Baynoon Centre for Studies and Development (BCSD): OJS
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Contemporary Greek Poetry as World Literature
Get PDFIn this paper, I argue that Greek poetry is a living tradition characterized by a diversity of voices and styles and that Greek poetry is a vital part of contemporary World Literature. The diversity of voices in contemporary Greek poetry gives it both aesthetic value and political relevance. Greek poetry, as it survives translation into a number of languages, including English, gives us a model for the successful translation of texts in both World literature and Comparative literature. A thematic analysis of some poems is presented in this paper. The aim is not to chronicle the contemporary Greek poetic production but to show how Greek poetic tradition continues to expand beyond national boundaries.
Racism, Ethnic Discrimination, and Otherness in Shakespeare’s Othello and The Merchant of Venice
Get PDFThis study aims to present a comparative examination of the traces of racism and discrimination in two plays of Shakespeare, Othello and The Merchant of Venice, written in 1603 and around 1598, respectively in the Elizabethan Period. The attempt in this paper is to explore the construction of racism and the evidences of discrimination as depicted in Othello and the Merchant of Venice by use of the deconstruction of marriage. For this purpose, it deconstructs the marriage by focusing on Othello in Othello, and The Prince of Morocco in The Merchant of Venice; and, depicts racism and discrimination by comparing the characterizations of Othello in Othello and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. Both sections critique the cruel issues these people experienced as other. The notion of ‘otherness’ and its application in the characterizations of Othello and Shylock, Othello vs. Shylock, the application of deconstruction of marriage to Othello and The Prince of Morocco, and racism in Othello and The Merchant of Venice are among the major items on which this article elaborates following by a conclusion describing the role of human conscience in racial and religious discrimination
Subaltern Perspectives in Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea: A Comparative Study
Get PDF This paper analyzes the textual function of cultural representation of subaltern identity in the construction and maintenance of First and Third World relations in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea. It focuses on dominant discursive practices that pervade the texts, exploring how the hegemonic ideology of the West is operational in constructing value systems while simultaneously rendering the Third World subjects as subaltern. Both works are upheld by language use that facilitates the understanding of hierarchical structures of power relations and the possibilities of resistance to that project. It shows how Mr. Rochester has been a dominant voice and an authoritative figure in the dehumanizing legacy of patriarchy and imperialism. In Jane Eyre the dominant discursive space restricts the individual identity of Bertha Mason about whom no subjective voice is given to her to claim her identity. But Wide Sargasso Sea functions as a “re-inscription” of Jane Eyre in the sense that Antoinette/Bertha voices and struggle for her identity. Her subjectivity and individual identity are not given but distorted by dominant power structures and discourses that presents ideological contention in the existing social relations and identities
Breaking the Boundaries: Reimagining the Comparative Literary Method and Pedagogy in the Philippine Literature Classrooms
Get PDFAt present, the Philippines is the only country that still implements the remote learning setup due to the COVID19 pandemic. This ongoing condition has placed educators to rethink how to scaffold the lessons and hone the demands of the 21st century amidst the current limitations of Filipino teachers and students. The challenge is to commit to a consistent dialogue in the virtual classroom without compromising the necessary skills, content, and learning competencies to hone the students’ literary competence. Even before the pandemic, the discipline of comparative literature has had ongoing debates about its interdisciplinarity, its framework and method as a mode of inquiry in the academia, and its pedagogy in relation to teaching world literature. With the COVID19 pandemic, the compelling issues of the discipline resurface as another layer of challenge is apparent: engaging the students to read and examine the literary texts not just through close reading, but with an eye for parity in online distance learning. This perspective article seeks to showcase how, for now, the only comparative literature program in the country offered at the Department of English and Comparative Literature of the University of the Philippines Diliman can be integrated into teaching literature in universities and classrooms in the Philippines. More importantly, this paper seeks to propose ways to streamline the program in making up for the Philippine comparative literary studies through its method, and pedagogy.
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions: The Effect on Performance of Building Technology Lecturers
Get PDFPurpose: This study aimed to examine the Effect of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) on the Performance of Building Technology Lecturers in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Methodology: Three research questions guided the study in which survey research design was used. The entire population of the study was 216, comprising 84 building technology lecturers and 132 higher technical officers from six tertiary institutions in Nigeria. A 38-item questionnaire was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability method was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument at a coefficient of 0.89. A total of 216 copies of the questionnaire were administered and 210 copies were retrieved, representing a 92% return rate. The data collected was analyzed using mean, standard deviation and t-test.
Results: The study found out that there exist 5 items on how the indoor air quality (IAQ) affect building technology lecturers’ performance in Nigerian tertiary institutions, 5 items on how thermal comfort affect building technology lecturers’ performance in Nigerian tertiary institutions, 7 items on how building acoustics affect building technology lecturers’ performance in Nigerian tertiary institutions and 6 items on how ergonomics affects building technology lecturers’ performance in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The study also found 6 items on challenges of installing Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), facilities and 10 items on the ways of providing and improving Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Practical Implications: Lecturers’ role on monitoring and maintenance of IEQ in offices could be enhanced through appointment of Desk officer in each faculty of the tertiary institutions. The Desk officer will liaise between the lecturers and maintenance unit of the institutions on IEQ issues.
Originality/Value: The study concluded that improved indoor environmental quality has a tremendous impact on lecturer’s performance, comfort, workspace utilization and overall productivity
The Impact of the English Language used in Social Media on English Language Learners at the Undergraduate Level in Sargodha
Get PDFPurpose: The study aimed to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the English language used in social media and its impact on English language learners at the undergraduate level in Sargodha.
Approach/Methodology/Design: Five private colleges in Sargodha were selected through convenient sampling. A total of 82 learners participated in the study and the individual perception of each learner was recorded using a questionnaire as a data collection tool. Due to the nature of the study tool, descriptive and inferential statistical design was adopted to analyze the collected data using SPSS, version 20.0. The reliability of the questionnaire was substantiated using reliability statistics (Cronbach’s alpha).
Findings: The results indicated that social media plays a vital role in advancing the language learnability of English language learners. It proved instrumental in enhancing vocabulary and improving the overall reading, writing, listening and speaking skills of the learners. It was also found that the overwhelming use of shortened forms, slang, and incorrect sentences on social media adversely affects the academic writings of the learners. However, the overall perception of the learners signified that social media positively impacts the learnability of the English language learners. Moreover, though practicing social media is imperative in learning the English language, the use of informal English language may prove a future risk to Standard English.
Practical Implication: This research contributes to understanding the role of social media in language learning. The findings of the study present practical implications for teachers as well as learners to direct the teaching/learning process in a better way, adopting appropriate ways of writing English on social media.
Originality/value: This study is different from other similar existing studies as it focuses the perception of the learners towards English language learning through social media in the Pakistani context, and empirically examines the impact of the English language used in social media on English language learners at undergraduate Level in Sargodha.
Problems Faced By Students in Writing English Academic Summary
Get PDFPurpose: This research investigates the problems faced by college students in writing English academic summary.
Methodology/Approach/Design: The method used includes surface strategy taxonomy by Heidi Dulay and non-linguistic problem using personal interview. The data were collected from 35 original summary writing documents for the linguistic sources and Zoom meeting video recorder for the non-linguistic sources. The samples were 7 students in 5th semester of English Education Department, Islamic State Institute of Kediri. To gather data, the researchers employed a random sampling technique. The data analysis used descriptive qualitative methods.
Results: The result of the data analysis shows that the students committed four types of surface strategy taxonomy: omission, addition, misformation, and miss ordering. Misformation is the type of common problem found in the students’ summary writing. In the personal interview, it was found that misunderstands about advanced-vocabulary is the common non-linguistic problem. These represent the problems faced by students.
Practical Implications: This research study has implications for teachers and students. The results can be of use for improving students’ writing and designing alternative teaching skills for this important skill.
Originality/Value: Summary writing process helps the students to expand their view about proper academic writing. This situation suggests that summary writing is a good strategy technique to be applied in college students. However, the ability in writing an academic summary using surface strategy taxonomy needs to be improve
Maturity on the Horizon: Is the United Arab Emirates Ready for a Teacher Educator Framework?
Get PDFPurpose: Research on teacher educators is fragmented but different trends are emerging from a variety of contexts that recognize it as a distinct profession. This research aims to highlight the features of a potential UAE teacher educator framework that has emerged from my research on authentic professional learning, and where professional learning might be focused in the future to build on teacher educators’ professional knowledge in the UAE. This paper explores the potential characteristics of a UAE Teacher Educator Framework through the methodological lens of narrative inquiry.
Approach/Methodology/Design: Teacher educators have formal associations in the USA, Belgium, The Netherlands, Israel, and Australia and these associations have professionalized the industry and created standards and frameworks to support professional learning. No such associations or standards exist in the United Arab Emirates. Drawing on the work of Keltchermans (2018), Kreijns (2019) and the existing frameworks from other contexts, this paper illustrates the potential blueprint for the UAE education sector.
Findings: The findings suggest that inter-cultural learning and sensory awareness of the contextual factors that underpin the sector may allow teacher educators to feel empowered to support teachers and their peers in a complex cultural and economic environment.
Practical Implications: The practical implications propose a new way of working and thinking within the UAE context, and the framework can be applied and adapted to both the public and private sectors.
Originality/value: Teacher educators have formal associations in the USA, Belgium, The Netherlands, Israel, and Australia and these associations have professionalized the industry and created standards and frameworks to support professional learning. No such associations or standards exist in the United Arab Emirates so this work offers significant value in an under-researched space
Mucoadhesive Drug Delivery Systems: A Review of Recent Developments
Get PDFPurpose: The aim of this article is to present a review of mucoadhesion drug delivery systems. The review covers the mucoadhesive concepts, polymers used, theories and mechanisms of mucoadhesion, and factors affecting the mucoadhesive dosage forms.
Study Design: An extensive review was carried out on mucoadhesion formulations, applications, mechanisms, theories, and polymers used in these dosage forms.
Results: Mucoadhesive drug delivery system can interact with the mucus membrane, which covers the mucin molecules and mucosal epithelial surface. This interaction leads to an increment of the dosage form residence time at the site of absorption and hence increasing the bioavailability, efficacy of drugs, and improving therapeutic outcomes. Polymers are used to provide muco-adhesion of the dosage form, enhancing drug release pattern, solubility and dissolution of inadequately soluble drugs.
Conclusion: Mucoadhesive drug delivery systems were found to be the best alternative approaches for the traditional dosage forms to enhance bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs and to avoid GIT degradation and first pass metabolism of some drugs