Linguistic Forum (LinFo) (E-Journal)
Not a member yet
137 research outputs found
Sort by
Attribution of Transitivity Roles and Characterization in Heart of Darkness
Get PDFThe objective of this paper is to study the characters of Marlow and Kurtz from Joseph Conrad’s novel ‘Heart of
Darkness’ and their roles in the action and why they are called counterfoil to each other. Therefore, the focus is
not on what is done (action) but who is doing what (character). I propose to use systemic functional grammar to
explore these characters and their roles in the novel. Especially, I will make use of character’s transitivity
profile following Simpson’s (2004, p.119) statement that, ‘the transitivity profile embodied by a text is generally
a useful indicator of character in prose fiction’. This paper also aims to show how an investigation of process
types can function as a rewarding analytical tool for character analysis. Following this, it has been observed that
Marlow is a sensor while Kurtz turns out to be in an actor’s role which means that Marlow reflects while Kurtz acts.
Marlow observes everything but does not participate in action while Kurtz’s role is in clear contrast to him as he
is more of an action guy and his dominant process types are material processe
An Application of Fairclough’s Three Dimensional CDA Approach to Fraser Anning's Speech in Australian Senate
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to highlight impression markers, identify key concerns, and describe cultural as well as social implications of a speech delivered by William Fraser Anning (an Australian Senator) in the Australian Senate on August 14, 2018. In this regard, Fairclough’s three-dimensional model was employed to interpret the data. The speaker was observed employing different impression markers (e.g. discourse and punctuation markers, cultural and historical references, personal pronouns, self and other markers, and expressive and rational values) to create coherence in the speech, emphasize the stance, and thereby grab the attention of the audience. Social problems, common man’s worries like joblessness, poor living standard, race, ethnicity and immigration were the concerns of the speech. Muslim immigrants were not treated as humans equal to Australians or other Europeans. They were labeled as ‘welfare-blunders’, ‘terrorists’, ‘gang-terrorists’, ‘criminals’, and ‘illegal occupants’. The speech was followed by an extremist attack on a Mosque in New Zealand. It might cause serious threat to peaceful coexistence, immigration process, and basic human rights
A Corpus Based Study on Shell Nouns in Natural and Social Science Research Articles
Get PDFThis study examined structural and functional analysis of shell nouns in research articles of social and natural science
disciplines. The purpose of this research was to conduct an analysis of shell nouns with reference to the lexicogrammatical patterns in the academic compositions of Pakistani research article writers. In this regard, this research
utilized both qualitative and quantitative techniques for analysis through Antconc software 3.2.4. The data was randomly
selected from 20 research articles that were divided into two groups. The principles of Schimd’s (2000) lexicogrammatical patterns, with their functions, were used as an analytic tool for this research. The results revealed that
social science writers used lexico-grammatical patterns more frequently with their function in their writing to develop
more cohesiveness by following the taxonomy of Schmid (2000) as compared to natural science research article writers
Comparative Translational Semiotic Analysis of ‘The River of Fire’ through Systemic Functional Linguistic Approach
Get PDFThis study aimed to: find out semiotic devices in literary texts in the light of Halliday’s transitivity process; and
classify De Saussure’s two-part model of sign and thereby know that what logical connections lie between transitivity
processes and semiotic devices. Data comprised of the text of a novel ‘The River of Fire’ by Qurratulain Hyder and
analyzed through qualitative and quantitative methods. UAM software was used for the analysis of SFL transitivity
processes and De Saussure’s model of sign was employed to analyze the language as a system of the sign. This process
was applied to both versions (i.e. English and Urdu) of the same novel to compare the results. In this way, comparative
technique was also utilized. As a result, all process types were observed in English and Urdu texts. Material and
relational were the most characteristic processes in English and Urdu texts respectively. Through the analyses of
English and Urdu texts of the novel, the processes of transitivity were observed involving the semiotic model of the
sign. In addition, the signifier and signified were observed through the processes of systemic functional linguistics
which meant that there existed a logical connection between semiotic devices and transitivity process
Inclusion of Social Media Abbreviations in Communicative Language Testing
Get PDFCommunicative competence is a broader term that covers all knowledge, capacity and skills. This study invites the attention towards communicative abbreviations as used on social media platforms and in electronic communication. Researchers have placed these abbreviations in pragmatic and grammatical knowledge in Batchman’s (1990) model. These abbreviations are internationally recognized and mutually intelligible by the community of social media. Keeping in view the ideas that social media is the active and easily accessible platform to get information and express views, and a large number of world’s population (being the active user of social media) uses different abbreviations in communication; this study proposes to assess the communicative competence of speakers with the help of the abbreviations. Knowhow of these abbreviations will help the speakers perceive and produce information on social media more actively and quickly. List of abbreviations with their meanings has been given in this study. Keywords: abbreviations; CLT; communicative competence; social medi
Investigating Content and Language Integration in an EFL Textbook: A Corpus-Based Study
Get PDFThis research evaluates an English language textbook from CLIL perspective. For this purpose, an intermediate level
(grade-11) English language textbook has been selected and analyzed utilizing Coyle’s conceptual framework of 4Cs
(i.e. content, cognition, communication and culture).Content, communication, and culture have been explored through a
checklist, whereas cognition has been explored by developing a corpus from the questions given in the exercises of
the textbook and analyzing in the light of Bloom’s taxonomy. The results reveal certain breeches between CLIL
features and the textbook’s contents. Layout, learning outcomes, organization of the content, subject matter,
authenticity of the text, exercises, and focus on language skills does not seem to match with CLIL perspectives.
Listening and speaking skills are observed to be ignored. Moreover, the exercises do not seem to foster critical
thinking and interaction between students and teachers. Most of the questions are observed covering only first two
levels (i.e. knowledge and comprehension) of Bloom’s taxonomy. The study concludes that CLIL principles are not
integrated in the textbook. Therefore, the textbook is not suitable to an ESL/EFL setting
Analyzing the Linguistic Components of Pakistani English: An Indigenized Legitimate English Variety
Get PDFThis study tries to present a local variety of English that is used in Pakistan and is known as Pakistani English or
‘Pinglish’. It is recognized an official language in Pakistan. The paper briefly highlights its history; sources of
its emergence, its various altered forms, underlying socio-cultural and religious effects that have an influence. It
is to analyze the indigenized peculiarities by observing different phonetic components, sentence structure, morphology,
lexis and phonology. Previous contributions on the advancement of this variety have acknowledged its legitimacy to a
great extent. The study presents an influence of first language onto the pronunciation of the second language. In short,
it examines that Urdu nouns and other group of vocabulary items within Pakistani variety of English are utilized
intentionally and with determination, where its speakers have their own Urdu words present as substitutes