Journal of Language and Literature Studies
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203 research outputs found
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Grammar Learning Strategies by Chinese Language Education Students: A Lesson from Grammar Courses
No full textThe complexities of Chinese grammar make it quite challenging to become proficient in. To help learners in mastering grammar, using the right grammar learning strategy can help them to improve their language proficiency. The aims of this study are to investigate the frequency of using Chinese grammar learning strategies, identify the differences in the use of strategy types by students majoring in Chinese Language Education class of 2022 and 2023 at Ma Chung University, and identify the differences in strategies used by male and female students. This research classified as descriptive quantitative. The research instrument used a questionnaire, was developed based on the Grammar Learning Strategy Inventory by Miroslaw Pawlak. Based on the results of the study, it was found out that respondents more frequently used social strategies (mean= 3.59) when learning Chinese grammar; the class of 2022 students more frequently used metacognitive strategies (mean=3.73), while class of 2023 students more frequently used social strategies (mean=3.48); furthermore, male students more frequently used social strategies (mean=3.77), while female students more frequently used metacognitive strategies (mean=3.65). More specifically, this study suggests that teachers should focus more on facilitating their students through various interactions, as this is the most frequently used approach in social strategies. As for this study, grammar learning strategies in the Chinese language is very important and must be developed further
The Social Impact of Charles Dickens in the Victorian Era: A Socio-Literary Analysis through Foucault and Goldmann
No full textThis research examines the influence of Charles Dickens's literary works in criticizing the social, political, and economic conditions of Victorian Britain, particularly through the lens of social criticism. This research is based on the idea that literature, especially novels, can serve as a powerful medium for social criticism and reform. Using a qualitative descriptive method, the research analyzes selected novels: Oliver Twist, Hard Times, Bleak House, Great Expectations, and A Christmas Carol to identify dominant social themes such as poverty, child exploitation, institutional injustice, and class disparity. These themes are interpreted using Michel Foucault’s theory of disciplinary power and the author function, along with Lucien Goldmann’s concept of collective consciousness. The results of this research show that Dickens’s narratives not only portrayed systemic oppression but also influenced public opinion by exposing the failures of modern institutions and evoking empathy across class lines. For example, Oliver Twist critiqued the Poor Law system, which contributed to shifting public perception and inspired social reforms in child welfare. Dickens’s works served as cultural interventions that shaped moral discourse and supported progressive change. This research concludes that Charles Dickens is not only a great writer but also a social reformer whose works contributed significantly to societal change. This research highlights the literature’s potential to raise awareness of injustice and serve as a catalyst for broad social impact. Future research may explore similar ideological frameworks in other Victorian authors or analyze Dickens’s impact on modern social thought
The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict in Tamim Al-Barghouti’s Nafsi Al-Fida’: A Sociological Study of Literature
No full textThe prolonged conflict between Palestine and Israel, particularly in the Gaza Strip, has caused widespread humanitarian suffering and has become a recurring theme in contemporary Arabic literature. One prominent example is Tamim Al-Barghouti's poem Nafsi al-Fida', written in response to Israel's military aggression against Gaza in 2008-2009 (Operation Cast Lead). This study aims to explore how the poem represents the social reality of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through a sociological approach to literature. Employing a qualitative descriptive method, the research combines textual analysis of the poem with triangulated sources from international media reports and humanitarian organization documents to ensure data validity. Using Alan Swingewood’s theory of literary sociology, the study interprets the poem as a social product that both reflects and critiques the lived experiences of society under conflict. The analysis reveals that Al-Barghouti’s use of vivid imagery, metaphors of resistance, and contrasts between life and death encapsulates the political and humanitarian dimensions of Gaza’s suffering, depicting Hamas’ political victory, armed resistance, underground defense strategies, white phosphorus bombings, and the devastation of civilian life. These aesthetic choices transform the poem into both an artistic and sociological document, bridging emotion with historical testimony. The findings conclude that Nafsi al-Fida’ not only serves as a record of Palestinian suffering but also contributes to shaping Palestinian literary identity and political discourse by asserting poetry as a form of cultural resistance
Referential Semantics of Coastal Toponyms: A Case Study Central Java
No full textToponymy is a branch of linguistics that examines the interrelationship between language, culture, and environment through place naming. In coastal regions, place names often reflect geographical features, natural elements, and community perceptions of their surroundings. This study aims to uncover the referential meanings embedded in coastal toponyms by employing a referential semantics approach. The analysis interprets the relationship between the linguistic form of each toponym and its real-world referent, while classifying naming motivations using the Australian National Placenames Survey (ANPS) typology. The findings reveal that referential meanings predominantly represent denotative and ecological relations, indicating that coastal toponyms are grounded in physical and environmental features. This is evident from the dominance of the Descriptive category (50.0%), followed by the Associative (20.5%) and Evaluative (15.9%) categories. These categories reflect not only geographical and ecological characteristics but also cultural associations and value-laden expressions embedded in naming practices. Beyond its theoretical contribution, this study offers practical implications for cultural heritage preservation. The analysis of semantic motivations behind place naming can serve as a linguistic foundation for documenting traditional toponyms, supporting local government efforts to standardize and preserve place names, and strengthening intangible cultural heritage initiatives in coastal communities. The findings also highlight the need to safeguard environmentally based toponyms that encode ecological knowledge, particularly in areas undergoing environmental change and urban development
Writing Poetry with the Development of Associative Meaning in Chairil Anwar's Poetry Collection: A Lesson of Poetry Writing Instruction
No full textThis research is motivated by the importance of associative meaning in poetry as a formative element of imaginative power, emotion, and linguistic creativity. However, there has been limited research systematizing associative meaning techniques as a model for poetry writing instruction. This study aims to analyze associative meaning techniques in Chairil Anwar's poems and formulate their implications for poetry writing instruction. This research employs a qualitative descriptive design with semantic analysis of eight selected poems from the collection Aku Ini Binatang Jalang (I Am a Wild Animal). Data were collected through repeated reading and note-taking techniques, while data analysis was conducted through componential analysis, referential analysis, and meaning verification using KBBI (the Indonesian Dictionary). The research findings indicate that there are three dominant techniques in the development of associative meaning in Chairil Anwar's poetry: meaning components, rewriting, and synonymy. The synonymy technique is the most frequently used, followed by rewriting and meaning components. These findings demonstrate that associative meaning plays a crucial role in strengthening the expressive power and semantic depth of poetry. These findings have implications for poetry writing instruction, namely the need for explicit teaching of associative techniques to help students enrich their diction choices and expand semantic creativity in their poetic works
Exploring Logical Analysis and Defined Descriptions for Enhancing Expression Readers in ELT
No full textThe ongoing debate in English Language Teaching (ELT) emphasizes the need for innovative approaches to enhance language acquisition. This study explores the development and implementation of expression readers, a tool designed to improve learners' comprehension and expressive skills through logical analysis and defined descriptions. Logical analysis deconstructs sentences to reveal grammatical and syntactical relationships, while defined descriptions provide clear explanations of linguistic elements. Grounded in a theoretical framework that integrates cognitive engagement and critical thinking, this research examines how expression readers facilitate the structured learning of complex language concepts. The study employs a systematic approach, analysing how these methods enhance students' ability to understand and construct sophisticated sentences. Key findings indicate that expression readers promote deeper linguistic comprehension, improve sentence construction skills, and encourage analytical thinking. The practical implications of this research suggest that integrating expression readers into ELT curricula can enhance language proficiency. To maximize effectiveness, best practices include curriculum adaptation, teacher training, and the development of accessible educational materials. Addressing challenges such as resource availability and learner diversity is crucial to ensuring the successful implementation of this approach in diverse educational settings
Investigating Speaking Anxiety in Indonesian Young Learner Classrooms: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
No full textLanguage anxiety among learners, especially young learners, can be alarming, and it is estimated that up to one-half of all language students experience debilitating levels of speaking anxiety. Students’ anxiety can influence both the fluency and the accuracy of speaking because anxiety acts as a distraction. Therefore, being aware of students’ speaking anxiety is important. This study aimed to analyze the students’ speaking anxiety in a young learner classroom. The study employed a descriptive qualitative design. This study was conducted with a sample of 35 students. Two instruments were used in this study, which included: observation, a questionnaire, and an interview. The process of data analysis included data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The data gathered were then verified by an expert validator. The result of this study indicated that the majority of students had a high level of anxiety in the anxious category. This result certainly deserved attention in the implementation of the speaking learning process because it was possible for anxiety to contribute to students' speaking failure. Furthermore, there were a number of factors that contributed to the speaking anxiety faced by students with high and low anxiety. These factors were generally related to internal and external factors. In terms of internal factors, the students were worried about their language skills, afraid of making mistakes when speaking English, and had low confidence. In terms of external factors, the students were afraid of getting bad grades, afraid of being laughed at by their friends, afraid of getting negative feedback from the teacher, and afraid that their English would not be understood. In addition, both students with high and low anxiety had a number of strategies to reduce speaking anxiety. Those strategies were included: preparing, practicing, relaxing, smiling, taking a deep breath, making jokes, and looking away in various directions during the speaking performance. The implications and suggestions of the research are also discussed
Developing an AI and Generative AI Literacy Framework: A Lesson from an Islamic Higher Education Institution
No full textThis study addresses this gap by developing and validating an AI and GAI literacy framework that aligns with the mission of Islamic higher education. Using a Research and Development (R&D) design guided by the ADDIE model, the study involved 25 fifth-semester students and 3 lecturers from the English Language Teaching Department at UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung. Data were collected through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, classroom observations, and expert validation checklists. Quantitative analysis showed that students scored highest in ethical understanding (M = 4.0, SD = 0.55) but lowest in critical awareness (M = 2.8, SD = 0.70), while lecturers outperformed students across all dimensions, particularly in ethical understanding (M = 4.3, SD = 0.50) and pedagogical integration (M = 3.8, SD = 0.57). Qualitative findings revealed that students primarily used AI tools for basic academic tasks, whereas lecturers applied them in broader pedagogical contexts, with both groups emphasizing ethical responsibility. Expert validation confirmed the framework’s high validity (overall mean = 4.5/5), particularly in ethical-Islamic alignment. These findings suggest that AI and GAI literacy in Islamic higher education must extend beyond technical proficiency to include critical reflection and ethical integration, ensuring that the use of AI is both pedagogically meaningful and culturally contextualized. The resulting framework contributes to local practice while also enriching global discussions on culturally embedded approaches to AI literacy in higher education
Determinants of Willingness to Communicate among Secondary EFL Learners: A Case Study Approach
No full textA key component of language learning is increasing learners' willingness to communicate (WTC), which is the main objective of second language (L2) instruction. In this study, students' perceptions of the aspects affecting their desire to communicate in an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classroom were investigated. Four secondary students participated in semi-structured interviews to collect data for a qualitative case study. They were chosen due to their varied backgrounds in English: two students had prior learning experience and received rich exposure to English, and the other two did not. The selection of students was based on the need to obtain more detailed data. Data were examined with thematic analysis. The results of this study indicated that students exposed to English earlier are more willing to communicate. It clarifies the significant impact of early exposure to English has on students' preparedness for a more challenging learning environment. Additionally, personal factors like motivation, linguistic aspects, classroom environment, and task design contributed to students’ willingness to communicate in English classrooms. Recognizing these factors is crucial since they influence students' involvement and communicative practice, both of which are vital to language learning. Lastly, these findings suggest the importance of fostering supportive classroom environments and tailoring instructional strategies to diverse learner needs, offering valuable insights for EFL educators
Analyzing Deixis in the Lyrics of the Pop Ballad 'It’s You' by Sezairi
No full textDeixis, a key concept in linguistics, involves expressions whose meanings are context-dependent, such as personal pronouns, temporal markers, spatial terms, and demonstratives. While deixis has been extensively studied in spoken and literary discourse, its function in song lyrics, particularly its role in conveying emotional depth and narrative coherence, remains underexplored. This study aims to address that gap by examining the use of deictic expressions in the pop ballad It’s You by Sezairi. Using a descriptive-analytic qualitative method, this research involves identifying, classifying, and analyzing deictic forms in the song’s lyrics. Through in-depth textual analysis, the study seeks to uncover the role of these expressions in shaping both the narrative structure and emotional resonance of the song. The findings reveal that personal deixis is the most dominant (77.27%), followed by temporal deixis (12.12%), demonstrative deixis (6.06%), and spatial deixis (4.55%). Personal deixis contributes significantly to emotional intimacy and listener relatability. Temporal and spatial deixis serve to ground the lyrics within specific emotional or situational contexts, while demonstrative deixis establishes shared reference points that guide the listener’s focus. Together, these deictic elements effectively convey themes of love and belonging, demonstrating the intricate relationship between language, meaning, and listener interpretation in contemporary music. This study contributes to both linguistic and musicological scholarship by highlighting how deictic expressions function as powerful tools for emotional and narrative construction in song lyrics