International Journal of Language and Literary Studies

Is Business Life a Journey or RAFTING ON THE RAGING RIVER RAPIDS? Lee Iacocca’s Story

2025-01-23T08:44:45-05:00

In today’s business world, our activities have turned into RAFTING ON THE RAGING RIVER RAPIDS where the dynamic flow shapes our identity, aspirations and future, creating a cyclical pattern driven by our desire for success and fear of failure. To make abstract concepts like time, success, and failure more tangible, we translate them into "semantically grounded" concepts based on physical experiences reflected in conceptual metaphors. A business career, often conceptualized through the metaphor LIFE IS A JOURNEY, becomes a framework for analyzing Lee Iacocca’s notable career at Ford and Chrysler in this paper. Since metaphorical mappings are rarely identical across languages, we investigated the English original metaphors and image schemas in Lee Iacocca’s autobiography and their Croatian translations. The autobiography discusses success and failure, the ups and downs of business where UP always carries positive attributes, and DOWN represents negative trends and failure. Therefore, Iacocca uses image schemas such as Climbing UP to depict the start of his prosperous business career, being ON TOP of the World to describe his enormous success, and a FALL from MOUNT EVEREST to depict his failure.

Teachers’ Multilingual Awareness in English Classrooms: Observed Practices

2025-02-06T21:45:11-05:00

The use of learners’ language(s) in second/foreign language pedagogy has ever been a highly debated issue. On the one hand, the proponents of the direct method and audio-lingual method remained in the position to prohibit learners’ home language(s) in SL/FL classrooms while scholars such as Cummins (2007) and Garcia (2008) have informed the supportive role of learners’ languages in such contexts. Being informed by recent literature, this study was carried out to explore the practices of teachers’ multilingual awareness, particularly focusing on the use of learners’ languages in English classrooms. The findings of the study showed that Nepalese teachers of English are aware of multilingual practices in English classrooms. They were found to practice mother tongue translation, code-mixing or switching and paraphrasing as multilingual pedagogic activities. Considering the reasons for using learners’ language(s) in English classrooms, the study indicated that children’s languages help learners understand the concept, promote learners’ participation in learning activities, and create spaces for minority children in terms of language.

The Impact of Globalization and Modern Technology on the English Language

2025-02-06T08:50:48-05:00

English has changed significantly as a result of globalization and technology, and languages are constantly changing due to the demands of their users. As new words are created and become naturalized, language evolves very gradually. Today, English is a universal language, and communicating is a prerequisite for success in the global market. This article explores how globalization and technology have influenced the English language and its usage, emphasizing their various effects. This work has synthesized and analyzed the available literature using the systematic review technique, providing valuable insights into how technology and globalization have affected the English language. The results demonstrate how globalization has contributed to the widespread adoption of English as a lingua franca while also marginalizing regional languages. As English incorporates vocabulary from other cultures, linguistic borrowing has enhanced the language. On the other hand, technology has altered communication methods and has rapidly influenced the English language. Traditional communication methods have changed due to technology, which has made language more approachable and informal. Slang, abbreviations, emojis, and sentence fragments are new language forms brought about by the growth of texting, social media, and online communication. Although technology has facilitated faster and more effective communication, it has also caused a shift from standard grammar and language usage, particularly among younger generations.

The Procedure of Componential Analysis: Assessing the Literary Translation of Moroccan Cultural Terms into English

2025-02-04T04:52:51-05:00

This paper examines the translation of cultural terms in ???? ??????? (lu?bat ?Nnisy?n) (1995) by the Moroccan novelist Mohamed Berrada and its English version of The Game of Forgetting translated by the Palestinian-American Issa J. Boullata (1996). The aim of this paper is to discuss the problematic aspects that translators often encounter in finding equivalent lexical terms in the target language due to cultural disparities. Componential Analysis (CA) is one of the procedures that translators and researchers opt for to solve cultural issues and objectively assess translations free from cultural constraints. On this basis, we analyse some samples from the English translation of the novel using a comparative procedure to identify semantic features and, consequently, reveal some limitations in the English translation. We conclude that in many cases the original meaning of the source language is lost or distorted, suggesting alternative translation possibilities for different cultural cases.

Voices of Change: Bangladeshi ESL Teachers' Perspectives on Pedagogical Innovations

2025-01-27T06:36:20-05:00

This qualitative study determines how Bangladeshi ESL teachers perceive the impact of recent pedagogic innovations on their teaching, the challenges they face in implementing them, and how they foresee ESL education in the future. The research adopts a phenomenological study design to develop an understanding of the lived experience and perception of 15 ESL teachers from diverse educational institutions across Bangladesh. Purposive sampling guarantees the identification of research participants with first-hand experience in pedagogical innovations. Data collection is characterized by in-depth, semi-structured interviews administered in Bengali to collect nuanced responses. Thematic analysis produces critical findings: teachers acknowledge the potential of interactive approaches and digital technology in augmenting learners' engagement; however, they are confronted by insurmountable obstacles, including inadequate access to technology and the drawbacks of large classes. Teachers envision a future situation where ongoing professional development and infrastructural assistance are the key elements for the effective application of new pedagogical methods. The results stress the necessity for customized professional development modules, better infrastructure, and policy reform to develop an environment conducive to innovation for ESL education. This study contributes to the body of knowledge about effective ESL instruction in resource-poor environments. It has practical implications for educators, policymakers, and stakeholders interested in improving ESL education in Bangladesh.

The Black Mammy and Black Matriarch: Morrison’s Subversion of Deteriorating Stereotypes in Sula

2025-01-16T00:55:17-05:00

This paper examines Toni Morrison’s Sula as a critique and deconstruction of the pervasive stereotypes imposed on Black women and men, including labels such as jezebel, mammy, and matriarch archetypes. By invoking and inverting these reductive labels, Morrison exposes their paradoxical nature and roots in white patriarchal systems. Through characters like Sula, who lives unapologetically on her own terms, and Eva, who defies traditional maternal roles, the novel dismantles the myths surrounding black womanhood. Morrison’s use of irony, parody, and paradox discloses the cognitive dissonance underpinning racist stereotypes and highlights the humanity and complexity of Black identities. Central to the novel’s themes is the exploration of survival strategies in the face of systemic oppression, as seen in Shadrack’s National Suicide Day and Eva’s sacrifices. By challenging these stereotypes, Sula reclaims agency for Black women and underscores the destructiveness of antithetical labels, calling for a deeper understanding of identity and autonomy.

Unveiling the Dark Underbelly of Polygamy in Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives

2025-01-16T13:30:31-05:00

Polygamous marriages in Africa have long been a subject of fascination and curiosity, often portrayed in popular culture as exotic and romanticized. However, beneath the surface lies a complex web of power dynamics, inequalities, and hidden struggles that have far-reaching and detrimental consequences for those involved in it. Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives exposes these hidden struggles and oppressive power dynamics within the polygamous household. The paper depicts the dark underbelly of polygamy in African marriages projecting its negative effects such as oppression, emotional and physical abuse, infertility, and many more. Through the qualitative research method, the paper adopts a feminist perspective to literary criticism concerning African Feminism. By unveiling the dark aspects of polygamy, the paper challenges romanticized notions of polygamy and emphasizes the need for a critical examination of polygamous marriage systems in Africa. It recommends that marriage for women should be a thing of choice as it does not guarantee social and psychological fulfilment. Thus, understanding the dark underbelly of polygamy would pave the way for dialogue and more equitable and inclusive relationship structures.

Fragmented Selves and the Politics of Memory Exploring Exile and Identity in Malika Oufkir's Freedom: The Story of My Second Life

2025-02-05T06:32:12-05:00

Autobiography has increasingly achieved access in literary and cultural scholarship bringing attention to the ways in which the self is perceived and (re)created in virtue of our memories. To investigate the interrelation between self and memory, this paper is engaged with the following questions: what do we mean by the self or himself (autos)? How memory is constituted in the self? How can the self be written into narrative? Can the self be explained by in terms of memory? By introducing the concept of the self on account of these questions, this paper hopes to show that self and memory are intertwined through the process of constructing stories we tell, share and/or conceal about ourselves and others. Within this ambit, this paper seeks to examine Malika Oufkir’s Freedom: The Story of My Second Life through the prism of exile, memory, and identity (re)construction. It investigates how this narrative navigates imprisonment, displacement and estrangement. Central to this analysis is the representation of memory as both a site of agony and a mechanism for resistance, through which Oufkir reclaims agency over her identity. In short, the paper also explores the intricate interplay between personal and political exile in the sense that it delves deep into how the author’s experiences reflect broader themes of imprisonment, displacement, fragmentation and estrangement in the postcolonial context. Drawing upon theories of autobiographical memory and collective identity, this paper examines how Oufkir’s narrative intertwines personal and collective histories, revealing the complex interplay between individual memories and broader socio-cultural contexts. In essence, this paper adopts an eclectic methodology to address the question of autobiographical construction of self and memory. As such, the paper focuses on the transformative role of exile in shaping Malika’s identity and memory. By situating Oufkir’s narrative within the framework of gendered resistance, this paper seeks to illustrate how she transcends the boundaries of imprisonment and exilic condition in order to reconstruct a sense of being and knowing in a place and time in a world that remains deeply fractured by cultural and historical divides. Eventually, the paper underscores Freedom as a powerful testament to the enduring struggle for selfhood in the face of dislocation and marginalization.

Speaking Anxiety and Factors in Indonesian EFL Tertiary Contexts: Exploring Proficiency Differences

2025-02-06T02:58:33-05:00

Some people struggle with speaking English clearly due to nervousness, a phenomenon called speaking anxiety. This study examines speaking anxiety levels, their correlation with proficiency, contributing factors, and coping strategies. A survey of 96 Indonesian EFL students revealed that lower proficiency students faced significantly higher anxiety levels. Key factors included fear of negative evaluation (39%), personality traits (53%), and pedagogical influences (67%). Practising outside the classroom (57%) and positive lecturer feedback were effective in reducing anxiety. These findings highlight the importance of supportive learning environments. In conclusion, the study found that speaking anxiety levels were generally low but significantly affected by proficiency. Factors such as evaluation fear, personality, and teaching methods contributed to anxiety, while external practice and supportive feedback helped mitigate it.

From Text to Understanding the Inner Text: LLMs and Translation Accuracy and Fluency

2025-03-06T18:53:08-05:00

Evaluating translation quality is crucial to ensuring that Large Language Models (LLMs) meet the ambitious standards required for effective communication across languages. The key aspects of translation quality are accuracy; accuracy measures how well the translation reflects the meaning of the original text. It also measures the fluency based upon the naturalness and readability of the translation in the target language, both features play a crucial role in defining what smooth translation should appear to the prospective user(s). The present study, therefore, aims to measure these aspects of LLM-generated translation based on a corpus of LLM-translated texts. As this study is evaluative, it proposes a rigorous method to evaluate and improve the accuracy, fluency, and naturalness of LLM-generated translation. The study, therefore, analyses AI-generated translation texts based on these criteria. The secondary data set was collected from users of AI-based translation to provide further insights into the validity of LLM-based translation texts. By combining both real time translated texts generated by AI and users’ perspectives, this study arrived at results on the status and validity of LLM-based translation. The majority of the participants concurred that the translations retained the meaning of the original text, even the lower scores for processing idiomatic expressions and figurative language in LLMs still reflected a high level of semantic preservation, The high scores for grammatical correctness and sentence flow show that LLMs are perceived to be very good at generating translations that are grammatically correct and readable. Based on the findings, the study offers practical implications for future enhancement in AI-generated translation.

Cultural Impact on Interactive Metadiscourse in Legal Hybrid Disciplines: A Comparative Genre Study

2025-03-03T14:29:28-05:00

Cultural background can impact writers' writing styles in academic contexts. The present study aimed to investigate this impact on research article (RA) abstracts in two legal hybrid disciplines (medical law and IT law) when used by native and non-native writers of English. By adopting corpus-based genre analysis, the present study explored the use of interactive metadiscourse markers (MMs) in 40 RA abstracts. The corpora were randomly chosen from two high-impact factor journals: "Health and Justice" (medical law) and "International Journal of Cyber Criminology" (IT law). For the analysis, Hyland's (2005) interpersonal model of metadiscourse was applied. Other tools were also used: AntConc (2019) software, SPSS Version 27, and frequencies per 1000 words. The results revealed that there was a stronger presence of code glosses in the abstracts written by native writers compared to non-native writers. However, the differences between the native and non-native writers across the two disciplines were minimal and non-significant. This study suggests that both co-authorship with native writers and writing experience can reduce the influence of cultural background on non-native writers' academic writing style.