Empowering the powerful: a critical discourse analysis of public discourse on graduate employability

This study explores the issue of graduate employability in Malaysia as construed in public discourse in English, a language of power in Malaysia. The term employability itself has many definitions depending on the requirements of government and industry, and in the case of Malaysia, the English-language ability of graduates is inseparable from graduate employability. Data were collected from three socially significant English-language publications: a mainstream newspaper (the New Straits Times), an alternative newspaper (The Malaysian Insider), and a government document outlining the national approach to improving graduate employability in universities (the Graduate Employability Blueprint). The data were collected between 2012 and 2013, a significant two-year period of time due to the publication of the Graduate Employability Blueprint in 2012, and the five-yearly Malaysian General Election in 2013. Applying Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 1995), the study employs Transitivity analysis (Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004) and Appraisal analysis (Martin & White, 2005) from Systemic Functional Linguistics. The analysis looks at the grammatical roles and evaluation of important social actor groups in the graduate employability issue (e.g. government, government link companies, employers, graduates, parents and teachers). The findings show that government, the government programs and the employers are construed favourably, while the graduates are depicted unfavourably. Parents and teachers are largely excluded from the discourse. Significant government expenditure and national resources from public and private organizations are dedicated to improving the employability of graduates in Malaysia. However,the public discourse on graduate employability in the powerful English language appears unlikely to contribute to a social context where the aims of the groups with a key interest in graduate employability will be achieved

Students’ learning preferences of English for academic purposes - A KUiTTHO Affair

Kolej Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn (KUiTTHO) aims to produce graduates who are competent in English and other core skills in order to be in parallel with other established institutions. Communication and soft skills play important roles in making a graduate a success in the working world and to meet the demands of globalization especially where English is becoming more important. English for Academic Purposes was introduced as one of the required subjects for KUiTTHO students. Students whose MUET results are below than Band 3 and achieved only 50% or less in the placement test are required to take this course. This subject is aimed to facilitate students to undertake MUET again so they are able to achieve at least a Band 3. The study aims to find the learner’s preference in learning English for Academic Purposes as a new subject. Learning preferences in this case include how they want to learn, which language skills they prefer to learn and types of activities they prefer. This research will adapt the qualitative method using questionnaire and observation in gaining data. It is hoped through this research a comprehensive needs analysis can be developed to enhance the learning and the teaching of English for Academic Purposes later

Desenvolvimento da Identidade Feminina Preta em Duas Peças Americanas Pós-Modernas Através do Quadro de Avaliação: Estudo Comparativo

African American women’s suffering in a racial and patriarchal society has often been raised in works of drama. Black women’s quest to search their identity has been considered an essential issue in Postmodern American literature. It has already attracted the consciousness of both critics and writers because it is highly concerned with the agony of the most repressed group in any society. ‘Beneatha’ and ‘Hester’; the two black female plays' protagonists, are a part of this tradition. The aim of this paper is to make comprehensive discourse analysis of the main plays’ protagonists and their antagonists in each play who impacted to form their identity, in order to figure out: first, black women’s oppression within the scope of each literary work. Second, to discover whether the status of African American woman identity is progressed and developed in the passage of time by comparing the results of the two plays which have been written at different times. This study is utilized Martin and White, 2005 Appraisal Theory to accomplish the paper’s objectives. The classification of attitudinal propositions in each play has been examined under the Attitude system with its three subcategories: judgement, affect, and appreciation. It has concluded that women with African origin have been doubled repressed, victimized, and marginalized in the scope of the two selected plays for this study because of their race as well as gender. Analysis process presented also that there was no progress and development within the black woman’s identity throughout the passage of time.El sufrimiento de las mujeres afroamericanas en una sociedad racial y patriarcal a menudo se ha planteado en obras dramáticas. La búsqueda de mujeres negras para buscar su identidad ha sido considerada como un tema esencial en la literatura estadounidense posmoderna. Ya ha atraído la conciencia de los críticos y escritores porque está muy preocupado por la agonía del grupo más reprimido en cualquier sociedad. "Beneatha" y "Hester"; Las dos protagonistas de las obras de teatro negras son parte de esta tradición. El objetivo de este artículo es hacer un análisis exhaustivo del discurso de los protagonistas de las obras principales y sus antagonistas en cada obra que impactaron para formar su identidad, a fin de descubrir: primero, la opresión de las mujeres negras dentro del alcance de cada obra literaria. En segundo lugar, descubrir si el estado de la identidad de la mujer afroamericana progresa y se desarrolla con el paso del tiempo comparando los resultados de las dos obras que se han escrito en diferentes momentos. Este estudio es utilizado por Martin y White, 2005, Teoría de la evaluación para lograr los objetivos del documento. La clasificación de las proposiciones de actitud en cada obra ha sido examinada bajo el sistema Attitude con sus tres subcategorías: juicio, afecto y apreciación. Se llegó a la conclusión de que las mujeres con origen africano han sido duplicadas, reprimidas, victimizadas y marginadas en el alcance de las dos obras seleccionadas para este estudio debido a su raza y género. El proceso de análisis también mostró que no había progreso ni desarrollo en la identidad de la mujer negra a lo largo del tiempo.O sofrimento das mulheres afro-americanas em uma sociedade racial e patriarcal tem sido frequentemente levantado em obras de teatro. A busca das mulheres negras para pesquisar sua identidade tem sido considerada uma questão essencial na literatura americana pós-moderna. Já atraiu a consciência de críticos e escritores, porque está muito preocupado com a agonia do grupo mais reprimido em qualquer sociedade. "Beneatha" e "Hester"; os dois protagonistas das peças femininas negras fazem parte dessa tradição. O objetivo deste artigo é fazer uma análise do discurso abrangente dos protagonistas das peças principais e seus antagonistas em cada peça que impactou para formar sua identidade, a fim de descobrir: primeiro, a opressão das mulheres negras no âmbito de cada obra literária. Segundo, descobrir se o status da identidade da mulher afro-americana é progredido e desenvolvido na passagem do tempo, comparando os resultados das duas peças que foram escritas em momentos diferentes. Este estudo é utilizado por Martin e White, 2005 Appraisal Theory para realizar os objetivos do artigo. A classificação das proposições atitudinais em cada peça foi examinada no sistema Atitude com suas três subcategorias: julgamento, afeto e apreciação. Concluiu-se que as mulheres de origem africana foram duplamente reprimidas, vitimizadas e marginalizadas no âmbito das duas peças selecionadas para este estudo, devido à sua raça e género. O processo de análise também mostrou que não houve progresso e desenvolvimento dentro da identidade da mulher negra ao longo do tempo

Estadísticas de recursos de participación y reconocimiento efectivo de la identidad de la mujer afroamericana: “In the Blood” por Suzan Lori Parks

So as to accomplish the objectives of moral judgement and social commentary pursued in her play as well as to deliver a complete picture of African American woman oppression. Suzan Lori Parks evaluates and describes various aspects of her protagonist ‘Hester’ as well as other characters’ qualifications: moral traits, intellectual qualities, and social attitudes in her play “In the Blood” (1999). The playwright aims to construct a society of shared ethics and participated in values with her audiences/readers. Parks perfectly adopts different opinions and points of view as sources of evaluation. This paper proposes an analysis of the whole corpus of “In the Blood” and particularly focusing on the theme of ‘woman oppression’, to construe the major female character, Hester as well as the most important characters who impact to form her disturbing identity. This paper aims to figure out the reason behind audiences’/readers’ compliment and applaud with that play in general and the theme of oppression in specific. That can be achieved by addressing the dialogic dimension with a big focus on the propositions of Engagement, the category of Appraisal Framework by which the characters in the play express their commitments and willingness to open up and welcome the negotiation space to other opinions and voices. This paper has concluded that the heteroglossic propositions have exceeded the monoglossic resources in order to engage the characters and positions themselves in relation to other viewpoints and opinions from the audiences/readers which helps to convey the playwright’s moral message skillfully and effectively.   Con el fin de lograr los objetivos del juicio moral y los comentarios sociales perseguidos en su obra, así como ofrecer una imagen completa de la opresión de las mujeres afroamericanas. Suzan Lori Parks evalúa y describe varios aspectos de su protagonista “Hester”, así como las calificaciones de otros personajes: rasgos morales, cualidades intelectuales y actitudes sociales en su obra “In the Blood” (1999). El dramaturgo tiene como objetivo construir una sociedad de ética compartida y participar en valores con sus audiencias/lectores. Parks adopta perfectamente diferentes opiniones y puntos de vista como fuentes de evaluación. Este artículo propone un análisis de todo el corpus de “In the Blood” y se centra particularmente en el tema de “opresión de la mujer”, para interpretar al personaje femenino principal, Hester, así como a los personajes más importantes que impactan para formar su identidad inquietante. Este documento tiene como objetivo descubrir la razón detrás del cumplido del público/lectores y aplaudir esa jugada en general y el tema de la opresión en particular. Eso se puede lograr abordando la dimensión dialógica con un gran enfoque en las propuestas de Engagement, la categoría del Marco de evaluación mediante el cual los personajes de la obra expresan sus compromisos y su voluntad de abrir y dar la bienvenida al espacio de negociación a otras opiniones y voces. Este documento ha concluido que las proposiciones heteroglosicas han excedido los recursos monoglosicos para involucrar a los personajes y posicionarse en relación con otros puntos de vista y opiniones del público/lectores, lo que ayuda a transmitir el mensaje moral del dramaturgo con habilidad y eficacia

A review of studies on Badr Shakir Al-Sayyab’s life and poetry

This paper is a review of literature of the researches and readings that are related to my study of the celebrated Iraqi poet Badr Shakir Al-Sayyab (1926-1964) and his attitude towards women. Badr Shakir Al-Sayyab is the most studied poet and a lot of studies, books and article in various languages dealt with his life and poetry. Researchers followed various approaches to examine his social status, his political stands and even his psychological condition. However, only a limited number of researches studied his poetry in terms of language and linguistics. Besides, and as far as it is related to our study, researchers did not state whether Al-Sayyab‟s ideological and political stands influence his attitude toward the women

Análise da Transitividade da Cobertura Eleitoral em Jornais On-line da Malásia e Paquistão: Um Estudo com Análise Crítica do Discurso e Perspectiva da Linguística Sistemática Funcional

The language of the newspaper is emerged by beliefs, speech and writing practices (Joseph, 2006). To analyze the hidden meaning behind the newspapers’ text of election span 2018 in Malaysia and Pakistan, Norman Fairclough (1995) theory of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is applied on news reports of ‘Malaysiakini’, ‘The New Straits Times’ (independent and mainstream online newspapers from Malaysia), ‘Dawn’ and ‘The News’ (as independent and mainstream online newspapers from Pakistan). The selected dates for analysis of news reports are 2nd May 2018 to 15th May 2018 in Malaysia, whereas; in Pakistan are 18th July 2018 till 31st July 2018, two weeks each respectively. The twenty-five (25) news reports are selected based on social actors on issue ‘corruption’. The social actors are ‘Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’ and ‘Najib Razak’ from Malaysia, whereas; in Pakistan are ‘Imran Khan’ and ‘Nawaz Sharif’, who are analyzed on the social semiotic framework of van Leeuwen (2005). The data is analyzed through Transitivity Analysis from Systematic Functional Linguistics (SFL) by Halliday, which is based on the edited work of Matthiessen (2014). Independent online newspapers of both countries have shown liberal and fair representation to all social actors, in contrast; mainstream newspapers’ linguistic choices are more inclined towards ruling private political interests.El lenguaje del periódico surge de las creencias, el habla y las prácticas de escritura (Joseph, 2006). Para analizar el significado oculto detrás del texto de los periodos electorales de 2018 en Malasia y Pakistán, Norman Fairclough (1995) Teoría del análisis crítico del discurso (CDA) se aplica a los informes de noticias de 'Malaysiakini', 'The New Straits Times' (independiente y los principales periódicos en línea de Malasia), 'Dawn' y 'The News' (como periódicos en línea independientes y convencionales de Pakistán). Las fechas seleccionadas para el análisis de los informes de noticias son del 2 de mayo de 2018 al 15 de mayo de 2018 en Malasia, mientras que; En Pakistán, del 18 de julio de 2018 al 31 de julio de 2018, dos semanas cada uno, respectivamente. Los veinticinco (25) informes de noticias se seleccionan sobre la base de actores sociales en el tema "corrupción". Los actores sociales son "Dr. Mahathir Mohamad" y "Najib Razak" de Malasia, mientras que en Pakistán son 'Imran Khan' y 'Nawaz Sharif', que se analizan en el marco semiótico social de van Leeuwen (2005). Los datos se analizan a través de Transitivity Analysis de Systematic Functional Linguistics (SFL) de Halliday, que se basa en el trabajo editado por Matthiessen (2014). Los periódicos independientes en línea de ambos países han mostrado una representación liberal y justa ante todos los actores sociales, en contraste; Las opciones lingüísticas de los principales periódicos están más inclinadas a gobernar los intereses políticos privados.A linguagem do jornal é emergida por crenças, práticas de fala e escrita (Joseph, 2006). Para analisar o significado oculto por trás do texto dos jornais do período eleitoral de 2018 na Malásia e no Paquistão, a teoria da Análise Crítica do Discurso (CDA) de Norman Fairclough (1995) é aplicada em notícias de 'Malaysiakini', 'The New Straits Times' e jornais on-line mainstream da Malásia), 'Dawn' e 'The News' (como jornais on-line independentes e tradicionais do Paquistão). As datas selecionadas para a análise das notícias são de 2 de maio de 2018 a 15 de maio de 2018 na Malásia; no Paquistão são 18 de julho de 2018 até 31 de julho de 2018, duas semanas cada, respectivamente. Os vinte e cinco (25) relatórios de notícias são selecionados com base em atores sociais sobre a questão "corrupção". Os atores sociais são "Dr. Mahathir Mohamad" e "Najib Razak" da Malásia, enquanto; no Paquistão são "Imran Khan" e "Nawaz Sharif", que são analisados na estrutura semiótica social de van Leeuwen (2005). Os dados são analisados através da Análise de Transitividade da Linguística Sistemática Funcional (SFL) por Halliday, que é baseada no trabalho editado de Matthiessen (2014). Jornais online independentes dos dois países mostraram uma representação liberal e justa para todos os atores sociais, em contraste; As escolhas lingüísticas dos jornais tradicionais estão mais inclinadas a governar interesses políticos privados

EXAMINING THE CLARITY OF EXPRESSIONS IN DESCRIBING THE BLACK WOMAN’S OPPRESSION IN KENNEDY'S “FUNNYHOUSE OF A NEGRO”

Purpose of study: This study tries to figure out whether Adrienne Kennedy’s play “Funnyhouse of a Negro” was direct and clear or indirect and implicit when she expresses a black woman’s struggle with identity. Methodology: This study adopts a mix mode approach of Martin and white (2005) attitudinal category of Appraisal theory so as to analyze, frame, and to answer the research questions by which is proposed for this full research paper. Main Findings: The inscribed instances have exceeded the invoked ones in the whole corpus of “Funnyhouse of a Negro”, concerning how did Sarah; the protagonist, as well as her split figures, have portrayed her white mother and a black father. The outcomes suggest that Kennedy was very clear and direct to deliver her moral judgment to her audiences/readers regarding the status of African American women in American based on analyzing the discourses of the main characters in the play. Implications/Applications: Therefore, this play has gained very much respect and admiration from critics, readers, and audiences because of the playwright’s direct descriptions of Sarah and her parents in the American arena as well as her attempt to form new status as an individual human being who have a right to live such as any white American civilian. Originality/Novelty of Study: The appraisal approach is a fairly new extension in the area of Systemic Functional Linguistics. It has been applied mainly to non-fictional discourse, particularly to certain texts with an argumentative task such as journalistic and political speeches. There is an increasing interest in the utilization of this theory to the analysis of literary texts, involving narrative fiction (Alsanafi&Mohd Noor, 2019). The researcher does not find any study employs Appraisal category to discover the clearness of expressions to describe woman’s oppression in Adriane Kennedy’s “Funnyhouse of a Negro”

SOCIAL ACTORS’ REPRESENTATION IN ONLINE MALAYSIAN NEWSPAPERS DURING ELECTIONS: A TRANSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPER TEXT

Purpose of the study: This study aimed to find out the meaning behind the text of two streams of online newspapers in Malaysia, the present study is conducted on ‘Malaysiakini’ (independent newspaper) and ‘The News Straits Times’ (mainstream newspaper). Methodology: The research employs Norman Fairclough (1995) Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), which is analyzed with Halliday’s Systematic Functional Linguistics (SFL) based on social semiotics analysis (1985). Transitivity Analysis of text is based on Halliday’s work by Matthiessen (2014). Sixteen-16 (6,125 words) hard news is selected from ‘Malaysiakini’ and five-5 (2,270 words) from ‘The New Straits Times’ based on the ‘defamation’ category, which is selected from one week before elections. The selected dates of data are 3rd May till 9th May 2018. The news reports are selected on social actors’ performances i.e. Dr.Mahathir Mohamad and Najib Razak, which are based on van Leeuwen’s (2005) social semiotic framework. Main Findings: The results show Malaysiakini has portrayed independent views and given fair portrayal to both political social actors as compared to ‘The News Straits Times’. Applications of this study: The study can be useful in print journalism in which grammatical words’ analysis through the process of transitivity leads to determine the inclination of the newspaper towards a political party. Novelty/Originality of this study: The study may benefit readers in existing knowledge as elections’ social actors have not been analyzed earlier grammatically

Exploring Domains and Elements for Behavioural Competency and Employability Skills

Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) system is crucial in producing skilled workers who can command high incomes, which in turn will help Malaysia achieve the developed nation status by the year 2020. There is a mismatch between the graduates produced by the Public Skills Training Institutes in Malaysia and the competent workforce required by the industry. Therefore, this study aims to explore the domains and elements that can help automotive industry trainees acquire behavioural competence and employability skills. The Delphi technique is used to explore the domains and elements that contribute towards the integration programme for the Public Skills Training Institutes (PTSIs) and Private Training Centres (PTCs)  involved in churning out automotive industry trainees. Analysis of interview data from the two rounds of the Delphi study indicates that 12 domains  contribute to shaping behavioural competence and employability skills, namely governance; framework of qualifications; standard of competence; supplier of skill standards; delivery; industrial relations; experience of industrial work;  twinning programmes;  community service programmes; curriculum-based industrial visits; and educational entrepreneurship

Attitude realization in news reports: an interpretation through an appraisal analysis

For the maintenance of the authorial voice, newspapers use rhetorical markers as an external supporting voice to win their readership. The current five-year studies show that news writers maintain engagement with their readers by their stances towards their point of views. This study aimed to find the attitudinal stances of two Pakistani Online newspapers i.e. ‘Dawn’ (alternative newspaper) and ‘The News’ (mainstream newspaper). The newspaper’s inclination was identified through its language. To discover the newspapers’ stances, Martin and White (2005) ‘Appraisal Analysis’ framework was employed on ‘2’ news reports comprising of ‘5013’ words on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Speech at 74th United Nations’ session along with Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) by Norman Fairclough (1995). It was found that both newspapers indirectly invoked attitudes by laying evaluative ground which was explicitly explained in the quoted text. The prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was found the ‘Appraiser’ in both news reports and served as a main social actor in highlighting Pakistan’s current issues. The issues are expected to be solved urgently for peace and prosperity in the region by the involvement of world leaders and United Nations on Kashmir conflict between Pakistan and India, climate change and elimination of Islam phobia