and “to eat” (est’) (10.4), which actualise the biological, social, and symbolic dimensions of the tragedy. Collocational analysis confirmed stable associations with adjectives such as “frosty” (moroznyĭ) (MI = 8.7). Distinct authorial strategies were identified: an emphasis on social evil (Mukanov), natural force (Mailin), and redemption (Musrepov). The results confirm the hypothesis that linguostylistic devices constitute the principal mechanism for constructing literary meaning and emotional impact, reflecting the collective experience of dehumanisation and the loss of traditional ways of being.
Translating Repetition in the Holy Qur’an: A Diachronic Analysis of Rhetorical Equivalence in English Translations
In this study, the translation of repetition, which is a crucial rhetorical and stylistic aspect of the Qur’an, is analyzed in four major English translations of the Qur’an that span three centuries: Sale (1734), Rodwell (1861), Khan (1905), and Qaribullah and Darwish (2001). Qur’anic repetition has various purposes, such as emphasis, cohesion, or rhythmic prose, but when translated into English, where translation tends to favor lexical variety, specific challenges are posed. Using Vinay and Darbelnet, Nida and Taber, Baker, and Venuti as frameworks, this study utilizes a range of methodologies that are both descriptive, qualitative, and comparative in nature to analyze thirteen Qur’anic verses that involve repetition on three levels of hierarchy: word-level repetition, verse-level repetition, or non-verse repetition. This paper argues that while early translations tend to be more paraphrastic, reducing repetition, more recent approaches tend to be more literal, effectively conveying the oral nature of the Qur’an. Literal translation is found to be an effective translation technique in carrying the semantic, pedagogical, and aesthetic roles of repetition. This study contributes to the development of an analytical framework for the function of repetition as an indicator of rhetorical translation in sacred texts, resolving the conflict between linguistic equivalence and theological meaning. It also shifts the focus from repetition being an unnecessary stylistic device to an intentional rhetorical device in the Qur’an.
Literary Language in Early Islamic Poetry: From Pre-Islamic Bravado to Refined Expression
This study examined how poetic language among the Arabs transformed after the advent of Islam, and how the word, which in the pre-Islamic era was a tool of pride and warfare, became, in the Early Islamic Era, a means of education and refinement. Poetry was not abolished; rather, it redirected linguistic expression toward serving values and ethics. The study analysed selected poems by prominent poets such as Ḥassān ibn Thābit, Kaʿb ibn Zuhayr, and Labīd ibn Rabī‘ah, who lived through both eras. The results showed that these poets are clear examples of this transition, as they succeeded in maintaining linguistic strength while achieving stylistic refinement. Their poetry before Islam was marked by vigor, verbal prowess, and great tribal pride, often expressed through exaggerated language. However, with the arrival of Islam, the context changed, and the poets adopted a new tone—one of humility and faith—and began using poetry to defend truth and promote principles. The findings also revealed changes in terminology, a calmer and more thoughtful rhetorical style, and a shift in focus from pride to meaning. The poet came to realise the weight of his words and viewed them as a responsibility. The refinement of language reflects the broader cultural and theological transformation experienced by the Arabs. The significance of this study lies in clarifying the connection between language and values, demonstrating how words can build rather than destroy, and showing how Arabic literature evolved from hyperbole and conflict to wisdom and harmony.
What Do English Learners Ask? A Categorization of Language Questions on HiNative
This paper examines the types of English-language questions posed by learners on HiNative, a global peer-to-peer language learning platform. While online question-and-answer platforms have been widely adopted for language learning, the linguistic focus and distribution of learner-generated questions in self-access digital environments remain underexplored. Drawing on a linguistic content analysis approach informed by learner autonomy, the study systematically classifies learners’ questions across key linguistic domains. Using qualitative content analysis, a dataset of 783 learner-generated inquiries was categorized into key linguistic domains (grammar, vocabulary, usage, pronunciation, idioms, translation, comparison, formality/contextual use, and other). The findings reveal a predominant focus on meaning-oriented questions, particularly translation (34.2% of all questions) and vocabulary (21.5%), while grammar and pronunciation queries were comparatively rare. This distribution suggests that learners prioritize communicative meaning, lexical expansion, and pragmatic appropriateness over formal rule-focused learning. Such inquiry patterns highlight learners’ reliance on their first language as a bridge to the target language and their pursuit of precise and natural usage in authentic contexts. These results contribute to second language acquisition research by offering insights into learner priorities in informal, technology-mediated settings, with implications for the design of adaptive learning resources and learner support systems.
Associative Meanings of Animals in the Linguistic Consciousness of Kazakh, English, and Chinese Speakers: A Comparative Study of Idioms and Proverbs
This article examines and compares the associative meanings of animal-related lexical items that possess culturally marked connotations and are actively used in everyday communication in Kazakh, English, and Chinese. The analyzed lexical units are classified into three groups: (1) words with similar cultural connotations; (2) words with different or even opposite cultural connotations; and (3) words that share the same conceptual meaning but carry cultural connotations in one language while lacking them in another. The study identifies pig, snake, and rooster as animals with identical or similar cultural connotations across the three languages; dog, owl, cat, and bat as animals with divergent cultural connotations; and ostrich, silkworm, crane, fish, Bactrian camel, and locust as animals whose cultural connotations are present in some languages but absent in others. The associative meanings of these lexical items are analyzed comparatively, revealing both similarities and differences. Furthermore, the cultural connotations of animal-related words in Kazakh, English, and Chinese are substantiated through idiomatic expressions, set phrases, and proverbs. The primary aim of the study is to enhance mutual understanding between different peoples and cultures and to help overcome communicative difficulties. In addition, the research contributes to the development of ethnolinguistics, cognitive linguistics, linguocultural studies, paralinguistics, and pragmalinguistics by offering a comprehensive and modern approach to language analysis.
A Critical Discourse Analysis of Agency Concealment in the Speeches of Kamala Harris and Spoljaric at the 60th Munich Security Conference
In the context of security negotiations, speeches that promote peace and stability are never ideologically neutral; rather, they contribute to the legitimization of existing power relations. This study aims to examine the linguistic strategies through which agency is concealed in speeches delivered at the 60th Munich Security Conference in 2024, with particular attention to how both the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars are legitimized or contested through selective representations of agency. Adopting a mixed-method approach, the study applies van Leeuwen’s (2008) framework of social actor exclusion combined with van Dijk’s (2024) model of nominalization to uncover the role of linguistic strategies in revealing ideologies. Two speeches delivered by American Vice President Kamala Harris and the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, were analyzed. It was found that genericization and nominalization strategies were remarkably employed in Harris’s speech to conceal the agent in comparison with Spoljaric’s speech, which preferred suppression to completely anonymize the agent. Moreover, both speakers resorted to indetermination to render responsibility vague, particularly when addressing sensitive content. Ideologically speaking, Harris concealed agency to naturalize negative actions in the Middle East and to redirect blame and responsibility in the Eastern European war, while Spoljaric highlighted the victims, generating sympathy to delegitimize war in international security conferences. It is concluded that agency concealment is employed not only by humanitarian actors but also by political actors as a strategic tool to legitimize or delegitimize war.