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Researching the Narrative Features in the Translation of Xi Jinping’s Political Discourse from the Perspective of Narrative Theory
Get PDFThis paper focuses on the English translation of Xi Jinping’s political discourse. This translation is not only a key component of China’s external publicity efforts but also embodies Xi Jinping’s diplomatic narrative style and the diplomatic thought of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, the latter of which mainly refers to the diplomatic policies and principles advocated by the current Chinese government under the leadership of Xi Jinping. By applying Mona Baker’s (2018) narrative theory, this paper aims to investigate whether and how the translation of Xi Jinping’s political discourse embodies these four core narrative features—temporality, relationality, causal emplotment, and selective appropriation—through textual analysis. It is found that the translation of Xi Jinping’s political discourse clearly manifests these four core narrative features. This not only highlights the key role and the effectiveness of the translator as the subject of translation but also provides strong support for the construction of China’s diplomatic narratives. Therefore, the narrative theory of translation has significant applicability to the translation and research of political discourse, offering a powerful analytical tool for this field
Cultural Representation in Children’s Cartoon Programmes: Insights from the Nida/Newmark Typology
Get PDFThis paper presents a study on the cultural manifestation of foreign children\u27s cartoon programmes made available for viewing in the Middle East, focusing specifically on verbal cultural references that may conflict with the values of the Arab audience. While prior research explored general cultural aspects in audio-visual media, limited attention has been given to the specific challenges of verbal cultural references in children’s cartoons. This study addresses this gap by analysing how verbal cultural inappropriateness is manifested and assessing the applicability of the Nida/Newmark typology of culture in this unique context. This study also evaluates the effectiveness of the Nida/Newmark typology of culture in identifying and categorising inappropriate cultural content. A qualitative analysis was conducted on selected Netflix cartoon series, with particular attention given to scenes that showcase various cultural elements, including customs, traditions, food, social organisation, and religion. Employing purposive sampling, the research deliberately selected culturally rich programmes to ensure a comprehensive examination that captures a variety of cultural representations. The findings revealed that the category of linguistic culture is the most prominent. In contrast, representations of social culture, religious culture, organisations and customs, material culture, and ecology are significantly less common. Notably, no cases are found in the categories of ecology, gestures, and habits. This absence is likely due to the study\u27s focus on verbal content, as these elements are often conveyed through non-verbal communication. The study concludes that although the Nida/Newmark typology is effective for analysing verbal cultural inappropriateness in cartoons, it proves limited in scenarios where non-verbal cues, implicit cultural meanings, and evolving social norms are pivotal. Social or religious hints are conveyed through tones or gestures, and modern slang may not fit traditional categories. The insights gained from this research underscore the importance of cultural sensitivity in children\u27s media, highlighting the need for further investigation into the broader implications of cultural representation in animated content
How Philosophy Lecturers Connect Ideas To Personal Development Through Lived Philosophical Practices
Get PDFThis study examines how philosophy lecturers connect abstract concepts to students’ personal growth by integrating lived practices into their teaching. It involved a qualitative analysis of 60 lecturers from Malaysian public universities, utilizing online short-answer surveys to understand their engagement methods. The research employs a qualitative methodology, collects data through surveys and interviews, and analyzes it thematically to uncover recurring themes and insights. It also investigates strategies encouraging students to reflect on their spiritual beliefs and values about their learning and decision-making. Findings indicate that lecturers act as facilitators, prompting critical engagement with frameworks like Socratic questioning to address real-world challenges. By situating philosophy in students’ lives, educators foster a deeper connection between intellectual inquiry and personal growth. This research underscores the transformative potential of teaching philosophy as a lived practice, urging educators to adopt pedagogical methods that empower students to apply philosophical insights in their daily lives. The findings will enhance existing pedagogy and student engagement literature, providing practical implications for fostering transformative learning experiences
Community Attitudes and Awareness toward Herbal Use in Traditional Malay Medicine in Selangor
No full textTraditional medicine is a system rooted in cultural practices, knowledge, and beliefs vital to the health of a Malay society. However, the Malays have varying levels of understanding of this field of medicine in curing illnesses. This study aims to determine the community\u27s knowledge of and perspective on traditional Malay medicine. The data were gathered using a qualitative research methodology that involved robust literature review, surveys of 327 respondents, and interviews of 7 individuals. The findings of this study indicate that a mean score of 4.48 and the community suggested that herbal plants do not cause any side effects. The study\u27s findings demonstrated that herbal treatment was perceived as effective by approximately 45.9% of the community, as evidenced by mean scores of 4.02 and 4.13. This suggests a broad adoption of various herbs and a significant endorsement for their use within the community. The study results also demonstrated that in influencing individuals to use herbs, with a mean score of 4.13. In conclusion, community understanding of the herbs’ benefits influenced the control of traditional treatments, promoting ongoing herbal practices in modern society. Most respondents have a level of community knowledge and understanding of the use of herbs in treatment
Nilai Islam dalam Tarian Didong Jalu di Daerah Gayo Lues-Aceh
Get PDFDidong ialah tradisi lisan yang berkembang sejak kedatangan Islam di tanah tinggi Gayo, berfungsi sebagai medium dakwah dan pemeliharaan budaya Gayo Lues. Namun, terdapat pergeseran nilai Islam, seperti susunan tempat duduk campuran antara lelaki dan wanita, pengawasan syariah yang semakin lemah, pemendekan durasi penyampaian pesan keislaman, serta puisi yang semakin dipengaruhi oleh budaya Melayu. Kajian ini bertujuan mengkaji persembahan tarian Didong Jalu, hubungan antara puisi Didong Jalu dengan nilai Islam, serta faktor yang mempengaruhi pergeseran nilai Islam dalam seni di Kabupaten Gayo Lues. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan kaedah fenomenologi. Subjek kajian terdiri daripada Majlis Gayo Lues Aceh, pemimpin kampung, tokoh masyarakat, dan aktivis Didong. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui temu bual, pemerhatian, dan analisis dokumentasi. Pemprosesan data melibatkan reduksi data, penyajian data, penarikan kesimpulan, serta pengesahan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa persembahan tarian Didong Jalu mengalami perubahan, namun mesej yang disampaikan masih berkaitan dengan hukum syariah, hukum adat, serta norma dan tradisi masyarakat Gayo Lues. Puisi dalam Didong Jalu masih relevan dengan nilai Islam, meskipun liriknya semakin moden. Selain itu, bahagian nasihat keagamaan semakin berkurang kerana tumpuan lebih diberikan kepada aspek hiburan. Walau bagaimanapun, hiburan dalam Didong Jalu tetap selaras dengan nilai-nilai Islam.
Invasive Acacia mangium Leaf Litter Modifies Soil Chemical Properties of A Bornean Tropical Heath Forest: A Soil Incubation Study
Get PDFThis study investigated the effects of Acacia mangium Willd. leaf litter on soil chemical properties of a tropical heath forest in Borneo using a controlled soil incubation experiment. The litter of exotic A. mangium and selected native heath forest species (Buchanania arborescens Blume., Calophyllum inophyllum L., Dillenia suffruticosa Griff. and Ploiarium alternifolium Vahl.) were incubated with heath forest soils collected under natural conditions and nine different treatments of heath forest soils (soils without leaf litter, soils treated with single species leaf litter, and soils treated with native leaf litter with and without A. mangium leaf litter). We quantified mass litter loss (%), and soil concentrations of exchangeable nitrogen (NO3? and NH4+) and cations (K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+), available phosphorus (P), total organic carbon (TOC) and organic matter (OM), and total acidity with exchangeable concentrations of Al3+ and H+ in each treatment after a 9-month incubation period. Mass litter loss (%) varied significantly between species, with A. mangium leaf litter only showing higher mass loss than D. suffruticosa litter, but lower than C. inophyllum litter. The effects of incubation with single-species native leaf litter were variable and species-specific, but incubation with A. mangium litter increased soil pH and exchangeable NO3? and K+ concentrations and decreased exchangeable Al3+ concentrations. Soils incubated with a combination of C. inophyllum and A. mangium leaf litters, as opposed to those incubated with C. inophyllum alone, exhibited decreased pH, lower total organic carbon (TOC), and reduced exchangeable concentrations of potassium (K+) and magnesium (Mg2+). Additionally, there was an increase in organic matter (OM) content, total acidity, and exchangeable concentrations of ammonium (NH4+) and hydrogen (H+). Our results provide preliminary evidence that C. inophyllum may be a promising native plant species for use in enrichment planting of degraded or disturbed tropical heath forests with co-occurring invasive A. mangium
Pollutants May Have Caused Morphological Abnormalities in Some Polychaete Species (Annelida) Collected from Cilacap, Central Java, Indonesia
Get PDFMorphological abnormalities in Perinereis aibuhitensis (Grube 1878) (Nereididae) and Diopatra claparedii Grube 1878 (Onuphidae) were observed in the specimens collected from the intertidal habitat around Donan Creek in Cilacap City, Central Java Province, Indonesia. The P. aibuhitensis, which is not supposed to have branchiae, possesses digitate branchiae on its dorsum, and lacks eyes. To our knowledge, the presence of branchiae in the genus Perinereis and the shape of the feature has never been reported anywhere else. Furthermore, the D. claparedii, which is supposed to have the most developed branchiae on its dorsal anterior region, lacks the feature. The species also lacks both prostomial and peristomial appendages, and has various anomalous cirri. While the abnormalities in the P. aibuhitensis are likely to be associated with the hypoxic condition of the animal’s habitat, the anomalies in the D. claparedii appear to be more related to the exposure to pollutants, particularly heavy metals. Taxonomic investigations are required to reveal the polychaete species richness in this area, and may identify species that have the potential to be used as biological indicators of coastal water pollution in southern Java
Status and Mechanism of Insecticide Resistance in German Cockroach (Blattella germanica L.) Worldwide: A Literature Review
Get PDFGerman cockroaches (Blattella germanica L.) are major residential pests, with reports of insecticide resistance emerging from numerous regions worldwide. This study aims to investigate the global distribution of insecticide resistance in German cockroaches, explore the underlying resistance mechanisms, identify the specific insecticides that have shown reduced efficacy, and examine how resistance has developed globally. A literature review was conducted, collecting relevant publications from journal databases such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, and Oxford Academic Journal up to the year 2024. The keywords used in the search included "resistance," "insecticide," "Blattella germanica," and "German cockroach." The review included studies that provided data from field strains using contact-based assays. In total, 102 studies on resistance spanning 23 countries across four continents were identified. Resistance has been reported against 60 different insecticidal active ingredients, primarily from the pyrethroid and organophosphate classes, with varying degrees of resistance noted. Very high levels of resistance (RR > 100) were mostly recorded for pyrethroids. The predominant resistance mechanism observed involved metabolic mechanisms, particularly the increased activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, followed by esterases and glutathione S-transferases (GST). Target-site mechanisms were also reported, including knockdown resistance (kdr) (L993F) and resistance to dieldrin (Rdl) (A302S). The combined mechanisms of resistance result in broad-spectrum resistance and potential cross-resistance. This review highlights the critical need for ongoing surveillance of insecticide resistance in German cockroaches and emphasises the urgency of developing more effective pest management strategies to address the escalating challenge of resistance
Ecological Modelling of Potential Habitats for Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger spp.) in the Western of Banda Sea using an Artificial Neural Network Approach
Get PDFIndian mackerel (Rastrelliger spp.) is a species with high catch volumes, amounting to approximately 451.750 tonnes over five years. This substantial yield holds significant potential for local communities, making sustainable utilisation crucial. This study focuses on the fishing season of Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger spp.) and the development of a habitat suitability model in the waters of the western of Banda Sea, Indonesia. The Fishing Season Index (FSI) method identified November as the peak fishing season, with the highest CPUE recorded at 220 kg trip-1. During this period, stable salinity levels were observed, which supported the reproductive processes of Indian mackerel. Additionally, high rainfall and strong winds facilitated local upwelling, influencing currents and bringing nutrients to the surface, which were consumed by mackerel larvae. The ANN (Artificial Neural Network) models used to estimate potential fishing zones for Indian mackerel demonstrated high accuracy, with an error rate of just 1.12%. The analysis revealed that salinity and currents were the most influential environmental parameters, contributing 16% and 14% to catch success during the peak fishing season with salinity levels at 34.2 psu and current velocity at 3.29 cm s-1. The implementation of this model in analysing Indian mackerel habitats and their relationship with environmental factors supports data and technology-driven fisheries management. This study also introduces a novel integration of the Fishing Season Index (FSI) method and ANN modelling to simultaneously identify peak fishing seasons and predict potential fishing zones based on dynamic oceanographic parameters. The application of machine learning in this model enables the identification of non-linear relationships between environmental variables and fish distribution with high accuracy, representing a significant advancement in predictive habitat modelling for Indian mackerel in Indonesian waters. This approach contributes to sustainable fisheries resource management and aligns with the achievement of SDG 14 in Indonesia