Human values in intercultural communication : CDA for Discourse of Proverbs in Yemen Times / Abduljalil Hazaea

In intercultural communication, human values need to be investigated as neutral discourse; where local and global identities compete to legitimate such neutral discourse. Human values can be explicitly or implicitly manifested in the discourse of proverbs. Proverbs are ‘common sense’ assumptions that construct culturally-biased and durative values. Like newspaper headlines, proverbs are part of argumentative rhetoric whose semantic and pragmatic functions are not only to attract readers but also to convince them. As a subjournalistic genre in Yemen Times, the discourse of proverbs targeted worldwide audiences; it was produced by a non-local journalist and published in hardcopy and online between 2003 and 2010. This paper investigates human values in an intercultural text disseminated in global journalism; the discourse of proverbs of Yemen Times. The analytical tools of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) were employed to reveal the evident competing discourses associated with human values in the texts. The data analysis revealed that human values were associated with literary, philosophical, political and anonymous global discourses; these discourses were dominant in the texts. Local legitimating discourses were excluded; backgrounded local religious discourse and discourse of local passive agency were associated with human values. The exclusion of local agencies reflects hegemonic global power over human values in intercultural communication

An Approach to Creative Media Literacy for World Issues

This article introduces an approach to creative media literacy for world issues (WIs) such as Covid-19. In so doing, the article integrates four positions on discourse and media as terrible facets of globalization in the context of critical discourse analysis (CDA). The objectivist position deals with WIs as neutral discourse shared among humanity and distributed through English as an international language and educational media. The ideologist position treats creative media literacy as relations of power between global and local identities in the form of competing discourses associated with WIs. The rhetoric position reveals the hidden strategies used in global media discourse and English as a global language. The social constructionist position provides three levels of analysis for creative media literacy among university students: textual analysis, discourse analysis, and critical discourse analysis. The article concludes with guidelines on how lecturers can implement this approach with EFL students

Competences in digital online media literacy: Towards convergence with emergency remote EFL learning

Copyright © 2020 by Academic Publishing House Researcher s.r.o. With the emergency shift to remote learning due to the spread of COVID-19 and the advent of communication technology, developing digital online media literacy (DOML) has become necessary for Saudi English as foreign language (EFL) students. Media literacy empowers EFL students to access, analyze, evaluate, and produce digital online media texts. The preparatory year (PY) is a bridging year that links school outcomes to university demands. This study examines the competences in DOML among students in PY at Saudi University. It also examines whether any differences can be attributed to gender. To accomplish this, a four-dimensional survey of 36 items was adapted from T. Hallaq\u27s (Hallaq, 2016) to serve EFL context. The simple sample consisted of 170 respondents (85 males and 85 females). The results showed that the respondents are competent in DOML (m=3.73), and that there were no statistical differences between females and males. This result indicates that the respondents are ready for the emergency remote learning. Both males and females are subject to the same homogeneous educational system. The paper concludes with some pedagogical implications for emergency remote EFL learning

A Study of south Arabian Inscriptions from the region of Dhamar (Yemen)

This thesis presents the results of the epigraphic surveys conducted by the author in the region of Dhamar (Yemen). The 120 Ancient South Arabian Sabaic inscriptions presented here are a selection of the documentation found in many sites. They include unpublished and some other published texts, which needed some corrections. The edition of the text (preliminary information, transcription, translation and comment) is preceded by an introduction on the geography of the region and a description of the sites. The inscriptions have been divided in five chapters, chronologically arranged as follows: 8th/7th - 5th century BC, 4th -end of the 1st century BC, beginning of the 1st - mid-2nd century AD, mid-2nd - beginning of the 4th century AD (most of these inscriptions were engraved in the 2nd half of the 2nd century AD), beginning of the 4th - mid-6th century AD. Each chapter is followed by a historical and linguistic analysis, which highlights the new important data with which these inscriptions improve our knowledge of the South Arabian civilization, particularly of its history. The reading of the text is based on the original photographs taken by the author, which are available in the plates

The development of corporate governance literature in Malaysia: a systematic literature review and research agenda

Purpose This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the existing literature on corporate governance (CG) aspects of the Malaysian market. It offers insights into the phases of Malaysian CG, identifies crucial gaps in the literature and outlines an agenda for impending research. Design/methodology/approach Following a systematic literature review approach, a final sample of 125 studies from Scopus and Web of Science databases was used in this study. These studies were selected based on quality assessment criteria. Then, the sample literature was evaluated in terms of journals, methodology, theories, modelling, research outcomes and CG characteristics. Findings The results show that there is a growing interest among researchers to further explore CG aspects in Malaysia due to the continuous development of the Malaysian CG codes. Likewise, the review reveals that the majority of prior studies are quantitative and were carried out using archived data from non-financial firms. Also, the existing literature has primarily focused on the outcomes of CG, especially firm performance. Research limitations/implications Overall, the results show that there is ample room for future research. The present paper identifies a number of methodological problems and concerns, and discusses the implications of these problems, while also providing recommendations for future research. The main caveat is that the authors use scholarly papers published in academic journals only, but this approach offers them with opportunities for considerable further developments. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study contributes to the literature by being the first of its kind to concentrate on the Malaysian context. It provides a comprehensive knowledge assessment of the Malaysian CG research and offers advice regarding improvements in research, policy and practice by identifying possible knowledge gaps. Consequently, this study provides a cohesive story of the past and a road map for future research on Malaysian CG

Sustainability assurance practices: A systematic review and future research agenda

Copyright © The Author(s) 2021. Although firms increasingly publish sustainability reports, assuring such reports is relatively new. This study reviews the literature of sustainability assurance to evaluate the intellectual development of the field and provide recommendations for future studies. It also demonstrates the role of assurance to enhance the credibility of sustainability reports and corporate reputation. This paper systematically reviews 94 papers obtained from the Scopus database between 1993 and August 2021. Our study shows that there is an increase in the number of studies published in recent years. We also found that some countries have received limited attention, such as the USA. The scant literature examining sustainability assurance in private institutions and non-profit organisations should be reinforced. Likewise, the sustainability research also provides limited evidence on the governance debate. The vast majority of research is not based on theoretical grounds. The need for assurance of sustainability reports not only enhances the reputation but also adds more value to the organisation’s planning, monitoring, and accountability. We highlight several new research suggestions that may enhance the understanding of sustainability assurance practices

Mobile collaborative language learning: State of the art

This paper presents a review of mobile collaborative language learning studies published in 2012–16 with the aim to improve understanding of how mobile technologies have been used to support collaborative learning among second and foreign language students. We identify affordances, general pedagogical approaches, second- and foreign-language pedagogical approaches, second language acquisition (SLA) principles and affective designs. The results indicate that affordances such as flexible use, continuity of use, timely feedback, personalisation, socialisation, self-evaluation, active participation, peer coaching, sources of inspiration outdoors and cultural authenticity have been emphasised. These affordances were found to be particularly suited to promote social constructivism, which is often sustained by game-based, task based and seamless learning. In terms of second and foreign language pedagogical approaches, the combination of individualised and collaborative learning prevails, along with task based, situated and communicative language learning, and raising orthographic awareness. Among SLA principles, negotiation of meaning and opportunities for feedback are highlighted. Affective aspects include increases in motivation, engagement and enjoyment, mutual encouragement, reduction in nervousness and embarrassment, and a few negative reports of risk of distraction, safety concerns, feelings of uncertainty and technical problems. The reviewed studies present a convincing case for the benefits of collaboration in mobile language learning

Prevalence of trachoma in Yemen: results of population-based prevalence surveys of 42 evaluation units in nine governorates.

PURPOSE: In suspected trachoma-endemic areas of Yemen, we sought to determine the prevalence of the sign trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) in children aged 1-9 years, and the potential individual and household risk factors for TF in that age group. We also sought to determine the prevalence of trichiasis in adults aged ≥15 years. METHODS: We conducted a cluster-sampled survey in each of 42 evaluation units (EUs) comprising 166 rural districts of nine Governorates (Adh Dhale'a, Al Hodeihah, Al Jawf, Hadramoot, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahj, Ma'rib, Taiz) using the Global Trachoma Mapping Project systems and methodologies. Fieldwork was undertaken from September 2013 to March 2015. Risk factors for TF in children aged 1-9 years were evaluated using multilevel random effects logistic regression. RESULTS: The TF prevalence in children aged 1-9 years was ≥10% in two EUs (7 districts) and 5-9.9% in six EUs (24 districts). In adults aged ≥15 years, trichiasis prevalence was ≥0.2% in five EUs (19 districts). Being older (within the 1-9-year age bracket), being male, living in a household with higher numbers of children, and living in a household that reported the use of open defecation, were each independently associated with higher odds of TF. CONCLUSIONS: These surveys provided baseline data to enable planning for trachoma elimination. The World Health Organization Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 stands ready to assist Yemen once security considerations permit further surveys and implementation of control activities

Islamic and Late Modern Comparative Worldviews on Language: Towards Model for Translating Alien Key Concepts

Within the area of cultural discourse studies (CDSs), this article is presented to compare the late modern and Islamic worldviews on language. In so doing, the researcher uses a comparative qualitative method to explore the worldviews on language, word meaning, text, and context with specific attention to the writings of Norman Fairclough and those of Mohammed Naqib al-Attas. The analysis reveals that both worldviews coincide in terms of basic and relational meanings of words. Some differences are revealed in terms of the worldviews on language, text, and context. What distinguishes al-Attas’s Islamic worldview is that the authentic sources of knowledge (the Quran and the verified Sunnah) in the Arabic language provide a scientific context for concept-formation. The study contributes to a model for translation at worldview levels. It recommends further research on translating alien key concepts that have been introduced into the languages of Muslim people