Journal of Language and Literature Studies
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203 research outputs found
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Maxim Violations and Humor in Trevor Noah’s Stand-Up Comedy: A Pragmatic Analysis
No full textThis study aims to analyze the violation of conversational maxims in Trevor Noah’s stand-up comedy performance entitled “How to Not Order at an Indian Restaurant”. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method with Grice’s Principle of Cooperation theory as the main analytical framework. Data in the form of video transcripts were analyzed to identify the types of maxim violations that occur, as well as to understand how these violations function in building humorous effects. The results showed that all four types of maxims-quantity, quality, relevance, and manner-were violated in the performance, with the violation of the maxim of relevance being the most dominant. The findings show that maxim violations do not necessarily hinder communication, but can be creatively used to create humor and convey cultural messages implicitly to the audience. This study contributes to the broader field of pragmatics by demonstrating how non-cooperative language use can enhance audience engagement and meaning-making. It also advances humor theory by highlighting the pragmatic mechanisms through which linguistic deviation fosters comedic effect and cross-cultural understanding
EFL Learners’ Perceptions on the Use of Flashcards in English Vocabulary Learning: A Lesson from Remote Schools
No full textLearning English vocabulary is quite challenging for students especially for young learners. Meanwhile it is essential for young learners in mastering English language. Because of that, the researcher gives one of the most effective media used in teaching vocabulary, that is flashcard media. This research specifically investigates how students perceive on the use of flashcards and what benefits it brings to the student’s vocabulary learning. In order to answer the research questions, this research employed a qualitative descriptive with case study type. In addition, the data were gained by both open-ended questionnaires that were shared to 20 students and phone interviewing 5 of them to gain insights into students' experiences and attitudes towards media flashcards for learning vocabulary. The results showed that most of the students had good perceptions of the use of English Flashcard. They thought that English flashcard helped them to train their English vocabulary mastery. Using English flashcard, the students easier to memorize new words and enjoy in learning English vocabulary. Therefore, the students did not face any challenges in learning English vocabulary using flashcard. These findings imply that the use of flashcards in vocabulary learning can effectively improve young learners’ engagement, retention, and motivation. It means that, the students showed positive perceptions in learning English vocabulary using Flashcards. They also expect that the use of Flashcard can improve their ability in mastering English language
Digital Literacy and Its Impact on English Learning Comprehension: Evidence from Private Higher Education Institutions in Jakarta
No full textDigital literacy has become a critical competency for students in higher education, particularly in English language learning, where technology increasingly shapes access to resources and modes of comprehension. This study investigates the impact of digital literacy on students’ English learning comprehension in private higher education institutions in Jakarta. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected from 195 respondents enrolled in an English Language Education program through questionnaires distributed online. The instrument assessed students’ self-reported digital literacy competence, frequency of digital tool usage, and perceived impact on English comprehension. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression. The results demonstrate that digital literacy significantly influences students’ comprehension in digital-based English learning. Regression analysis revealed that the frequency of using digital technology explained 20.7% of the variance in comprehension (Model 1, R² = 0.207, p < 0.01), while inclusion of demographic variables increased the explanatory power to 32.8% (Model 2, R² = 0.328, p < 0.01). However, factors such as gender, age, semester level, and prior English learning experience did not significantly predict comprehension outcomes. Students with higher digital literacy reported greater confidence, motivation, and ability to evaluate and apply online resources effectively. These findings confirm that digital literacy is a key determinant of English learning success, extending beyond technical skills to include attitudes and critical engagement with digital content. The study suggests that integrating digital literacy training into English curricula can enhance learning outcomes, foster autonomy, and align education with contemporary digital practices
Pragmatic Facework and Economic Suffering in Nigerian Presidential Rhetoric: A Speech Analysis of Bola Tinubu (2023–2025)
No full textThis study investigates the pragmatic strategies employed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in constructing representations of economic hardship in official speeches. Grounded in Goffman’s theory of face, Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory, and Sperber and Wilson’s relevance theory, the analysis explores how facework operates as a communicative tool for managing empathy, justifying reform, and performing political legitimacy during times of national crisis. Using a qualitative discourse-analytic approach, the study examines four national speeches delivered between 2023 and 2025. This includes two Independence Day addresses (October 1, 2023 and 2024) and two Democracy Day speeches (June 12, 2023 and 2025). A combination of deductive and inductive thematic coding was used to identify face-sensitive and inference-driven pragmatic strategies within the speeches. These strategies were found to jointly sustain self- and other-face, reduce interpretive resistance, and frame economic suffering as a moral, collective responsibility. Based on these findings, the study proposes the Legitimation-as-Performance Model—a three-part framework comprising relational calibration, inferential framing, and discursive buffering. This model conceptualizes how political actors perform legitimacy through coordinated facework and inference-rich rhetoric, particularly within fragile or transitional democracies. The study contributes to political discourse scholarship in the Global South by demonstrating how language serves as a pragmatic tool of governance, not only to persuade but to negotiate trust, deflect critique, and construct civic patience
The Efficacy of the Anagram Technique in Stimulating EFL Learners’ Creativity and Enhancing Vocabulary Mastery: An Empirical Evidence
No full textThis study investigates the effectiveness of the Anagram technique in enhancing vocabulary mastery among tenth-grade students of Islamic High Schools. Vocabulary acquisition plays a pivotal role in mastering English, yet many students struggle with retention and application. This quasi-experimental research aimed to assess whether the Anagram technique, which involves rearranging scrambled letters to form meaningful words, could improve students’ mastery of nouns, verbs, and adjectives. The study involved two groups: an experimental group, which received instruction using the Anagram technique, and a control group, which followed conventional vocabulary instruction. A pre-test and post-test were administered to both groups to measure improvements in vocabulary proficiency. The results showed that the experimental group exhibited a significant improvement in vocabulary mastery, with their mean score increasing from 65 to 74, while the control group showed only a minimal increase from 69 to 70. The t-test analysis confirmed the statistical significance of the difference (t-count = 11.298 > t-table = 1.995), indicating that the Anagram technique was more effective than traditional methods. These findings highlight the potential of using interactive, puzzle-based activities in language instruction to enhance students' cognitive engagement and retention of vocabulary. The study suggests that integrating word-play strategies like Anagram into EFL classrooms can foster active learning and provide an engaging alternative to traditional vocabulary teaching methods, benefiting students’ long-term vocabulary development
Linguistic Innovation through Blend Words in Jakarta Smart City Annual Report
No full textBlending is widely recognized as a creative and productive word formation process in Indonesian, commonly found in media, branding, and everyday communication. Despite its popularity in informal contexts, the use of blended words in formal government documents has not been thoroughly examined. This study explores the use of blending in the 2023 Jakarta Smart City (JSC) Annual Report, aiming to identify the types of blends and analyze their structural and semantic characteristics. Using a qualitative document analysis method and drawing on Mattiello’s framework, the research classifies blend words into three main categories: morphotactic, morphonological, and morphosemantic. The findings indicate that morphotactic blending, particularly total blends, is the most frequently occurring type. Moreover, the study reveals innovative blending patterns in Indonesian formal discourse, including the merging of blending with acronyms, as in Satpol PP and JakISPU, the adaptation of blends influenced by pronunciation, exemplified by Tije (from Trans Jakarta), and the integration of cross-linguistic elements such as TopEdu and JakTrack. These findings suggest that blending has expanded beyond its informal origins and now plays a significant role in shaping the language used in official and institutional communication. In addition, these patterns demonstrate how linguistic innovation functions as a tool for branding, accessibility, and modernization in bureaucratic language. By illustrating how blending enhances the clarity and appeal of government discourse, this study contributes to understanding the role of of morphological creativity in shaping inclusive, citizen-oriented, and digitally adaptive public communication in Indonesia
Melody and Morphology: The Role of Songs in Teaching Verbal Structures of Foreign Languages
No full textVerbs are important component of syntax and play a crucial role on how learners express meaning, both orally and in writing. This study explores how Daouda’s song La femme de mon patron can be used as a practical tool for teaching French verbal structures to foreign language learners. The song was chosen because it contains a wide range of verbs, presented in clear and standard French, free from slang or dialectal forms that might confuse beginners. Through its simple yet culturally engaging lyrics, the song provides repeated exposure to verbs in declarative, conditional, and interrogative forms. The study demonstrates how teachers can use songs to enhance oral and written competence. Orally, students practice pronunciation, rhythm, and prosody in a natural context. In writing, the song enables activities such as verb identification, conjugation drills, and sentence transformation. The findings show that learners improved in verb identification with 80% accuracy and exhibited greater confidence in oral and written tasks. The study underscores the potential of integrating songs as structured grammar tools rather than supplementary activities. This study demonstrates that when carefully selected, songs can serve as instructional support for teaching verbs in foreign language classrooms compared to traditional grammar instruction. It concludes by proposing methodological guidelines for integrating songs into the teaching of verbal structures in French
The Shackles of Patriarchy in the Short Story Collection Sepotong Hati yang Baru by Tere Liye: A Feminist Literary Sudy
No full textThis study aims to reveal the reflection of the patriarchal system and the social criticism of women’s oppression in three short stories by Tere Liye Kisah Sie Sie, Mimpi-Mimpi Sampek-Engtay, and Buat Apa Disesali. Using a feminist literary criticism approach, the study finds that patriarchy places women in a subordinate position through male dominance, social norms, and economic as well as cultural pressures. The female characters are portrayed as losing control over their own lives, becoming objects of social transactions, and being forced to submit to male authority. The findings indicate that patriarchy is not only physical and structural but also forms a symbolic power that instills obedience and dependency in women. Through his works, Tere Liye presents a sharp critique of gender inequality and calls for the importance of equality, legal protection, and social reform so that women can become subjects of their own lives. In this research, data were collected through a literature review method by closely examining the forms of patriarchy depicted in Tere Liye’s short story collection Sepotong Hati yang Baru. Overall, Tere Liye delivers a strong criticism of the patriarchal system, illustrating how women are often disadvantaged and denied the space to become active subjects in their own existence
The Read–Cover–Remember–Retell (RCRR) Technique in Enhancing EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension: A Lesson from Junior High School Context
No full textThis study investigates the effectiveness of the Read–Cover–Remember–Retell (RCRR) technique in enhancing EFL learners’ reading comprehension of narrative texts in a junior high school context. The research was conducted with ninth-grade students of SMP Negeri 15 Palu using a quasi-experimental design involving two intact classes. One class was assigned as the experimental group, taught using the RCRR technique, while the other served as the control group and received conventional reading instruction. Data were collected through pre-test and post-test reading comprehension assessments consisting of multiple-choice items that measured students’ ability to identify main ideas, supporting details, vocabulary meaning, and inferences. Descriptive statistics were used to examine students’ initial and final performance, and an independent samples t-test was employed to determine the significance of differences between the two groups. The results showed that the experimental group’s mean post-test score increased substantially compared to its pre-test score and outperformed the control group, which demonstrated only modest improvement. The statistical analysis confirmed that the difference between the post-test scores of both groups was significant, indicating that the RCRR technique had a positive impact on students’ reading comprehension. The findings suggest that the structured stages of RCRR promote active engagement, deeper processing of textual information, and better recall, making reading a more interactive and meaningful activity. This study concludes that RCRR is an effective and practical strategy for improving reading comprehension in EFL classrooms and offers pedagogical implications for teachers seeking student-centered approaches aligned with curriculum demands
Implementing Wattpad-Based Pentigraph Writing in Indonesian Language Education: An Empirical Evidence
No full textThis study aims to describe the implementation of pentigraph writing instruction using the Wattpad platform. The method employed is qualitative with a case study approach. The data sources include images, words, phrases, and Wattpad accounts of students. The data were collected from 28 students in the fourth semester of the Indonesian Language and Literature Education program during the 2024–2025 academic year (even semester). This research was conducted at PGRI University Madiun (UNIPMA). Data sources in this study were obtained through observation, interviews, and documentation. Data collection techniques in this study included observation, which involves observing a target object and recording its condition; interviews, which are conversations between the informant and the interviewer aimed at obtaining information; and documentation, which involves collecting data from documents. Documentation consists of collecting data from documents. The coding process in this study involved labeling or coding parts of the data derived from the students' pentigraf works. The results of this study indicate that the strategy of learning to write pentigraf using Wattpad media among students majoring in Indonesian Language and Literature has several benefits, including: students can create independently according to their ideas; encouraging students to think creatively and innovatively in developing a complete story within the limitation of only three paragraphs; training students to develop their creativity by describing their surroundings; increasing interest in reading and writing; enhancing appreciation for digital written works; supporting creative writing learning; and building a virtual creative writing community (pentigraf)