A Critical Discourse Analysis of Gender Representations in the Content of 5th Grade English Language Textbook

This study investigates gender representation in an English language textbook taught to the students of Grade-5 in public and private schools in Punjab (Pakistan) by applying Fairclough’s three-dimensional model. For this purpose, content and critical discourse analyses approaches were applied to check eight-factor gender discrimination in the said textbook. As a result, it was observed that the said textbook was highly gender biased which represented males more than females. It also appeared that the said textbook had been designed to maintain male dominance in implicit as well as explicit ways. Such state of affairs may lead to gender discrimination in practical lives. Therefore, the study suggests that both genders should be represented in an equalized proportion. This can be achieved by increasing the number of female authors and sensitizing the teachers about gender discrimination and asking them to highlight gender biased issues in education

Teachers’ Beliefs and Students’ Motivation about Emerging and Existing Methods of English Language Teaching: A Case Study of Intermediate Teachers and Students of Faisalabad

The present study investigated the teachers’ beliefs and students’ motivation towards different methods of English language teaching in Faisalabad. The data was collected from the intermediate teachers and students through questionnaires. Both questionnaires were analyzed statistically through SPSS software. It guides the teachers to rethink and analyze their teaching methods and bring improvement in their practices. The results of present study revealed that students are motivated towards new English language teaching methods while teachers are not in favor of any specific method. Even there were not significant differences between private and government participants in terms of being motivated by different methods. Keywords— Teachers’Beliefs, Students’Motivation, Existing ELT Methods, Emerging ELT Methods.

Vocabulary Acquisition to Long-Term Memory through Word Association Strategy

Word association test technique and memory storage issue has an intrinsic and central relationship from the last decade. Subsequent is the study of the relationship between the two and their effect upon vocabulary learning. The reviewed data consists of word association methodology in relation to mental lexicon and its applications. All these functions supports us for using word association tests upon language skills subjects, using some theoretical materials of chain theory, network theory, concept maps etc. The changed pattern of associations at different timings and the evaluation of the degree of storage of maximum number of lexical items in long term memory using WATs are shown. Keywords: word association theory, lexical networks theory, chain theory, words association in mental lexicon

Attitudes of Parents and Children towards Multilingualism in Pakistan

This study investigated the attitudes of parents and children towards multilingualism in Faisalabad. In Faisalabad, many languages are spoken but in this study three main widely spoken languages, Urdu (national language), Punjabi (mother tongue) and English (international language) were selected. The attitudes of parents and children greatly vary towards these languages. This research took into account the variable of social status, education, age, gender and family context to probe into the reasons behind different language attitudes. This study aimed to find out how these variables play their role in shaping language attitudes. The data was collected through interview and questionnaire .The questionnaire was used to know parent’s attitudes while group interview to know children attitudes about multilingualism. Questionnaire data was analyzed by using SPSS software while interview data was analyzed qualitatively. Results depicted that children are more are conscious about English language and they have same assumptions as their parents have. On the other hand parents want their children to speak only Urdu and English

The Semantics of Sentence Connectors in Reading Comprehension in Pakistani English Textbooks

The objective of the current research is to examine the semantics of sentence connectors in reading comprehension. To achieve this objective and answer the research questions both qualitative and quantitative data was collected for the research. The sample for the current research was two textbooks from Cambridge ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels. For this purpose, a corpus of 20 reading passages was developed. To investigate the sentence connectors in selected passages Halliday and Hassan model (1976) of grammatical cohesion was applied as a theoretical framework. The findings of the current research reveal that both the textbooks have utilized sentence connectors frequently, but the overall ratio of all sentence connectors’ categories is more frequent in ‘A’ levels textbooks while ‘O’ levels textbooks have utilized various temporal connectors instead. Each word-category of sentence connectors executed specific semantic function within a text to create more cohesive ties. This research may serve the purpose to bring more researchers into this field. The findings and methodology will be helpful for teachers in teaching reading comprehension

Terrorist Discourse in Naqvi’s ‘Home Boy’: A Neo Orientalist Perspective

The purpose of this paper is to study Naqvi’s novel, Home Boy (2010) as a Neo Orientalist discourse of US officials about Pakistani Muslims. This paper will discuss how US officials including that of G. W. Bush perceive the Oriental world _ by using the same strategy _ as one distinguished by strangeness, Creepiness, and unusual practices; a world that is ‘Other’ than that of Anglo-American familiar to the American public. In short what terrorist discourse of Neo Orientalists in the  novel confirmed, was Said’s thesis about the “subtle and persistent Eurocentric prejudice against Arabo-Islamic peoples and their culture” (The Edward Said Reader 2000, 69). The paper argues that the terrorist discourse in the novel is certainly a Neo Orientalist discourse enacted by the Center to demonize marginal Islam and its followers. Keywords: Discourse, Neo- orientalism, Islamophobia, Demonize, Eurocentric Prejudic

Role of the Dual-State Model of Creative Cognition for Evaluating Creativity in English Language Classrooms at the Primary Level

This study is an attempt to measure creativity in English-language classrooms through the dual-state model of creative cognition. Creativity may be assessed in Pakistani English-language classrooms because it is usually hindered in schools at the primary level. The model used was the dual-state model of creative cognition, i.e., generative and non-generative stages. The outline of the model proposes that individuals may benefit from both stages, but at individual stages, they benefit from one stage rather than both stages. Two abilities were tested. There is the ability to think logically and analytically, as well as make associations. The tests used were the Remote Associate Test (RAT) and the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT verbal part). The RAT test consisted of 30 items. A few items were selected from an online source, and a few were made manually. The TTCT test consists of nine statements to get feedback about teaching and learning practices. The tests were processed through statistical measures. The students were enrolled in a private school in Faisalabad. The sample of the study was class 7th and 8th of Al-Faisal Grammar High School, Faisalabad. The results proved the hypothesis correct: the model suggests that students would get more benefit from one stage than from two

A Critical Discourse Analysis of News in Media about Rape Victims in Pakistan

This study aims to investigate the discourse in news coverage, specifically focusing on the reporting of rape cases, with a particular focus on victim blaming and fact-hiding in the Pakistani media discourse. Drawing on the Van Dijk model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the study intends to unveil biases or power inequalities deep rooted in the structure and management of news reporting discourse. The research seeks to ascertain whether media outlets employ deceptive language to conceal the reality in reporting on rape cases, the influence of victim blaming on readers’ perception, and how the news media copes with the reporting of rape incidents. Data collection involves analysis of news articles from five well-known Pakistani publications: The Dawn News, ARY News, Dunya News, Geo News, and the Express Tribune particularly focusing on the "Zainab\u27s Murder and Rape Case." The analysis highlights instances of deletion, word choice, hiding identity, and lack of mention of police action, which contribute to the manipulation of information in news reports. The results of the study shed light on the biased description of rape incidents in the Pakistani media, fanning victim blame and rape lores. The study stresses the need for unbiased and truthful reporting of sexual assault incidents, ensuring that the experiences of victims are accurately portrayed. By uncovering the manipulation and biases in the Pakistani news media, this research contributes to a better understanding of the discourse patterns surrounding rape cases and the potential impact on public attitudes towards victims. &nbsp

Use of Repetition as a Political Discourse Manipulation Device in the Speeches of a Pakistani Prime Minister

This study aims to analyze the ideological function of repetition and positive-self vs. negativeother representation strategy in the political discourse. The data for this study comprises of the speeches of a former Pakistani Prime Minister, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, which has been analyzed in the light of theoretical framework for political discourse analysis (PDA) as well as discourse historical approach (DHA) focusing on to highlight the change in the Mr. Sharif’s ideology/stance over the period of time, and describe major reasons behind the said change. As a result, Mr. Sharif has been observed to change his stance over the period of time to manipulate his political speeches due to self-centeredness, and to convince the audience of his political agenda to stay in power

Representation of Women in Mann O Salwa: A Case Study through Feminist Stylistic Analysis

This descriptive study makes an attempt to analyze Mann o Salwa from the perspective of feminist stylistics to investigate how Pakistani female author represents women in her novel Mann o Salwa by utilizing analysis of transitivity choices. This paper argues that the prevailing image of women in Pakistani society and literature is passive, negative, distorted, submissive, and dependent. This research aims to explore whether female authors have succeeded in abolishing the unenthusiastic negative and passive image of women in Pakistani society or their writings are also socially influenced because it is commonly believed that it is always a male author who portrays negative and distorted image of women, in this paper the researcher has tried explore whether female authors present a positive image of women or not. Analysis of mental and material process of female protagonists has proved to be useful in answering the question of negativity and passivity of women. The result revealed that female authors’ writings to some extent are socially influenced. They partially portray them passive and dependent on man. Their actions are actually the reaction of men’s action on them as they are equally exploited by men and other women in society. They are oppressed as well as oppressors. Being a feminist research this study enhances the awareness of the society. Most of the women in the novel are portrayed negative and oppressors.