SEARCH ARTICLE

36 Pages : 356-362

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-I).36      10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-I).36      Published : Mar 2021

A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Linguistic Features of Billboards

    The present research, "A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Linguistic Features of Billboards", has been accomplished in order to make a comprehensive analysis of the fact how advertising is manipulating and altering the basic philosophies, dogmas, creeds and ideologies of the common people. Advertising is a vast field, and it has influenced the lives of all of us in the last decades. Keeping this factor in view, the researcher has made an attempt to uncover those aspects which remain hidden in the glamorous and eye-catching commercials which contribute to the capitalist's efforts to make maximum profit by thrusting his products on the customers. The researcher has done the linguistic analysis by using Norman Fairclough's model of Critical Discourse Analysis (1993) of the billboard advertisements. The researcher has analyzed the language and images used on the billboards and had made an attempt to find out the basic notions for which these linguistic expressions have been used in the boards. For this purpose, he uses various tactics. The sincerity which is illustrated in the billboard advertisements by the advertiser is not factual. The real picture is on the other side.

    Linguistic Features, Critical Discourse Analysis, Exploitation, Billboards
    (1) Saleha Aftab
    MPhil Research Scholar, Department of English, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Multan Campus, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Muhammad Khurram Iqbal
    Lecturer in English, Government College of Technology, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Abdul Rashid
    Lecturer in English, Bahadur Sub Campus Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan.

13 Pages : 119‒127

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-III).13      10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-III).13      Published : Sep 2021

Identifying Features of Pakistani Learners Writing Through MDA and Coh-Metrix

    Learner language has been a source of interest for researchers of all times as it possesses common features of language in use. For investigating this, Multi-dimensional analysis (MDA) by Biber is one such approach that empirically studies practiced language and establishes grounds for those varieties too which are striving for their place in linguistic cline (Crossely, et al., 2014). The present research is an effort to explore common patterns of learner language, which are explored throughCoh-Metrix (an online data tagging tool used to assess cohesion, coherence,readability level, etc.) to study those features and their respective functions while partially using MDA methodology. Following Biber's methodology,Factor analysis was conducted, and four dimensions were identified, which provided clues for the functional association of these dimensions. The results show that Pakistani learners' argumentative writing possesses narrative features and is dominatingly overlapping at the level of vocabulary,syntactic constructions, and passage development, and even in argumentation. These findings help us to establish the fact that Pakistani English has its own identity. These results are helpful for linguists as well as teachers as the knowledge of common linguistic and syntactic structures can be assessed easily while keeping in mind the grade level of the students.

    Coh-Metrix, Factor Analysis, Multidimensional Analysis, ICLE, Corpus Linguistics
    (1) Rabia Tabassum
    Government College University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Mahwish Farooq
    Senior Lecturer, Department of English, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Muhammad Asim Mahmood
    Government College University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

07 Pages : 68-83

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-IV).07      10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-IV).07      Published : Dec 2021

Multimodal Discourse Analysis of Egyptian Political Movies: Framing Social Justice in the Movie Ahl El Kemma (Cream of the Crop)

    Nascent research is conducted on the advancement of discourse analysis in film to include different modes as images, sound and text. This study is focused on how images are embedded within texts in an audio-visual medium such as cinema to highlight political messages; it also seeks to broaden our understanding of politics beyond a relatively narrow conceptualization of the "political" through studying non-traditional discourses such as cinematic discourse. The aim of the study is to develop a systematic approach to film analysis to examine political nuance sin film. The method adopted in this research is Multi modal Discourse Analysis (MDA) focusing on embedding visuals, audio, and text in the film to examine how a political meaning can be conveyed through the interaction between those different modes. Drawing on the multi modal discourse analysis literature, different modalities will be studied to understand how those modes interact in the cinematic discourse. The film, "Cream of the Crop", is selected as an example to examine how political meanings in film can tackle the cinematic representation of the notion of social justice. This study contributes to the vast array of literature on the multi modal discourse analysis of films by focusing on political dynamics within them.

    Egyptian Cinema, Multimodal Discourse Analysis, Social Justice, Social Class, Desert, "Cream of the Crop" , the 25th of January Revolution
    (1) Mariam Waheed Mekheimar
    Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

48 Pages : 511-519

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-I).48      10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-I).48      Published : Mar 2022

The Role of Discourse Analysis in Understanding Language Teaching and Learning

    The role of Discourse Analysis (DA), which is important in teaching and learning language, is discussed in this paper. DA allows researchers to analyze speech and writing, shedding light on the social structures, power dynamics, and cultural contexts through which classroom lives are enacted. The presentation introduces DA and its theoretical bases and then discusses its educational use. Research has found that DA improves teaching through critical thinking and differentiated instruction. For example, it shows how specific classroom communication patterns and student engagement can stack up to improve outcomes. Through case studies, the paper presents practical insights into how DA shapes curriculum and pedagogy that includes students’ linguistic backgrounds. Finally, it concludes by asserting that incorporating DA into language classrooms fosters effective communication and cultivates the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate global interactions in a diverse society.

    Discourse Analysis, Language Teaching, Language Learning, Pedagogy, Education
    (1) Khalid Azim Khan
    Consultant Academic Accreditation, Deanship of Development and Quality, Umm Al Qura University, Saudi Arabia.
    (2) Aziz Ullah Khan
    Assistant Professor, Department of English, National University of Modern Languages Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (3) Ayyaz Mahmood
    Assistant Professor, Department of English, National University of Modern Languages Islamabad, Pakistan.

03 Pages : 29-41

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).03      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).03      Published : Mar 2023

A Quantitative Analysis of Existing and Expected Status of the Ethics and Morality in High School Curriculum in Punjab

    The study aimed to analyze the current and expected level of the ethics and morality in high school education. A Quantitative Survey Research Design was applied by the study. The required data needed to be specific and relevant, therefore, the stratified random sampling technique was used to collect data from a population of all stakeholders of education in the Punjab: teachers, parents, students, administrators, policy makers and curriculum developers. The data was collected from 500 participants who used Thurstone scale to show their priorities by scaling the 77 items of the 7 questions regarding their importance and these collected priorities were further analyzed by using Borda Count Method “to explore the degree of intensity of the prioritized items”. According to the result of the study, the current status of the concepts of ethics and morality taught at the secondary level is not up to the required standards and lack planning. Therefore, to develop moral attitude, the religious and spiritual values need to be inculcated through moral stories and disciplinary rules using lecture, group discussion and story-telling methods to ensure overall personality development with social adjustability. It is recommended by the researchers to revise the existing curriculum to make it practical and operational for the optimum effectiveness.

    Analysis, Existing Status, Expected Status, Ethical And Moral Education, Thurstone Scale, Borda Count Method, Secondary Level
    (1) Syeda Tehzeeb Alvi
    Assistant Professor (Visiting), Department of Education, University of Education, Bank Road Campus, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Zoobia Asad
    Lecturer, English Language Centre, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Ibra, Oman.
    (3) Farheen Saeed
    Assistant Professor, Department of English, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

26 Pages : 289-300

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).26      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).26      Published : Mar 2023

Treatment Of Environmental Issues In Leading Pakistani Dailies

    Environmental issues are contemplated as the most frightening and challenging issues that occurred due to climate change. These environmental issues are disturbing the whole world including living species. Pakistan is also facing issues regarding environmental changes. Pakistan is considered the 7th most susceptible country in terms of environmental disasters. The current research is conducted to study and analyze the treatment of Pakistani English papers in the coverage of ecological issues and the basic drive of this research is to evaluate the “media representation of environmental issues” as discussed in leading Pakistani dailies (Dawn and The News). The content analysis is used to know the frequency and direction of environmental issues. The universe of the study contains textual content of print media including news stories and editorials. It is concluded that The News, gives more coverage to environmental issues as compared to Dawn newspaper in terms of news stories and editorials.

    Environmental Issues, Media Representation, Pakistani English Dailies, Content Analysis
    (1) Nasim Ishaq
    School of Communication Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Ghazala Kanwal Ejaz
    Govt. Fatima Jinnah College (W), Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Noor
    Govt. Fatima Jinnah College (W), Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

31 Pages : 341-351

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).31      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).31      Published : Mar 2023

Employability of a Research Method and Methodology in a Socio-Legal Study

    Research methods and methodology are inherent in research whether it is in the form of a research paper, a dissertation or a book. This paper enables readers to choose how to select a particular research method, methodology, and research approach or research philosophy for a respective study. For this purpose, a presumptive study or hypothesis has been chosen as an example to employ research methods and methodology. For instance, the aim of a study is to investigate the corporate governance framework of Pakistan, to develop a board effectiveness model and to explore the role of institutional investors in order to make the execution of the code of corporate governance true sense. This paper presents the epistemological grounds of this study and the rationale for a qualitative exploratory study using an interpretative and descriptive approach to the enforcement mechanisms of corporate governance, the role and effectiveness of the board of directors and the part of institutional investors in the corporate sector of Pakistan. Furthermore, it provides details of the data collection and data analysis methods used for the said study, establishes the trustworthiness of the study and justifies the ethical considerations involved in the study. This paper would be a meaningful contribution to this existing knowledge, as the reader of this paper will be able to understand how to opt for a suitable methodology for a study.

    Research Methods, Methodology, Epistemological Grounds, Data Collection, Data Analysis, Validity and Reliability, Ethical Considerations
    (1) Samza Fatima
    Associate Professor of Law, Principal, University Gillani Law College, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.

33 Pages : 365-374

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).33      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).33      Published : Mar 2023

A Planning Study on Spatial Attributes of Bus Stop Location for Efficient Public Transportation System

    The most convenient and important part of the public transportation system is that provided by public buses, the most practical and cost-effective type of public transportation system. An expert system alone cannot accurately locate a bus stop. The "Natural Movement" theory of Space Syntax provides a deep understanding of "centrality" and urban activity, predicting the city's most dynamic streets and areas that serve as centres of urban activity. This study analyzed the city of Mansehra, Pakistan to provide a scientific evidence-based approach to planning of efficient transportation system. To find the best routes and bus stops, we computed centrality through spatial analysis and urban activity index, and vehicular and pedestrian traffic volume indices. The results of this research highlighted areas that are considered optimal traffic routes, busy city streets, and city centres, and represent the best locations for bus stop spacing in the city.

    Space Syntax, Spatial Analysis, Bus Stops Optimization, Spatial Attributes, Mansehra City, Public Transportation
    (1) Zobia
    Master Student, National Institute of Urban Infrastructure Planning, University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Ubaid Ullah
    Lecturer, Department of Architecture, University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar, Abbottabad Campus, KP, Pakistan.
    (3) Shabbir Ullah
    Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar, Abbottabad Campus, KP, Pakistan.

02 Pages : 10-21

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-III).02      10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-III).02      Published : Sep 2022

Collaboration Trend and its Impact on the Research Productivity in Computer Science Research

    Apart from a few bibliometric studies of limited scope, the Pakistani scientific system is a scantly researched area requiring large-scale empirical evidence-based studies. This study aims to explore various features of collaboration in research and its impact on the performance of computer scientists in Pakistan. Over 15,494 SCOPUS-indexed publications in the area of computer science for the period 1997 to 2017, having at least one Pakistani author, were analyzed. The findings of the study disclosed the important role of collaboration in the citation count of the publications. International collaborative works and the more countries in collaboration significantly impacted the number of citations. The study's findings revealed that collaborative publications are more frequently cited and considered of high quality. This study is the first large-scale quantitative analysis of research collaboration, represented by co-authorship in computer science research in Pakistan.

    Research Collaboration, Computer Science, Citation Analysis, Scientometric Analysis, Research Performance, Pakistan.
    (1) Muhammad Asif
    Manager, Information Technology University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Khalid Mahmood
    Professor, Institute of Information Management, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Alia Arshad
    Assistant Professor, Institute of Information Management, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

18 Pages : 191-200

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).18      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).18      Published : Jun 2023

Learner vs Teacher Centered Classes: Critical Discourse Analysis of Stakeholders' Stance from Socio-Cognitive Perspective

    The research conducted for this study took place in a Pakistani educational institution. It compared the learner-centred (LC) and teacher-centred (TC) methods and investigated the learners' opinions regarding each method. This study employed qualitative methodology. Two classroom discussions were recorded in LC and TC modes to capture data. Participants in the study were given an open-ended questionnaire. Analyses of data were guided by Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The application of the socio-cognitive model (Dijk, 2006) and 3D model (Fairclough, 1995) revealed speech and ideology differences between TC and LC. The learners preferred the LC method. This research will encourage other academics to research different instruction methods. This research will also benefit applied linguists, particularly language teachers, to determine the effectiveness of teaching methods.

    Learner-Centered Method, Teacher-Centred Method, Teaching Methodology, Critical Discourse Analysis, Socio-Cognitive Model, 3D Model
    (1) Nadia Nisar
    PhD Scholar, Department of English Linguistics, Government College Woman University, Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Muhammad Sabboor Hussain
    Assistant Professor, Department of English Linguistics, Government College Woman University, Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan.