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Reconfiguring Development in the Postcolonial Female Bildungsroman: Avni Doshi’s Burnt Sugar and the Limits of Teleology
This study re-examines the concept of development through the lens of the classical genre of bildungsroman, while interrogating its teleology, coherence, and integration, which have historically been rooted in European modernity and colonial epistemology. While postcolonial and feminist studies have highlighted the exclusions inherent in this genre, there is a dearth of conceptual terms to think through alternative forms of development. In this context, this article seeks to address this gap by using Avni Doshi’s Burnt Sugar (2020) as a text that actively theorizes development in situations of epistemic instability, relational ambivalence, and postcolonial constraint. This study uses a theoretical close reading method, engaging with Spivak’s concept of epistemic exclusion, Bhabha’s concept of third space, and Boehmer’s concept of narrative resistance. Burnt Sugar uses fragmented temporality, unreliable narration, and resistance to closure to reconfigure development as a non-teleological, recursive process that is shaped by memory, trauma, and unresolved relational dynamics. This study makes three contributions: one, rethinking development as survival-in-relation; two, using unreliable narration to think through subjectivity in situations of epistemic instability; and, three, rethinking the postcolonial female bildungsroman as a counter-genre that challenges the colonial logic of development. Thus, this article contributes to a rethinking of development as a non-teleological, recursive, and relational process rather than one that is rooted in coherence, integration, or closure.
Copyright (c) 2026 Theory and Practice in Language Studies
Semantic Extension and Grammaticalization of SAME in Korean Sign Language (KSL) and Korean
Semantic extension and grammaticalization have been extensively studied in spoken languages, but sign languages remain relatively underrepresented. This paper investigates the semantic extension and grammaticalization of the lexeme [same] in Korean Sign Language (KSL) and compares them with the spoken Korean counterpart kath- ‘be same’. The investigation yields both commonalities and differences in the developmental paths of these two lexemes. Parallels are found particularly in their progression from the original meaning of identicalness to the more abstract meaning of correctness, and further to epistemic-evidential functions, such as inferential conjecture, and the pragmatic-interactional function of mitigation. While both [same] in KSL and kath- in Korean undergo grammaticalization, their trajectories are partly shaped by modality-specific constraints. The spoken modality allows kath- to evolve toward similarity, whereas the visual-spatial modality of KSL, constrained by iconic distinctions, prevents [same] from extending into the domain of similarity, as this function is already occupied by the iconically related sign [similar]. While previous studies on modality-specific grammaticalization in sign languages have focused primarily on the process of gestures evolving into lexical items, the present study opens up the possibility that additional modality-specific factors may influence the pathways of grammaticalization as well as lexical semantic extension in sign languages.
Constructing Identity Through Language: A Critical and Appraisal-Based Analysis of Veronica Roth’s Insurgent
Identity construction has recently received attention in psychology and philosophy, but little research has examined how identity is constructed linguistically and emotionally in Veronica Roth’s Insurgent. This paper aims to investigate how identity is constructed through language, ideology, and emotions. The research adopts a qualitative approach based on identity types, Vignoles’ functions, Bamberg’s model of identity construction, intersubjective tactics, Van Dijk’s ideological square, and Martin and White’s appraisal framework to analyze the data. The findings reveal that identity in Insurgent is effectively constructed through personal, political, gender, and cultural dimensions. Furthermore, emotions and ideology operate interdependently to shape and construct identity through affect, judgment, and appreciation, which reveals internal struggle and social conflicts. The study concludes that identity construction in Insurgent came from the interaction between ideology and emotions with discourse, demonstrating how identity is developed and shaped in each situation with different ideologies and emotions.
Micro-Level Peer Scaffolding in Academic Essay Writing Among Symmetrical Vietnamese EFL Learners
Guided by Sociocultural Theory, this study explores micro-level peer scaffolding strategies used by symmetrical EFL university students across pre-, while-, and post-writing stages. Using a mixed-methods design, data from audio recordings, interviews, and questionnaires (N=150) were analyzed via an expanded coding framework. Results show scaffolding is stage-sensitive: conceptual strategies (e.g., Questioning–Clarifying) dominated pre-writing; strategic moves (e.g., Stating–Modeling) guided drafting; and evaluative strategies (e.g., Suggesting–Rewording) supported revision. Affective scaffolding, though less frequent, underpinned a collaborative climate. A key finding was the gap between observed frequent questioning and learners' lower self-reported use, suggesting culturally mediated implicit mediation. The study offers a stage-based scaffolding model, demonstrating how reciprocal peer dialogue within a shared ZPD transforms writing from an individual task into a co-constructed process, with implications for fostering autonomy and competence in collaborative EFL writing instruction.
Tastes of the Past: Food, Sensory Experience, and Memory in Hisashi Kashiwai’s Two Novels
The paper explores the intricate interplay between sensory studies and memory in contemporary food literature. The novels analyzed in the paper are Hisashi Kashiwai’s The Kamogawa Food Detectives (2023) and The Restaurant of Lost Recipes (2024). Using the interdisciplinary field of sensory studies and the concept of memory, the paper examines how sensory experiences through food allow for the exploration of themes like memory, forgetting, and remembering in literature. In the selected novels, food becomes a conduit for memories, helping characters recollect nostalgic memories by stimulating their senses. The paper looks at memory as not only a cognitive process but also a multisensory embodied event connected to food and consumption. The novels depict the process of remembering as both sensory and affective. The relationship between food, sensory studies, and memory is triadic, where each element reinforces the other. In addition to bringing back long-forgotten memories, food and its sensory experiences provide individuals with emotional resonance and catharsis. This allows them to heal emotional wounds caused in the past. The paper also studies how food in literature encompasses broader themes, depicting the importance of food in understanding oneself. Furthermore, the paper analyzes how Kashiwai’s depiction of food is deeply rooted in washoku, or Japanese traditional food culture, thereby embedding sensory memory within broader cultural, geographical, and emotional contexts. Through this triadic relationship, the paper discusses how food in Kashiwai’s novels offers a nuanced portrayal of healing, remembrance, and the preservation of cultural identity.
The Impact of the Conker Digital Chunking Platform on Arabic Reading Comprehension Among Eighth-Grade Students
This study explored the impact of digital chunking through the use of the Conker Platform on eighth-grade students’ Arabic reading comprehension. The study sample included 74 students who were divided into an experimental group that used the Conker platform for 10 weeks and a control group that studied through the traditional method. The results revealed that the experimental group achieved significant improvements in all levels of comprehension. Literal comprehension increased by more than 30 points, and inferential comprehension increased even more, which is important because it is harder than literal comprehension and requires direct training. The students in the experimental group used feedback 12 times a week, while the control group used it only 3 times. Critical understanding also improved significantly. The experimental group also completed more activities, which showed that the platform increased their participation and motivation, and their ratings for the platform, including ease of use and clarity of activities, were very high. The study demonstrates that well-designed digital platforms that employ effective teaching techniques like chunking have a significant influence and alter the content of the lesson. This indicates that digital education is necessary, especially if we want to raise the reading comprehension level and tackle the reading crisis that clearly appears from eighth grade and beyond. The study recommends integrating digital chunking strategies into teaching, not as a complete replacement for traditional methods, but as a powerful tool that makes comprehension easier, deeper, and more enjoyable.
Translation Procedures in the Arabic Subtitles of “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania”: A Study of Culturally-Bound Content
Translation is considered the fifth dimension of language, a composite of the other four main language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The translation of culturally laden texts found in movies is an asset that connects cultures and communities by breaking down language barriers. This study attempts to identify and analyze the translation procedures applied to culturally-bound sentences in the Arabic subtitles of the animated movie: Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. The research used a descriptive qualitative method to analyze the Arabic subtitles, and thereafter, classified the translation based on Newmark’s taxonomy of translation procedures. Six translation procedures were identified in this movie: literal translation, paraphrase, compensation, cultural equivalent, shifts/transpositions, and descriptive equivalent. The study's findings indicate that one effective way to convey intended meaning, especially for concepts related to cultures that are foreign to the target audience in the case of movies is through frequent use of literal translation of dialogue. This can only be achieved by employing intensive and precise translation procedures. This research underscores the importance of adopting a flexible and procedurally focused approach to translation to preserve the entertainment and narrative value of the film and accommodate cultural diversity. The study’s findings are likely to be useful to all stakeholders in the field of translation.
Developing Deep Learning–Based Digital Instructional Materials for Scientific Writing Integrating Palembang Local Wisdom to Enhance Secondary School Students’ Literacy
This study aims to analyze the need for developing digital instructional materials for scientific writing based on deep learning principles and Palembang local wisdom for secondary school students. The needs analysis was conducted using Nation and Macalister’s framework, which encompasses the aspects of necessities, lacks, and needs. The study employed a research and development (R&D) design. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews, involving 779 secondary school students and 28 Indonesian language teachers as respondents. The data were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The findings indicate a strong need for the development of digital instructional materials for scientific writing that integrate deep learning principles and Palembang local wisdom. In terms of necessities, students require mastery of scientific writing conventions, the ability to develop ideas systematically, the use of appropriate academic language, and learning activities that foster critical and reflective thinking within a relevant local wisdom context. Regarding lacks, the instructional materials currently in use are predominantly theoretical, less engaging, unsystematic, limited in practical exercises and feedback, and do not optimally integrate technology or local wisdom, resulting in suboptimal development of students’ writing skills. Concerning needs, both teachers and students expressed a high demand for interactive, applicative, and contextual digital instructional materials, equipped with step-by-step guidance, authentic assessment, and adequate technical support to enhance the quality of scientific writing instruction in the digital era.
Ancient Toponyms as Historical Witness: Linguistic Reconstruction of Turkic Place Names in Eastern Chronicles
Recent years have witnessed a surge of interest in toponyms as an important historical and cultural heritage. Analyzing their historical etymology provides a better understanding of the role place names perform in the culture and history of a people, as well as in the preservation and transmission of their value to future generations. The aim of this study is to reconstruct the etymology of place names associated with the territory of Central Asia. The qualitative analysis of historical etymology goes beyond the examination of national Turkic sources to include historical sources from other regions, such as East Asia and the Middle East, in which Central Asian geographical names are mentioned. As a result, the study identified Arabic-Persian and Turkic roots in a large number of toponyms, demonstrating close contacts and interconnections between various onomastic traditions. The qualitative research into the origins of ancient Central Asian toponyms strengthens a sense of solidarity and historical continuity among Turkic-speaking communities, highlighting the common linguistic and cultural characteristics of the region. The deep analysis of semantic patterns and historical language contacts contributes to the preservation and revival of the Turkic languages. The research results represent a valuable contribution to linguistics, ethnography, and history, helping to better understand the collective heritage of Turkic peoples and its impact on modernity.
Creativity Flourishes Through Electronic Blogs: Students’ Stories and Experiences in Writing Expression
This study investigated how electronic blogs can foster creativity and enhance writing expression among ninth-grade students by enabling them to capture and reflect on their personal stories and experiences. Conducted with forty-five students from northern Jordan, the research employed semi-structured interviews analyzed through grounded theory to identify patterns in students’ engagement with blogging. The analysis revealed that blogging provides a supportive and interactive digital environment that encourages students to organize their ideas, experiment with language, and develop confidence in their individual writing voice. Students described blogging as a liberating and enjoyable process that transforms writing from a task-oriented activity into an ongoing creative and reflective practice. In addition to enhancing written expression skills, blogging was found to cultivate intrinsic motivation, reduce writing-related anxiety, and strengthen students’ writing identity. The study also contributes theoretically by elucidating how digital platforms facilitate learner agency, creative engagement, and reflective practice in language learning contexts. Pedagogically, it underscores the potential of blogs as innovative tools for student-centered learning, demonstrating that integrating digital writing platforms can transform conventional classroom practices into meaningful, personalized, and engaging experiences that support both cognitive and affective aspects of language development.
Using Eye-Tracking to Decode Spelling Challenges for Iranian EFL Learners in Malaysia
Spelling remains one of the most challenging aspects of English language learning for Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners, largely due to the fundamental orthographic differences between the English and Persian writing systems. This study aims to examine the effect of applying Tabrizi et al.’s (2013) spelling methods on the eye movements of Iranian EFL students in Malaysia during English word memorization. To identify high-frequency errors, preliminary spelling tests were administered, and Tabrizi’s classification was used to categorize participants. Eye-tracking technology (EyeNTNU-120) was employed to record and analyze the eye movements of 14 participants (9 female, 5 male), stratified into high- and low-proficiency groups. The analysis focused on fixation counts, saccade numbers, and "Hot Zones" to reveal differences in visual attention patterns. Findings indicated a significant relationship between eye movement patterns and spelling proficiency (p < 0.05). Specifically, high-proficiency spellers demonstrated more frequent saccades, increased regressions, and longer fixation durations, reflecting active cognitive processing and self-monitoring strategies. Conversely, low-proficiency spellers exhibited fewer and shorter fixations, suggesting shallower processing and difficulty in attending to orthographic details. These results provide valuable insights into the cognitive mechanisms of spelling acquisition and highlight the potential of eye-tracking as an effective diagnostic tool for identifying and addressing spelling difficulties among EFL learners.
Politeness in Kolok Bengkala Sign Language: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of the Deaf Community
Sign language plays an essential role as the primary medium of communication for the Deaf community while simultaneously reflecting the social and cultural values embedded within its users. In Bengkala Village, Kolok Bengkala Sign Language has developed naturally and is used by both Deaf and hearing residents in daily interactions. This study aims to reveal the forms and politeness strategies that emerge in interactions among the Deaf community in Bengkala Village through the use of Kolok Bengkala Sign Language (BIKK). Employing a qualitative approach with ethnographic methods, data were collected through observation, recording, and interviews with Kolok residents, hearing individuals proficient in BIKK, and members of the village’s tourism awareness group (Pokdarwis). The analysis applies Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory within a sociopragmatic framework. The findings show that politeness in BIKK is expressed through gestures, facial expressions, interactional distance, touch, and body movements, all of which are shaped by the local sociocultural context. The Kolok community employs positive politeness, negative politeness, off-record strategies, and bald-on-record strategies influenced by Balinese cultural values such as menyama braya and the harmony principle of Tri Hita Karana. These results indicate that politeness is not limited to verbal communication but also develops significantly within non-verbal communication systems. This study contributes to sociopragmatic research, sign language linguistics, and efforts to strengthen inclusivity in multilingual and multicultural societies.
Beyond Violence: Subtle Trauma, Emotional Neglect, and the Reframing of Trauma, Attachment, Anxiety and Addiction in Elizabeth Vargas’s Between Breaths
Trauma is most commonly associated with catastrophic events such as natural disasters, warfare, domestic violence, or the death of a loved one. However, it is also possible for the greatest wounds to be created silently through omission rather than commission. Some of the greatest traumas are shaped by what didn’t happen in childhood, including the absence of emotional connections, comfort, or responsive caregiving (such as never being included in family discussions, never being positively acknowledged by a parent, or having your emotional needs consistently ignored). The absence creates an invisible structure of injury that affects how children develop trust, form attachments, and understand their environment. This study explores “Small T’’ trauma, which refers to the emotional damage resulting from chronic emotional neglect (as opposed to outright physical harm). While there have been many advances in the area of trauma research in the past few years, the long-term impact of subtle emotional neglect upon narrative identity and adult function remains understudied. Using the foundation provided by John Bowlby's attachment theory and integrating Gabor Maté’s trauma-informed model of addiction and Bessel van der Kolk’s neurobiological perspective of trauma, this research provides evidence of the relationship between early emotional deprivation and adult anxiety, fragile relationships, and addiction. Using an analysis of Elizabeth Vargas’s memoir Between Breaths (2016), this study demonstrates that nonresponsive and unpredictable caregiving can create enduring consequences comparable to violent experiences.
An Innovative Pedagogical Approach to Managing Japanese Language Anxiety Through Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies
This study investigates the prevalence and nature of Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) among Japanese language learners to inform the development of an innovative pedagogical framework grounded in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles. Employing a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, the research integrates quantitative survey data from 247 participants with qualitative in-depth interviews to provide a comprehensive understanding of anxiety dynamics. Findings indicate a significantly high prevalence of Japanese language anxiety, with nearly 80% of learners experiencing moderate to high levels—substantially higher than those typically reported in European language learning contexts. Communication Apprehension emerged as the most dominant component (M = 34.82), particularly in classroom speaking situations and fear of mispronunciation. Fear of Negative Evaluation, strongly influenced by Japanese cultural and linguistic complexities such as keigo (honorific language) and perceived judgment from native speakers, also posed a significant challenge (M = 32.46). Although Test Anxiety recorded the lowest mean score (M = 31.46), 62.3% of respondents reported experiencing the “mind blank” phenomenon during examinations, significantly impairing academic performance. These findings provide essential insights for the design of CBT-based support materials and highlight the need to integrate anxiety management strategies into Japanese language pedagogy, promoting a more psychologically responsive and learner-centered instructional model.
Kazakh Ethical-Philosophical Concepts in Translation: “Aqyl” (Reason), “Jurek” (Heart), and “Qairat” (Willpower) in Abai Kunanbayev’s Works
This paper examines the ethical-philosophical triad articulated by Abai Kunanbayev in his Words of Edification and poetry, namely aqyl (reason), jürek (heart), and qaĭrat (willpower). It investigates how these culturally embedded concepts have been translated into Russian, English, and French, and how translational strategies reflect both cognitive-semantic challenges and ideological contexts. The study combines comparative textual analysis with postcolonial and semiotic perspectives. More than fifty examples of translated passages are scrutinized, demonstrating both the preservation and distortion of meaning in different epochs and languages. Soviet-era Russian translations tended to domesticate Abai’s text, sometimes generalizing or omitting culturally specific idioms, while post-Soviet retranslations and recent direct English and French versions aim to restore the original metaphoric and spiritual richness. Cognitive analysis shows that jürek encompasses not only emotion but conscience and courage, aqyl combines intellect and moral discernment, and qaĭrat signifies willpower as well as vigor and endurance. The novelty of the research lies in its systematic cross-linguistic comparison framed by postcolonial critique, which exposes how translation can simultaneously transmit philosophical universals and embed colonial reframings. The findings argue that Abai’s triad offers a distinctive cordocentric model of human faculties with enduring intercultural resonance, and that only through careful, culturally sensitive translation can its ethical and metaphysical depth be faithfully conveyed.
EFL Learners’ Perceptions of Using Materials Containing Local Culture to Teach Reading
This study explored EFL learners’ perceptions of teaching reading using materials containing local culture. Fifteen students were purposively chosen from different senior high schools in Lombok, Indonesia. The participants were selected using purposive sampling. However, the sample was limited in size and comprised exclusively high-achieving learners, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings. A total of 15 students were selected as participants. Open-ended questions were used to obtain the participants’ perceptions after teaching reading using materials containing local culture. The findings revealed the significant impact of integrating local culture into reading materials for EFL learners. Their comprehension, motivation, and sense of cultural identification were strengthened by the local culture in learning. The learners' cultural environment not only made language acquisition easier but also provided a framework for a closer connection to their own heritage. The findings highlighted the importance of culturally appropriate teaching materials and demonstrated how, in EFL environments, integrating local culture can enhance language acquisition and cultural preservation.
Peter Shaffer's Triad: Myth, Conflict, and Identity
Peter Shaffer’s plays—The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1964), Equus (1973), and Amadeus (1980)—interrogate the dialectical tension between myth and reality, revealing myth as both a psychological necessity and an ideological construct. Through archetypal conflicts (Pizarro’s nihilistic conquest, Dysart’s therapeutic violence, Salieri’s theological envy), Shaffer stages modernity’s existential crisis: the human need for transcendent narratives in a disenchanted world. Drawing on hermeneutic, semiotic, and existential theory, this essay argues that Shaffer’s drama mobilises myth not as escapism but as a “necessary fiction” (Blumenberg, 1985): a scaffold for identity and meaning that ultimately fractures under its own contradictions. Theatrical devices (ritualised horse gods, Mozart’s divine music, Inca sun ceremonies) perform this tension, implicating audiences in the paradox of belief. While The Royal Hunt of the Sun dramatises myth’s death under colonialism, Equus pathologises its survival in madness, and Amadeus exposes its commodification in art. Shaffer’s unresolved dialectic resonates with contemporary struggles, including the erosion of shared truths, the sacralisation of identity, and the therapeutic displacement of the sacred. Ultimately, his theatre becomes a secular sanctuary where myth is both enacted and mourned, offering no resolution but a crucible for collective reckoning. Across these plays, Shaffer mobilises myth to generate conflict and, in turn, to fracture modern identity.
Marginalization in the Nickel Industry: A Sociolinguistic Study of Communities in Central Halmahera, Indonesia
This study aims to examine how language practices reflect power relations, social identity, and forms of marginalization experienced by local communities during the expansion of the nickel industry, especially in the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP). The research employed a qualitative approach of a case study conducted in Central Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province, Indonesia. The 15 informants consisted of community leaders, non-governmental organization (NGO) activists, local government representatives, and local community members. Data were collected from various locations representing industrial centers, coastal regions, and peripheral areas and then analyzed to identify patterns of language use, key terms, and narratives circulating at the local level. The results showed that there was a significant difference in language use between the groups that interacted intensively with the industry and those that were relatively marginalized. Certain narratives contained markers of identity, resistance, and adaptation strategies to socio-economic changes that occur. These findings indicate that language plays a crucial role as an arena for identity negotiation and symbolic resistance, as well as reflecting the power dynamics generated by the industrialization of resources in Central Halmahera Regency.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Cultural Agency in Nadia Hashimi’s The Pearl That Broke Its Shell and A House Without Windows
Afghanistan’s geographical location and chaotic history, marked by external and internal conflicts, have had an indelible impact on the personal as well as socio-cultural aspects of Afghan lives. Afghan literature in English offers global readers an insight into the cultural and historical factors that shape the country. Afghan writers incorporate various indigenous elements into their literary works, reflecting the country’s multiethnic tribal composition. The concept of indigeneity is often associated with colonial histories. However, this study attempts to redefine it within the tribal and cultural structures of Afghanistan. The research situates Afghan literature in English within the discourse of indigenous studies to explore how Nadia Hashimi’s novels The Pearl That Broke Its Shell (2014) and A House Without Windows (2016) preserve and disseminate indigenous knowledge systems of Afghanistan to global readers. Applying Stuart Hall’s cultural representation theory, the research studies how meanings are produced, contested, and preserved in the novels. The close reading and qualitative analysis of the texts reveal indigenous oral traditions of Afghanistan, such as storytelling, proverbs, poetry, magic, traditional healing methods, and cultural practices like bacha posh, becoming dynamic forces that shape the characters’ agency. This study moves beyond the oppression-focused victimization narratives that dominate existing scholarship to reveal how literary texts produce and disseminate Afghan cultural identity by integrating indigenous elements.
Improving Engineering Students’ English Proficiency Through ChatGPT-Assisted Instruction: A Quasi-Experimental Study
English proficiency is crucial for the employability of engineering graduates in non-native contexts. The rise of AI technologies offers new opportunities to enhance EFL instruction in higher education, particularly within engineering disciplines. This quasi-experimental study examined the effectiveness of ChatGPT-assisted instruction in enhancing English proficiency among 60 engineering students at a Saudi university, comparing results from an experimental group using ChatGPT with those of a control group receiving conventional instruction. ANCOVA assessed the effectiveness of ChatGPT assistance compared to traditional instruction through pre-test scores. Improvements in speaking and writing scores were evaluated using paired-samples t-tests. MANCOVA examined the overall impact of the intervention, followed by univariate ANCOVAs for significant outcomes. The findings revealed that students who used ChatGPT-assisted learning experienced significant improvements in their speaking and writing skills compared to those who used conventional instructional methods. The findings suggest that ChatGPT effectively enhances engineering students' English proficiency by offering interactive language practice and immediate feedback. The study demonstrates the immense potential of AI-powered tools to enhance English proficiency, a crucial factor for achieving academic and professional success in global engineering environments.
Sound Symbolism and Conceptual Perception: An Experimental Study Based on English Synonym Sets and Kazakh Basic Semantic Concepts
The main aim of the study is to experimentally identify the cognitive perception characteristics of English synonyms corresponding to basic concepts in Kazakh (big–small, sharp–round, dark–light, heavy–light, fast–slow) and to determine their relationship with phonological and semantic factors. Although issues of sound symbolism and prototypicality have been widely studied in global linguistics, these phenomena have not yet been systematically analyzed in the consciousness of Kazakh-speaking respondents on the basis of English lexis. In this respect, the study addresses a relevant research problem in cognitive linguistics and comparative semantics. The experiment involved 67 Kazakh-speaking participants aged 18 and above. Data were collected via the Google Forms platform using the semantic differential method. For each Kazakh concept, four English synonyms were presented, and their degree of correspondence was evaluated on a 5-point Likert scale. The data were processed in the R statistical environment using non-parametric statistical methods (Friedman and Wilcoxon tests with Bonferroni correction). The results revealed the presence of a clear prototypical center for many concepts. In particular, the words big, small, dark, easy, heavy, fast, and slow were perceived as core prototypes, while other synonyms demonstrated peripheral characteristics. For some concepts, the prototypical structure appeared weak or multicentric. Although the symbolic influence of vowels was partially observed, it was not identified as a decisive factor. The findings demonstrate the complex interaction between sound symbolism and prototype theory and provide a theoretical basis for further research.
Kafkaesque Transformations in Murakami Haruki’s Noruwei no Mori: An Intertextual Analysis
This study investigates Kafkaesque transformations in the novel Noruwei no Mori (Norwegian Wood) by Murakami Haruki, a prominent Japanese literary figure, using an intertextual approach. The research aims to identify how Kafkaesque narrative features are transformed and recontextualized within modern Japanese literary discourse. Employing a qualitative, text-focused method, the analysis draws on intertextual theory, particularly the concepts of hypogram and literary transformation, to examine narrative structure, thematic patterns, and stylistic elements in the novel. The findings indicate that Kafkaesque characteristics in Noruwei no Mori appear through narrative complexity, the distortion of reality, and a subdued yet unsettling narrative voice. These elements are not direct imitations but are adapted to express themes of alienation, memory, and emotional dislocation relevant to postwar Japanese society. The study demonstrates how intertextual transformation functions as a creative strategy in Murakami’s writing and contributes to discussions on the interaction between Western literary traditions and contemporary Japanese literature.
Representations of Childhood in Crisis Discourse: A Visual and Linguistic Semiotic Reading of the Documentary Film "Children of ISIS: No Hope for the Future"
This paper utilizes a combination of linguistic and visual analysis to examine the semiotic constructions of childhood in the documentary "Children of ISIS: No Hope for the Future," employing a blend of linguistic and visual analysis. The study employs qualitative methods to examine the film's visual and verbal discourse, building on the semiotics of Saussure, Peirce, Barthes, and Kristeva. The study posits that documentary discourse functions not only as a presentation of reality, but also as a symbolic reconstruction of it. For instance, the term "ticking bombs" has been employed to frame children within a charged security discourse. Furthermore, the image itself conveys meaning through composition, lighting, and angle, contributing to semantic tension. Intertextuality plays a significant role in unraveling the paradox between asserted juridical imperatives and vita activa. The study posits that journalists and media creators can influence the media's portrayal of children by deconstructing and reconstructing media narratives with semiotic awareness. The objective of this initiative is to establish alternative narratives that place the voices and rights of children at the forefront, ensuring that they are fairly and humanely represented.
Analysis of Standard Indonesian Lexical Borrowing in the Ambai Language
This study examined the incorporation of loanwords into the Ambai language, particularly from Indonesian and Dutch. The findings show that most borrowed words belong to the noun category, including terms related to household tools, clothing, food, and daily necessities. These loanwords have been fully integrated into Ambai speakers’ daily communication, with slight phonetic adaptations. However, the study also reveals that borrowed verbs are rare, indicating that while nouns are easily adopted, verbs may require more structural modifications to fit Ambai grammar. This research employs a descriptive analysis approach, focusing on spoken language data. The data were collected using elicitation, where researchers presented sentences in Papuan Malay to informants to identify borrowed lexical items. The findings highlight the dynamic nature of language contact and adaptation, demonstrating how the Ambai language integrates external influences while preserving its unique linguistic identity. Sentence examples illustrate how loanwords function within Ambai syntax, showing their phonetic and morphological adaptation while maintaining their original meanings. This study contributes to understanding language contact and borrowing, highlighting how Ambai speakers preserve their linguistic identity while incorporating external influences.
Decoding the Justice and Psychological Imbalances: A Scrutiny of SA Lelchuk’s Save Me from Dangerous Men
This paper is an in-depth qualitative analysis of S. A. Lelchuk’s (2019) debut novel, Save Me from Dangerous Men, focusing on the representation of justice and law within this narrative. By implementing a variety of theoretical methodologies and primarily focusing on justice and the legal system, the study attempts to decode the inherent, yet often fabricated, misrepresentation of concepts embedded and hidden in Lelchuk’s revenge fantasy. Through a rigorous examination of themes, characters, and narrative style, this study aims to uncover hidden agendas and their impact on contemporary society, particularly in the depiction of justice in real-life scenarios. The study also attempts a thorough examination of Lelchuk's work through this meticulous investigation into the role of justice. Moreover, the study examines the relevance and significance of revenge in contemporary human life, as people fight for rights and justice. With an interdisciplinary perspective, the study draws insights from cultural studies verging on resistance literature to examine the failure of law and the delivery of justice, which culminates in revenge, and illuminates the cultural relevance of the field in contemporary lives.
The High and Low Speech Level Passive Voice in Javanese and Sundanese: A Comparative Study
This study investigates passive constructions in Javanese and Sundanese by addressing two central research questions: how passive forms in both languages are structurally and morphologically constructed across different speech levels, and how their passive markers function, particularly in expressing intentionality and unintentionality. Employing a descriptive–comparative qualitative approach supported by textual analysis and interviews with native speakers, this research identifies and compares the forms and types of passive voice in each language and examines the semantic roles of their passive markers. The findings show that Javanese exhibits five passive patterns, including verbs affixed with di-, di- -i, di- -ake; their krama counterparts dipun-, dipun- -i, dipun- -aken; verbs with ke- or ke- -an; personal-verb passives; verbs with the infix -in-; and verbs with ka-. Meanwhile, Sundanese presents only two passive types: verbs with di-, di- -an, or di- -keun, and verbs with ka- or ka- -an. A key distinction lies in the opposite semantic function of the ka- prefix: it signals intentionality in Javanese but unintentionality in Sundanese. These findings address the descriptive gap in the comparative study of Austronesian passive systems, clarify the influence of speech levels on morphosyntactic patterns, and provide insights relevant to the teaching of local languages.
Onomastics and Terminology in Kazakh Religious Dastans
This study addresses the lack of a systematic linguistic description of religious onomastics in Kazakh qissa-dastans, where proper names carry a strong text-forming and ideological load. The article identifies and lexico-semantically organises the onomastic units found in religious dastans, refining their terminological status and classification principles within an Islamic worldview. The analysed material includes theonyms and divine epithets, names of prophets, companions and revered figures, sacred place names and names of worship sites, as well as otherworldly names referring to angels, Paradise, Hell and eschatological objects. The methodology combines continuous sampling from the Babalar Sözi corpus with descriptive and contextual analysis, lexico-semantic grouping, componential analysis and terminological verification. The study proposes a two-component classification model based on the opposition pänilik (this-worldly) versus bäqilik (otherworldly), and clarifies how general onomastic terms such as theonym and agionym can be applied to Islamic folkloric material. The results show that proper names structure narration, map sacred geography and character hierarchies, and serve a didactic function, while also revealing continuity between Tengri-related and Islamic naming traditions. These findings support the further development of a terminological framework for Islamic religious onomastics in Turkic contexts.
Technology Integration, Cybersecurity Awareness, and Professional Development Among Saudi EFL Teachers in Special Education Settings
This study investigates technology integration, cybersecurity awareness, and professional development needs among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers working with students with special educational needs (SEN). Using quantitative research design, an online questionnaire was administered to 328 elementary and intermediate school EFL teachers. Findings indicate that participants possess moderate levels of digital competency and security awareness, and that they unanimously recognize a need for further professional development. A significant gender-based distinction emerged: female teachers reported higher levels of both technology integration and security awareness than their male counterparts, despite comparable motivations for professional growth. The study concludes by identifying a clear readiness among educators for targeted training programs to enhance the efficiency, security, and effectiveness of technology use in inclusive EFL classrooms.
Interpreting Tautological Constructions in Arabic and English
Tautologies are discussed extensively within the framework of two opposing views: the pragmatic and the semantic. The former view holds that tautologies are common across many languages and can be interpreted in a similar manner, while the latter contends that tautologies are language-specific, meaning that an accurate interpretation can only be obtained based on the language in use. This study explores the use of tautological constructions in Arabic and English by looking at areas of similarities and differences in both languages in terms of forms and functions. A corpus of 500 tautological utterances is collected in both English and Arabic. Numerous data collection tools are utilized, namely observation of dialogues taking place between individuals, a task requesting the participants to provide tautological expressions that they use in their daily life and referring to source books and research articles. The cross-linguistic comparison made in this study is limited to modern standard Arabic vs. modern written English to prevent confusion caused by mixing variants. To enrich the study, colloquial Arabic examples are used, but only within-Arabic illustrations, and are not compared directly to written English. The findings reveal that there are many areas of similarities between the tautological systems in English and Arabic, however, areas of differences transcend similarities by far. The differences are exhibited in both forms and functions in the sense that, in many cases, Arabic and English tautologies are formed differently. In addition, Arabic covers a broader spectrum of tautological functions than English, owing to Arabic’s heavy reliance on tautologies. The study lends support to the mediating position that some tautologies can only be interpreted within the context of a specific language, while others can be interpreted similarly across languages.
Pedagogical Integration of Ki Hajar Dewantara’s Neng, Ning, Nung, and Nang Values in the Indonesian Language Learning
This study explores how Ki Hajar Dewantara’s philosophical concept of Neng, Ning, Nung, and Nang, rooted in Javanese cultural wisdom, can be applied to strengthen students’ character through Indonesian language learning. The research aimed to interpret the meaning of these values, namely Neng (serenity), Ning (clarity of thought), Nung (steadfastness), and Nang (true accomplishment), and to identify effective strategies for their pedagogical integration at the junior high school level. Employing a descriptive qualitative design, data were collected through interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis involving three Indonesian language teachers, ten students, and three school principals from three schools in Boyolali Regency, Central Java Province. The findings revealed that integrating Neng, Ning, Nung, and Nang within Indonesian language learning enhanced students’ emotional regulation, critical reasoning, resilience, and moral awareness. Instructional strategies such as project-based learning, problem-based learning, and holistic approaches effectively connected linguistic competence with reflective character formation. The study concludes that the inclusion of local cultural wisdom in Indonesian language education fosters holistic character development, offers a contextual model that aligns with Ki Hajar Dewantara’s humanistic vision, and contributes to revitalizing character education in Indonesia.
Narrating Motherhood as Psychic Architecture: Maternal Narrative Space in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s Before We Visit the Goddess and Amy Tan’s The Bonesetter’s Daughter
Situated in the intimate worlds of private recollections, matrilineal scars and the soft negotiations between memory and migration, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s Before We Visit the Goddess and Amy Tan’s The Bonesetter’s Daughter create a maternal narrative space in which diasporic mothers and daughters confront silence, trauma, and fractured belonging. It argues that this space is constructed not only by plot but by narrative form itself, through letters, manuscripts, embedded family stories, multilingual exchanges, and shifts in focalisation that reveal the emotional labor women perform across generations. Drawing on Nancy Chodorow’s psychoanalytic theory of the reproduction of mothering and Nira Yuval-Davis’s intersectional framework of belonging, the study shows how domestic acts and everyday storytelling become a psychological arena where women work through loss, displacement, and intergenerational conflict. As daughters translate, reinterpret, and rewrite inherited narratives, maternal relationships emerge as dynamic negotiations shaped by memory, migration, and evolving identity rather than as fixed cultural expectations. Positioned at the intersection of feminist theory, psychoanalysis, and migration studies, this paper proposes the contours of a feminist psychoanalytic genre of diasporic maternal storytelling, one that foregrounds interiority, multilingual voice, and intergenerational emotional labor as central narrative principles. Together, these works articulate a distinct model of diasporic maternal storytelling that challenges gender inequalities, validates marginalised linguistic identities, and positions the study within the ongoing dialogue on how narratives can advance gender justice, cultural sustainability, and the visibility of vulnerable women in global literary discourse.
Ethnomathematics & Ethnolinguistics: Cultural and Islamic Values in the Architecture of Taqwa Mosque-Metro, Indonesia
This study explores the intersection of ethnomathematics and ethnolinguistics in the architectural design of Taqwa Mosque in Metro, Indonesia. Employing a qualitative descriptive design with an ethnographic approach, data were collected through field observation, interviews with community leaders, and visual documentation. The mosque’s domes, arches, minarets, and decorative motifs embody mathematical principles such as symmetry, geometry, proportion, and transformation. These elements are simultaneously functional, aesthetic, and symbolic, embedding Islamic values and local cultural traditions. Ethnolinguistic expressions, including Arabic calligraphy and Lampung script inscriptions, further reinforce cultural identity and religious narratives. The findings reveal that the mosque functions as a “living text,” integrating mathematical and linguistic knowledge with spiritual and cultural meaning. The novelty of this study lies in its dual-disciplinary lens, which simultaneously connects ethnomathematics and ethnolinguistics in the analysis of Islamic architectural space—an approach rarely applied in previous research. This perspective not only highlights the cultural epistemologies embedded in mosque design but also demonstrates the potential of mosque architecture as a contextual learning resource for both mathematics and language education. The study underscores the importance of culturally responsive pedagogy that aligns educational practice with students’ sociocultural environments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented study in Indonesia to integrate these two fields within the context of mosque architecture, offering new insights into character-based education in multicultural and religious settings.
Ideological Labeling, Binary Oppositions, and Canon Formation in Sabit Mukanov’s Critical Discourse on Writers of the Alash Period
The relevance of the present study is determined by the need to reconsider Sabit Mukanov’s critical discourse on the writers of the Alash period as a space of interaction between Soviet ideological evaluation, literary-critical analysis, and the formation of Kazakh literary historiography. The aim of the study is to identify how ideological markers, binary oppositions, and literary-linguistic techniques of evaluation function in S. Mukanov’s work XX ğasyrdağy qazaq ädebieti (Kazakh Literature of the Twentieth Century) and participate in shaping the literary status of the authors under analysis. The methodology of the study is based on lexicographic-semantic verification of evaluatively loaded vocabulary, literary-discursive and critical discourse analysis, analysis of binary oppositions, strategies of legitimation / delegitimation, and historical-literary interpretation of more than 180 literary-discursive fragments. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the development of an integrative model of ideologically marked literary evaluation and in the substantiation of the concept of negative canonization with reference to the Soviet critical description of writers of the Alash period. As a result of the study, it was established that ideological markers in S. Mukanov’s text function not in isolation, but in interaction with evaluative nomination, predication, antithesis, binary oppositions, and historical-literary attribution. The main findings of the study confirm the dual function of S. Mukanov’s critical discourse as an instrument of Soviet delegitimation and, at the same time, as a form of preserving the writers of the Alash period in national literary memory.
Apocalyptic Aspects Portrayed in Cormac McCarthy's The Road: An Ecocritical Study
The objective of this research is to explore the environmental themes shown in Cormac McCarthy's novel, titled The Road, with a focus on the depiction of the apocalyptic aspect and the relationship between humans and nature. This descriptive qualitative research uses the ecocriticism theory by Greg Garrad to analyze the data and address the related questions. he novel vividly depicts that the center of attention is nature dying. This study's findings reveal a landscape shrouded in ash, with burned forests and nearly unbreathable air. The father and the boy demonstrate how the apocalypse compels individuals to reduce life to its most fundamental elements. Material things mean little. What matters are relationships, trust, and moral choices.
The Impact of Active Learning Strategies on Enhancing University Students' Written Expression Skills
The paper revealed the impact of active learning strategies in enhancing the written expression skills of university students from the faculty members’ perspective. The methodology involves using the descriptive survey approach. An item-based questionnaire is utilized as a research instrument. The results demonstrated a moderate effect of active learning strategies in enhancing the written expression skills of university students from the faculty members’ perspective. The paper opens new venues articulated in calling on faculty members to diversify active learning strategies when teaching the different stages of written expression, especially while students are writing, as group work can significantly benefit from this stage.
Establishing Inter-Rater Reliability in CEFR-Based Textbook Evaluation: Evidence From a Fleiss’ Kappa Study
Reliability is a central concern in research on textbook evaluation, particularly when judgments depend on the subjective interpretation of pedagogical features. In the context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) has become the dominant benchmark for assessing curricular alignment. Yet, while numerous studies claim that textbooks are evaluated against CEFR guidelines, few report systematically on the reliability of such evaluations. This paper addresses this gap by examining inter-rater reliability in the evaluation of an EFL textbook marketed by a ‎renowned international publisher as aligned with the CEFR A2 ‎level. Three expert raters independently applied a validated 22-item evaluation instrument to 20 reading comprehension lessons. Agreement was measured using Fleiss’ Kappa ( ), a statistic specifically designed for categorical data involving multiple raters. The results revealed a consistently high level of inter-rater reliability, with a pooled Fleiss’ Kappa of 0.89. These findings confirm the robustness of the evaluation instrument and demonstrate that with rigorous rater training and independent coding, subjective bias in EFL textbook evaluation can be effectively minimized. The study contributes a methodological model that enhances the rigor of EFL textbook evaluation studies by advocating for evidence-based validation procedures.