International Journal Online of Humanities
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Appropriate Methods of ELT in the Current Indo-Bangla Context
No full textThis paper claims that for any ELT methodology to be effective, the social context in which it is utilised must be taken into account since they represent the ideology and politics of the West, which rules the world by upholding Anglo-Saxon standards, establishing norms, and imposing its ideologies on non-Western nations. The classroom techniques and activities or tasks used in ELT methodology are primarily Western in origin and orientation; they promote the Western learning group ideals, learner autonomy, learner centeredness, group work, pair work, role play, simulation, and drama techniques – all of which are foreign to teaching-learning cultures in the periphery. However, this paper chooses to liberate ELT from methodological imperialism and promote critical, non-prescriptive, locally generated, bottom-up methods suitable for the present setting of India and Bangladesh to make ELT methods appropriate to the socio-cultural requirements of learners and teachers
Gender Stereotypes and Language Indices of Sexual Violence in Lagos State Universities
No full textThis paper presents an aspect of the result of a British Council Funded project on " Preventing sexual violence on university campuses in Nigeria" using Braun and Clarke (2006) Reflexive Thematic theory to analyze listening exercises from three purposively selected institutions in Lagos State with insights from theoretic elements from linguistic Pragmatics. Findings reveal that female students are unable to speak up against sexual violence because of stereotypes relating to respect for elders, proximity to the opposite sex and assumptions
Phonological Simplification Strategies in Oromo-Speaking Children: A Perspective from Optimality Theory
No full textThe present study aimed at investigating the developmental phonological simplification methods in the normally developing Oromo speaking three year olds. Hence, a total of sixteen children from western Oromo speakers were selected. The collected speech samples were transcribed according to IPA. The study utilized Optimality Theory (OT) in investigating the creative adaptations in the speech of the participants. The most frequently encountered strategy was systematic replacement, where markedness outranks faithfulness. The patterns were largely preoccupied with sound preference replacements. Some of these patterns were found to be language-specific, while others declared universality. Full assimilation in clusters was found to be language-specific, but lateralisation, fronting, backing, devoicing, and final consonant deletion were found to be universal patterns across languages. The current research is interested in the intricate interaction of strategies of phonological simplification in the early speech development of Oromo-speaking children and presents information on language-specific as well as universal patterns
Theme Structure and Thematic Progression Patterns in the Introduction Section of Psychology and Biotechnology Research Articles: A Comparative Study
No full textStudies on thematic structure and thematic progression patterns focused on abstract and discussion sections of scientific research articles. Therefore, there is a need for more studies investigating other sections of research articles. In this paper, we investigated thematic structure and thematic progression patterns in Biotechnology and Psychology research article introductions to capture any significant differences between these two fields. These two fields represent, respectively, hard and soft sciences. Halliday’s (2014) Systemic Functional Linguistics approach to language and McCabe’s (1999) thematic progression patterns were adopted in this study as the frameworks for the analysis. After collecting 30 articles with a total word count of 19,517 words, 15 in Biotechnology and 15 in Psychology, the data was manually analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Frequency count of Theme aspects was carried out using Excel. After that, a t-test was conducted to evaluate the significance of the differences across the two fields. The results indicate a preference for using unmarked Themes more than marked Themes in both disciplines. There was also a similar tendency in both disciplines to use more textual Themes than interpersonal Themes. Finally, the most employed thematic progression patterns were the constant pattern, followed by the zig-zag. The split Rheme and split Theme patterns were rarely used. Future studies need to investigate thematic structure and TP patterns in the introduction section of research articles across other disciplines in order to capture the differences between fields
Home Language Use in Multilingual Workplace: Exploring Practices, Attitudes, and Relevance in Ngaoundere Public Administration
No full textThis paper is a sociolinguistic study that investigates the use of the mother tongue in Ngaoundere public administration, Adamawa Cameroon, highlighting common practices, the public workers’ attitudes and the relevance of the phenomenon. A sample population of 115 civil servants was surveyed and data were collected using a mixed method approach combining both participant observation and questionnaire. Fishman’s Domain Theory (1972) and Giles’ Accommodation Theory (2007) served as theoretical frameworks for the analysis. The results show that more than the half of civil servants (54.78%) frequently communicate in their mother tongue, especially in Fulfulde, with public users, colleagues or friends to clarify messages or discuss casual topics. The majority of them accommodate their language to the public users’ code choice, when necessary, without resistance. They do not raise an eyebrow when they hear colleagues speaking to each other in their native language (74.78%) or colleagues speaking to public users in their native language (74.78%). Interestingly, a significant proportion of staff (60%) recognise the relevance of mother tongues in administration, highlighting their role in improving service delivery, work cohesion and increasing trust and citizen engagement. The study concludes that the use of the mother tongue in the workplace is a key factor in effective public administration and advocates policies that support multilingualism to improve governance and service delivery in Cameroon’s local administrations in the era of decentralisation
Semantic Analysis of the Tick (V) Symbol in Tanzanian Context
No full textThis study explores the semantic significance of the tick or check mark (V) symbol in Tanzania, where its use extents to education, business, healthcare, and everyday life. Despite its widespread application, there is limited research on its varied interpretations across different contexts in the world and within Tanzania. Historically, the tick symbol has origins in Roman voting practices, where it represented "veritas" (truth), and its meaning has evolved with changes in writing technology. This study employs a qualitative research approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews with educators, healthcare professionals, and civil servants, alongside document analysis, to investigate the symbol’s semantic meanings. Guided by Semiotic Theory, the research aims to clarify how cultural and contextual factors shape the understanding of the tick symbol, in due course seeking to improve communication practices and enhance comprehension of symbolic meanings in Tanzanian society
Othering Nature: A Critical Examination of the Representation of Environmental Marginalization in Chigozie Obioma’s The Fishermen
No full textThe term “othering” has long been synonymous with the intricate needlepoint of human-to-human interactions within the literary domain. When literary scholars engage with the concept of “othering”, they often delve into the multifaceted ways in which it is embodied and experienced by individuals; illuminating the profound psychological and social repercussions of alienation. However, scholarly inquiry has traditionally afforded limited attention to the phenomenon of environmental “othering” within a multitude of literary works, particularly within the rich and diverse landscape of African literature. The dynamics of marginalization and the intricate nuances of the human-nature relationship remain underexplored in contemporary African literary discourse. Consequently, this paper endeavours to scrutinize the modalities of nature’s othering as articulated within African narratives, thereby charting a novel trajectory in ecocritical scholarship. The investigation will focus on the acclaimed novel The Fishermen (2015), employing a critical lens to illuminate how the text encapsulates environmental othering through the actions and utterances of its characters. This article will be confined to a thorough critical discourse analysis of Chigozie Obioma’s The Fishermen, elucidating the complexities of nature-othering manifested in the narrative. Moreover, it will deploy a thematic analysis to excavate the recurrent motifs and tropes that permeate the selected novel, thereby revealing the intricate interplay between the human experience and the natural world. Through this exploration, the paper aspires to contribute substantially to the field of ecocritical studies, fostering a richer understanding of the ethical implications of environmental othering in African literature
Allusion as a Medium of Gender Reconstruction in Selected Chi Nemerem’s Facebook Narratives
No full textPatriarchy is on the threshold of death, and the "survived" children of Okonkwo are fighting very hard to preserve his legacies. The need to preserve patriarchy arises as a result of ideological battle won by feminism and its effects on men and society. This study examines selected Chi Nemerem’s Facebook narratives on gender and suggests that Chi Nemerem engages in narrative gender reconstruction through allusion. Using the qualitative research approach, the study analyzes some of the narratives and finds that the narrator engages in reconstruction of gender in the texts, using allusions to gender. This study concludes that the technique of allusion enables Chi Nemerem to realistically reconstruct gender discourse, even as she utilises non-gender-based allusion as a means to reconstruct the identity and roles of genders in society. The study concludes that in his selected Facebook narratives, Chi Nemerem, employs allusions as a reality check on the positions raised by the feminists, for he employs familiar social incidents as a means of recreating the stance of feminist ideologues
Enhancing English Learning and Skill Development through Digital Storytelling and the Metaverse in Palestinian Media Education
No full textThis quasi-experimental study looks at how immersive technologies, especially digital storytelling and the metaverse, affect the skill development of Palestinian media students. The study sought to assess the efficacy of these tools in improving vocational and personal abilities such as communication, creativity, self-expression, and English proficiency. The study, which took place across three campuses (Al-Quds Open University, Birzeit University, and Al-Quds University), included 50 students who participated in a structured six-week program that included digital storytelling and metaverse-based activities.
To capture skill development results, the technique included both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, such as pre- and post-assessment questionnaires, interviews, and observational data analysis. Data were evaluated statistically to detect noteworthy changes, and thematic analysis gave insights into students\u27 experiences and issues.
The results showed considerable gains in all targeted skill areas, particularly communication and English competence. Students also reported increased creativity and self-expression, demonstrating the transformational power of immersive technology in media education. However, the study revealed several obstacles, including technological limits, resource accessibility, and the need for proper training in these technologies.
The ideas include incorporating digital storytelling and the metaverse into media curriculum, filling technical infrastructure gaps, and offering training programs for educators and students to exploit the benefits of these technologies. By utilizing immersive techniques, Palestinian educational institutions may create a more inventive, engaging, and skill-oriented learning environment that equips students to face current media issues
Unlocking English Language Mastery: A Comprehensive Review of Translanguaging in EFL Classrooms
No full textThe ability to transfer meaning from a source language to a target language is crucial, particularly in EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classrooms, which is why translanguaging is one of the methods that enable teachers to deliver learning materials that are not only in one language but are needed. It provides two languages that can be used together to make teaching and learning easier. This article employs a comprehensive review technique to analyze existing literature on the topic and aims to outline the use of translanguaging in EFL classrooms. The researchers reviewed five studies to explore the benefits and challenges of implementing translanguaging in EFL classrooms through its similarities. The findings reveal that translanguaging improves students\u27 comprehension, reduces their language anxiety, improves their participation and understanding in the classroom, and supports teachers in clarifying instructions. Furthermore, this article mentioned the potential of using translanguaging in EFL classrooms as an effective teaching method, providing advantages for teachers and students. By synthesizing a wide range of studies, this article contributes to a deeper understanding of translanguaging in EFL contexts and offers a comprehensive perspective for scholars and practitioners