International Journal of Language and Literary Studies

Reconstructing Memory and Decolonizing History: A Critical Study of Andalusian Legacy

ABDELLATIF LABKADRI — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This paper investigates the intricate interplay between literary analysis and historical context through the lens of Moroccan historical novels, focusing on Hassan Aourid’s The Morisco. This study highlights the prominence of integrating historical context into literary critique by decolonizing and reimagining the past. The analysis of The Morisco serves as a case study to demonstrate how historical narratives are recontextualized and reinterpreted within the framework of postcolonial discourse. This approach facilitates the text's understanding by employing an eclectic theoretical framework drawing from, but not limited to, Said, White, and Lukács. It underscores the broader socio-political implications of historical representation in literature. This essay argues that The Morisco deploys historical fiction to decolonize the past by providing a voice for unrepresented subalterns, to use Spivak’s term, the expelled Muslims and Jews from their homeland, Andalucia. It is also argued that Aourid's historical narrative exemplifies a distinct approach within Moroccan literature, where fictional techniques are intertwined with historiographical ones to decolonize the official history, calling upon the urgent need to reread the past, one that has influenced our contemporary history and to rectify the misrepresentation in historical narratives.

Speech Actions of Palembang Malay Community's Humor on Television: A Review of Cultural Aspects of Politeness

Houtman Houtman, Andri Wicaksono, Sri Parwanti — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This study examines Palembangese politeness speech acts in television programs on PAL TV Palembang Station from the cultural aspect of the humorous utterance category. This research is qualitative research using an ethnographic study of communication, which is applied to find out the communication patterns of social groups, in this case, Palembangese speech acts in humor. The technique used in data collection is the technique of recording documentation, notes, and interviews. The results of this research show that polite speech acts of Palembang people in humor accumulate in several factors. Judging from the material of humor, humorous activities occur in almost all aspects of life because, basically, elements of humor are extracted from the phenomenon of various kinds of life. From the cultural context that developed in Palembang society, jokes are preferred because of product conflicts that arise. Relative relations between families are the usual material for humor. Furthermore, from the point of view of situations, some situations are deliberately created because participants need entertainment or excitement in speech act activities or the results of events that flow naturally from a subject.

Subjectivity in the Poetry of Rain Case Study of Never have I seen a caravan of camels so relentless—by Abu Tamm?m

Layla Darwish — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This study examines the portrayal of rain in ancient Arabic poetry through the lens of cognitive linguistics, focusing on the interplay of temporal forms, mental spaces, and emotional resonance. The research explores how poets construct meaning by blending past, present, and future into a single moment, merging drought, rainfall, and its aftermath. The analysis reveals that the poet’s use of grammatical tenses functions as "instructions" for constructing mental spaces, enabling the blending of reality and imagination. Emotion plays a central role in this process, as metaphorical schemata connect images and feelings, creating poetic iconicity. The study also highlights the poet’s ability to inhabit blended spaces, where desire and imagination intersect with reality, offering a comprehensive view of the world. By integrating cognitive and affective dimensions, this research provides a framework for understanding how temporal references and mental spaces shape the emotional and narrative impact of rain poetry in Arabic literature.

The Musicalization of Fiction in Dorothy Richardson’s Pilgrimage and Virginia Woolf’s The Waves.

Mariyem Abouabdelmajid, Khadija Anasse — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This article examines the relationship between the musicalization of fiction and the stream of consciousness techniques. It focuses on the intermediality, meaning, the superimposition of one art form on another as it is the case in Dorothy Richardson’s Pilgrimage (1919) and Virginia Woolf’s The Waves (1931). Both authors are considered modernists through their experimentation because they employ music as a theme and a structure. The qualitative method this study is based on fits this paper’s objectives since it analyzes the works of both writers who use musicalization of fiction. This article’s added value consists in a comparative study of both novels showing the ways the writers use thematization and mimesis of music creating a suitable prose for women. The article confirms that each author stands out by her own characteristics while sharing similarities and differences with the other. Indeed, Dorothy Richardson and Virginia Woolf use music to mirror the stream of consciousness of their characters. The authors’ interest in music comes from their musical knowledge and influence mostly by Beethoven and Wagner. However, while the musical flow serves as a connecting thread throughout Pilgrimage, The Waves reflects the rise and fall movements of the waves in a musical way.

The Wite Way Forward: Learners’ Experiences on the Utilisation of Artificial Intelligence Tools In Research Writing

Norman Navarette, HAYA JANE E. ELAN — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This phenomenological study investigates the experiences of Senior High School learners at Glan School of Arts and Trades in utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for research writing. Since there are limited studies on AI in K-12 research writing in the Philippines, I conducted in-depth interviews with eight purposively selected learners that delve into their perceptions, challenges, and benefits associated with AI tool usage. The findings reveal a complex interplay of advantages and concerns. While learners appreciate AI's capacity to enhance grammar, generate ideas, and manage citations, they also express concerns regarding overreliance and potential ethical implications, such as plagiarism and lack of original thought. The study highlights the need for a balanced approach to AI integration in academic research, emphasizing the importance of human oversight and critical evaluation. This study contributes to the growing body of research on AI in education, providing valuable insights into the experiences and perspectives of young learners. By understanding the benefits and limitations of AI tools, educators can develop strategies to support students in using these technologies responsibly and effectively. Furthermore, the findings of this study can inform the development of guidelines and policies for the ethical and appropriate use of AI in educational settings.

Hurdles Moroccan University Professors Encounter in Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills

Mounir Beniche — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The aim of this study is to explore the hurdles Moroccan university professors encounter in enhancing critical thinking skills in Moroccan higher education .The participants of this study were Moroccan university professors from different universities in Morocco . The study uses qualitative design . The contents of professors’ interviews were analyzed qualitatively. The results of the study display clearly that CTS in higher education are crucial for professional contexts , everyday practices and workplace success ; however, their enhancement is challenging for many professors. The difficulties university professors encounter in developing CTS are aligned to many factors . Firstly, students are not motivated to discuss their views publically. Secondly, Students most of the time cannot differentiate between opinions and facts and use logical fallacies in their discussions. Thirdly, students are not involved in other extra-curricular activities to sharpen their CTS. The study ended up by displaying practical solutions to overcome such hurdles.

The Manifestation of English Dental Fricatives in Ghanaian Technical University Students’ Spoken English

Richard Lawer, Yvette Djabaki Asamoah, Timothy Hattoh-Ahiaduvor — Sat, 03 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This study investigated the manifestation of the English dental fricatives /ð, ?/ in the speeches of Ghanaian students pursuing various HND programmes in one of the technical universities in the country. The study sought to identify the forms that the English voiced and voiceless dental fricatives manifest in the speech of the students using Distinctive Feature theory to explain the modifications. The researchers compiled sentences that contained words with the dental fricatives and made student participants read them for recording and transcription. The extracted pronunciations of the words containing the dental fricatives were compared to native speaker pronunciation using Merriam-Webster’s English Dictionary. The analysis showed that at the word's initial position, the voiceless dental fricative /?/ is articulated [t], while the voiced dental /ð/ is realised as [d]. At the word-final position, the voiceless dental fricative /?/ occurs in the speech of the participants as either [t] or [f], while the voiced dental fricative /ð/ surfaces as [d] in all contexts, including word medial position. The study recommended that teachers adopt explicit teaching of English language phonemes to make students appreciate and master the articulation of these sounds to foster accurate pronunciation.

Teachers’ Perceptions of Effective School Leadership in Moroccan Public Schools

Zakaria El Hilali — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This study explores public school teachers’ perceptions of effective school leadership in the Oriental Region of Morocco. As a data collection method, the study employed a qualitative online survey, which involved 110 public school teachers. Participants’ responses were thematically analyzed following Braun and Clarke's six-phase process of thematic analysis. The findings show that principals have a significant influence on their schools, the learners, and the staff. They also reveal that effective school leaders are perceived as communicative individuals, relationship-focused, team oriented and collaborative. Having good administrative and managerial skills are necessary for effective leadership. However, these skills should be complemented a focus on relationships, communication, team building, and collaboration. Other attributes of effective school leadership include professionalism, fairness, consideration, and support. The findings highlight the importance of understanding leadership within its specific organizational and cultural context. Practical implications are suggested for leadership development in the context of Moroccan public schools.

Artificial Intelligence in Arabic-English Literary Translation: Technological Innovations, Linguistic Accuracy, and Ethical Implications

Hameed Mohammed Abdulfatah Abdulmughni — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This research investigates the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Arabic-English literary translation, examining the complex intersection of technological capabilities, linguistic challenges, and ethical considerations. The study employs a mixed-methods approach combining computational analysis of translator-AI interactions, comparative assessment of machine and human translations, and qualitative interviews with professional translators and literary experts. Analysis of a diverse corpus of Arabic literary texts reveals that while neural machine translation (NMT) systems have made significant advances in handling basic linguistic structures, they continue to struggle with the cultural nuances, stylistic features, and contextual depth that characterize literary texts. The research identifies specific challenges in translating Arabic literary devices, metaphorical expressions, and culturally embedded concepts, while proposing targeted enhancements to existing NMT architectures. These include the development of specialized cultural knowledge modules, improved handling of Arabic morphological complexity, and hybrid human-AI workflows that leverage the strengths of both machine efficiency and human cultural interpretation. The study also addresses the ethical implications of AI integration in literary translation, examining issues of authorial voice preservation, translator agency, and cultural representation. The findings suggest that while AI can serve as a valuable assistive tool in the translation process, the translation of literary texts continues to require human oversight to ensure cultural authenticity, stylistic integrity, and ethical representation. This research contributes to the evolving understanding of AI's role in translation studies and offers practical frameworks for the responsible integration of technology in preserving the art of literary translation.

Understanding Environmental Degradation through African Proverbs

Eric Dzeayele Maiwong — Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This paper investigates the effects of environmental degradation on humanity, linguistics, knowledge, and culture. This study employs a tripartite theoretical framework to analyze L?mnso’ proverbs: Structural Linguistics, Semiology, and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). Basing its analysis on thirty-nine L?mnso’ proverbs, the study rigorously demonstrates that the extra-linguistic and sociological variables in the data contribute to the process of signification—or meaning generation—in language at both denotative and connotative levels.

The paper reveals that geographical environmental degradation has devastating consequences for humanity, linguistics, knowledge, and culture. It argues that environmental degradation is a long-standing concept in African societies, particularly in the Nso’ community, dating back as far as the Nso’ people, their language (L?mnso’), and their culture.

Furthermore, by presenting fresh and reliable evidence, the study establishes that language is intrinsically linked to environment, knowledge, and culture. Its key contributions include:

1. Highlighting a previously neglected aspect of linguistic studies—the relevance of geographical environment to meaning generation and effective communication.

2. Proposing that game reserves and forest reserves should serve not only as touristic sites but also as knowledge-based, linguistic, and cultural laboratories.

Female Lecturers’ challenges in Afghanistan's higher education under the Taliban rule

Froozan Danish, Hanifa Omar — Sun, 04 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This research explores the systematic discrimination and gender apartheid faced by female lecturers in higher education institutions since the Taliban began imposing gender-based restrictions in 2021. Ten female lecturers from several public universities were interviewed using thematic analysis to elucidate their experiences. These findings were examined within the framework of critical feminist theory. The study identifies key areas of gender-based exclusion and marginalization, beginning with the enforcement of a strict dress code that unduly emphasizes appearance and restricts autonomy while serving as a tool of surveillance and control. Female lecturers are also restricted in their mobility within academic spaces or altogether prohibited from entering the campuses, thereby exacerbating their isolation and limiting their engagement with students and colleagues. The exclusion of women from administrative offices further entrenches patriarchal dominance within institutional hierarchies. These policies, along with salary reductions and limited opportunities for academic promotion, significantly impede female lecturers’ professional development and participation in academic life. Furthermore, significant mental health issues resulting from the impact of the restrictions on their personal and professional lives were reported.

The Impact of Collaborative Writing Strategy on EFL Students’ Writing Skills Through Adopting a Process-Based Approach

Abdessallam Khamouja — Sat, 03 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Writing is one of the productive skills that involves communicating a message in the form of letters, words, and sentences. It is a mental effort of creating and inventing ideas, thinking about how to express them, and organizing them into paragraphs that a reader can understand. Effective writing requires effective writing strategies, such as the collaborative writing technique. The latter supports collaboration, critical thinking, and active participation towards producing a good piece of writing. The implementation of collaborative writing in the classroom requires students to be more active in all the processes of writing, such as brainstorming ideas, gathering and organizing information, drafting, revising, and editing. The main purpose of the present study is to examine teachers’ perceptions about the extent to which this writing technique can improve learners’ writing skills to produce an argumentative text. The findings indicate that the participants have a positive standpoint toward such a strategy because it develops students’ writing skills and increases their interaction. It also helps students stay focused on their goals by collaborating to create high-quality argumentative essays.

English Teaching Materials and Identity Formation: Moroccan Students’ Perception of the “Self” and the “Other”

Hanane Guoddar, Abdelghanie Ennam — Thu, 08 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

It is widely agreed that properly learning a new language requires learning the culture associated with it as well. The culture of the target language is often new and intriguing. However, such extensive exposure to the "Other’s" perspective of life may impact not only individuals' language learning but also their thinking styles, beliefs, and perceptions of the "Self." This paper, using a quantitative research design, investigates the effect that the materials used in teaching English at Moroccan high schools and universities have on students. Drawing on data collected from 50 Moroccan university students, it was found that while all participants had been exposed to locally designed textbooks during high school—which did not seem to harm their cultural identity—the materials used at the university level were significantly foreign. It is, therefore, crucial to understand the role that educational materials play in shaping students’ identities and to advocate for the inclusion of more local content to help preserve the cultural identity of Moroccan students.