The Motivational Framing of Self-Love in Kim Namjoon’s UNICEF Speech

Identity is a process in which self-perception is formed through the groups and culture of which individuals are members, as well as their internal inquiries about who they are. In this respect, personal, social and collective identity types draw attention in the literature. It is known that the achievement of individuals in identity integrity increases well-being. In this context, it was aimed to investigate the effects of personal, social and collective identity on mental well-being in this study. This study was carried out in accordance with the correlational pattern, one of the quantitative research designs. The research group of the study consisted of 341 (254 female, 87 male) university students between the ages of 18-30 (mean = 20.93). Personal Information Form, Identity Questionnaire and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale Short Form were used as data collection tools in the study. According to correlation analysis, there was a positive relationship between mental well-being and personal identity, social identity, and collective identity. According to structural equation model analysis, it was found that personal identity and collective identity positively and significantly predict mental well-being, but the effect of social identity on mental well-being was not significant. The results are discussed in the context of identity and well-being literature.

The research subject refers to the theoretical perspectives of the identity of several authors – N. Sekulic, Z. Golubovic, B. Anderson, N. Djukic, E. Goffman, M. Castells, R. Watson, G. Small, Z. Bauman, S. Hall, V. Jerotic, R. Jenkins and A. Benoist. The search is for an answer to the question: Could priority be given to personal or social identity, according to importance? A noticeable research problem is the pluralism of conceptions that attach more importance to either individual or collective identity. The main hypothesis is that there is a false problem of non-complementarity of collective and personal identity, as well as an experiential connection (scientific law) between the political construction of collective identity and totalitarianism. The scientific goals are: 1) to describe the identity and the process of its creation; 2) to classify and explain the difference between personal and collective identity, with an emphasis on the integrative point of view of Golubovic and Jenkins on the complementarity between them; 3) to anticipate the experiential connection between the political construction of collective identity and totalitarianism due to the exclusion of Others from the constructed identity pattern, in order to establish complete state-political (party) control over all dimensions of everyday life beyond States. The methods of (descriptive and comparative) analysis, deduction, synthesis, induction, case studies and content analysis of identity conceptions based on a simple classification (significant - less significant type of identity) (Kukic & Markic, 2006: 217) and desk research will be used. The results of qualitative research are knowledge about identity, its types, its construction and the consequences of identity engineering, which were obtained through secondary, qualitative data (Kothari, 2004; Dale, Wathan & Higgins, 2008) during 'research in the library' (Kuba & Koking, 2004: 90) on bibliographic units from an abstracted sample.

Previous studies have shown an increasing preference for online communication within the autistic advocacy community. Yet, little is known about how online communication facilitates the formation of autistic identity. This qualitative study examined online autobiographical narratives about repetitive and restricted behaviors-specifically "stimming"-produced by autistic adults. The primary goal of this study was to investigate how the production of, and online interactions around, these narratives functioned as collaborative resources for empowered autistic identities. Nine blog posts were located that contained autobiographical narratives related to stimming and were analyzed using discourse analysis. Analysis revealed that individual and collective identities were negotiated within narratives through: (1) situating the self in relation to other story characters and the reader in varying ways and (2) connecting the autistic community and solidifying collective ideologically aligned voices. Online blog spaces facilitated the emergence and construction of empowered individual and collective identities for autistic individuals. Future research should continue to focus on how autistic individuals form relationships, create advocacy communities, and cultivate empowered identities within online spaces. Why was this study done and what was the purpose of this study?: More autistic individuals are using the internet to communicate, and research has shown that online communication can benefit autistic individuals in various ways. However, there is a lack of understanding of how online communication is related to autistic identity. We examined how autistic bloggers' stories about their stimming experiences contributed to individual and collective autistic identities. Stimming refers to repetitive body movements, movements of objects, and other repetitive and restricted behavior and is considered one of two core features of an autism diagnosis. Although some stakeholders such as educators or parents have tried to get rid of these repetitive movements because they believe that stimming is not an appropriate behavior, autistic and other neurodiversity advocates assert that stimming is beneficial for autistic individuals and is important for developing an autistic identity.What did we do?: We examined nine blog posts written by autistic bloggers using a method referred to as discourse analysis. In each blog post that we analyzed, the author shares their experiences about stimming. Discourse analysis is a method used to explore how people use language to build meaning, including the formation of social identities. Therefore, particular attention was paid to how the bloggers told the narrative (i.e., specific word choices to describe characters within the narrative and verb tense).What were the results and implications of the study?: We found that by sharing stories about their stimming experience in the context of blog posts, autistic individuals developed empowered individual and collective autistic identities and challenged dominant and neurotypical social norms. Also, within online space, autistic individuals formed social relationships and connections that contributed to a collective identity. More research on how autistic individuals develop supportive relationships and form advocacy communities within online spaces is needed to promote emotional well-being and overall quality of life in this population.

Media serves as a conduit for public diplomacy, influencing a nation's global image. Diplomatic events are communicated through media channels, contributing to the formation of a nation's reputation. The language used in media coverage shapes how a nation is perceived by the global audience, impacting its diplomatic standing and relationships. Linguistic strategies in the discourse analysis of global politics underscore the profound impact of words in shaping narratives and influencing public perceptions. By unraveling the intricate web of framing, lexical choices, intertextuality, and persuasive language, researchers gain a deeper understanding of how media constructs meaning in the complex landscape of international affairs. Recognizing the power embedded in linguistic strategies is crucial for comprehending the multifaceted role of media in shaping global political discourse. This research article endeavors to undertake a thorough framework for discourse analysis of how media depicts global political events, intending to unravel the intricate ways in which narratives are constructed, discussions framed, and public perceptions influenced in the realm of international affairs. Employing discourse analysis as the primary methodological approach, the study aims to scrutinize the linguistic, rhetorical, and semiotic strategies employed by media outlets. The investigation will delve into the subtle nuances of language, the framing of discussions, and the use of visual elements in shaping the discourse surrounding global politics. By examining these strategies, the research seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of how media contributes to the construction of narratives, thereby shedding light on the potential impact on public opinions and contributing to the broader scholarly discourse on media's role in shaping perceptions of global political dynamics.

This article discusses the views of J. Assman on the essence of cultural memory and the identity formed on its basis. Identity can be viewed as the result of reflection on the unconscious self-image. J. Assman established a connection between personal and collective identity. Individual consciousness can be defined as sociogenic, not only because it arises in the process of socialization, but also because it creates a community and is the bearer of a collective self-image. J. Assman highlights the difference between individual and personal identity. Both aspects of self-identity are sociogenic and culturally determined, they arise in the mind, formed by the language, values and norms of a particular culture. Identity is a product of social construction and therefore always acts as a cultural identity. The difference between a collective identity and a different one is that the second one is symbolic. Collective identities belong to the realm of the social imagination. Collective identity also exists only to the extent that individuals recognize it as their own. Societies need the past for their self-determination. Awareness and recognition of belonging to a particular culture is a cultural identity. Personal identity is achieved through communication and interaction with other people, through living with them in a common symbolic world of meaning. Culture becomes the second nature of man, man adapts to the symbolic world of meanings. Culture creates a space suitable for human existence and is a prerequisite for the formation of personal and individual identity. The semantic horizons shared by people become a symbolic expression of we-identity. Of great importance is speech and the general system of symbols – the main means of forming groups. The complex of community transmitted in symbols is a cultural formation – something through which a collective identity is created and preserved in the change of generations. The sense of community is generated by the circulation of common meaning.

This study aims to spot the features of the Palestinian President’s address to the UN General Assembly in New York from the perspective of discourse analysis. The researchers utilized the descriptive approach where they used the following discourse analysis tools: that are context analysis, stylistic analysis and rhetorical analysis tool. All of these tools were applied to the study sample; president Abbas’ address. The results of study have shown that the sentences, ideas and expressions of the President are coherent and cohesive since he used a wide variety of pronouns (attached pronouns, first, second and third person pronouns) and connectors. Using such rhetorical devices, he built a common ground or understanding between the sender and receiver (President Abbas and the UN General Assembly). In addition, he used attached, detached, speaker and, absent pronouns and the conjunctions to help build a joint ground of understanding between the speakers and addressees and make the addressees join among the progressive meanings with each other imposing a significant impact to the members of UN General Assembly in New York.

Understanding visitors' retrospective perceptions in museums as they connect objects with their personal identities and life stories, as well as their collective social identities, is of considerable interest to the museum field. This study employed a multiple case narrative methodology to understand the common perceptual themes of post‐World War II Japanese society between 1955 and 1970 (Shōwa 30–45) held by older Japanese adults following their visit to a Shōwa‐era social history museum. From an inductive analysis ofn = 29 face‐to‐face interviews, five sustaining characteristic themes emerged which were later interpreted through the historical backdrop of the period together with Carstensen's socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) to provide deeper interpretation of the themes. Through their museum experiences, the visitors recalled a society characterized by; (1) close human relationships; (2) strong values and morals; (3) freedom, openness, and peace; (4) struggles and poverty, which could be overcome with patient effort; and, (5) hopes and dreams. These themes were key to the visitors' own identity and values – both personal and collective. This study contributes to a broader understanding of the power of museum experiences to evoke strong nostalgic recollections by Japanese citizens of their unique personal and collective identities, and the characteristics their retrospective memories from the perspective of the present day vantage point. It speaks to the power of the museum, not as a learning or knowledge acquisition experience, but rather in its power to affirm both personal and collective identity and the values that were retrospectively important for these visitors looking back.

This study provides a comprehensive, corpus-assisted stylistic analysis of Maryam Jameelah’s religious writings, offering a critique of Western civilization and modernization. Previous interdisciplinary research on Jameelah’s works has mostly relied on discourse or textual analysis. This work is innovative as a corpus-assisted stylistic investigation of religious texts. The research examines her lexical choices, linguistic features, stylistic variations, and rhetorical strategies used to emphasize her ideological and theological views. The framework integrates Stylistics, Corpus Linguistics, and Jameelah’s texts. Using corpus linguistics, the study explores vocabulary, syntax, stylistic differences, and linguistic patterns to identify Jameelah’s unique style. The methodology combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. Quantitative methods involve tools like AntConc and a Reference Corpus (to establish patterns, keywords, and concordance lines), while qualitative analysis focuses on selected Chunks and lexical choices. The study adopts the corpus model proposed by (Mahlberg & McIntyre, 2011). The features and patterns identified reveal how Jameelah’s lexical and linguistic choices reflect her critique of modernism and her negotiation of multiple identities through the intersection of stylistics, corpus linguistics, and Islamic studies. The results show that Jameelah intentionally and consistently uses specific stylistic and linguistic strategies to construct a detailed critique of Western civilization and modernization. This research offers valuable insights into the linguistic framing of religious discourse and the rhetorical techniques employed by a prominent Muslim thinker for a deep critique of Western civilization.

The eudaemonic tradition asserts that life engagement, that is the pursuit of a meaningful way of living, is an important element of well-being. Self-identity theory posits that individuals’ identities significantly contribute to their sense of meaning and belonging, which in turn boost well-being. The present study aimed to establish the extent to which self-identities are predictors of well-being and whether they are subsumed within the life engagement construct. An opportunity sample of Singaporeans (n = 269) aged 18–35 (M = 23.88, SD = 4.52) completed the Aspects of Identity Questionnaire, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale and Life Engagement Test. Correlational analysis showed that personal, social, relational and collective identities were significantly associated with life engagement and well-being. However, multiple regressions demonstrated that life-engagement subsumed collective and relational identity almost completely, and also accounted for a significant amount of the variance in personal and social identities in the prediction of well-being, broadly supporting the eudaemonic model. It was shown that social and personal identities were predictors of well-being beyond life engagement, possibly because these identities satisfy some of psychological needs that promote various benefits that are independent of life engagement, yet still important for well-being. It is suggested that these differences in the salience of identity types to well-being may be indicative of changes in the sense of identity among young Singaporeans that have arisen as a result of social policy or possibly changes in the ways of identity expression in the Internet. The implications of the findings are discussed and recommendations made for future research.

This paper conducts a critical discourse analysis of the linguistic manifestation of social liberal ideology in Barack Obama’s (2004) Democratic National Convention (DNC) Keynote speech. Grounded in Fairclough's (2015) discourse theory, Beitz's (1999) and Shypunov's (2018) frameworks of social liberalism, as well as Martin's (2004) positive discourse analysis, the paper examines how Obama’s speech constructs and promotes the key tenets of social liberalism—specifically individual liberty, social justice, unity, and equality—in contrast to the notions of division and inequality prevalent in the context of the USA in 2004. The study utilizes four tools of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA): social actor analysis, metaphors, personal pronouns, and lexical analysis. Specifically, it analyzes how Obama’s (2004) strategies for representing social actors, his use of metaphors, personal pronouns, and lexical choices reflect and reinforce social liberal ideology. Major findings of this analysis reveal that the core principles of social liberalism (individual liberty and social justice) are evident in Obama’s (2004) strategies for representing social actors, his use of metaphors, personal pronouns, and lexical choices. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how ideology is linguistically encoded and disseminated in political speeches, revealing the complex linguistic mechanisms through which political leaders articulate and promote specific ideologies. This provides valuable insights for future research on political communication and ideological framing.

ABSTRACTIn this article, we analyze a seven-page speech delivered by Sukarno, first president of Indonesia, at the opening of the First Asia-Africa Conference where he advocated Afro-Asian unity/ solidarity as the panacea for colonialism, imperialism, and neocolonialism. Our aim, by focusing on a single text, is to demonstrate the role of an intensive analysis of ‘outstanding’ singular texts within the broad field of discourse analysis. The analysis is rooted within a positive discourse analysis (PDA) framework, with special focus on lexical choices and variation, modality, intertextuality/interdiscursivity, metaphorical representations, ideological use of pronouns, indexical meaning, and strategies of argumentation. Through these rhetorical techniques, we illustrate how an independence leader constructs an emancipatory discourse aimed at reconciling the ideas and beliefs of the leaders of two continents that have a common history of colonialism. The study sheds light on the role of key speeches and political leaders in promoting an emancipatory discourse, and exemplifies how (presidential) rhetoric can be construed as offering a message of hope, strength, and inspiration while playing the role of a unifier, thereby highlighting the major underlying assumption of PDA: a commitment to a discourse of social change.

The article analyses linguistic strategies in media discourse, focusing on the British national variant of the English language. Media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and influencing societal perceptions. Understanding the linguistic strategies employed in media discourse is essential for deciphering how narratives are constructed and how information is manipulated to impact audiences. The primary purpose of this study is to identify and analyse the linguistic strategies used in British media to influence their audience. The objectives include a content analysis of media texts, identifying key linguistic strategies and techniques, revealing the impact of these strategies on the audience, and providing practical recommendations for studying media texts. Methods. This research employs content analysis, discourse analysis, and psycholinguistic analysis. Content analysis involves categorising different media texts (news articles, features, interviews) and examining their content. Discourse analysis focuses on the structure and content of the texts to identify how narratives are constructed and which linguistic techniques are used to influence the audience. Psycholinguistic analysis examines the psychological impact of these linguistic strategies on the audience's perception of information. Results. The analysis reveals significant differences in linguistic strategies across various media sources, including newspapers, television, and online media. Key linguistic strategies include metaphors, epithets, rhetorical questions, and irony. These strategies are crucial in shaping narratives and influencing public perception. Additionally, the frequency and intensity of these strategies vary depending on the target audience and the specific goals of the media outlet. For instance, newspapers may employ more sophisticated and subtle language techniques, while online media often use more direct and engaging language to capture immediate attention. The study also highlights the dynamic nature of linguistic strategies, adapting to the evolving media landscape and audience preferences. Originality. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of linguistic strategies in British media, highlighting the specific techniques used to influence audiences. The originality lies in the detailed examination of different media formats and combining content analysis, discourse analysis, and psycholinguistic analysis to provide a holistic understanding of media influence. Conclusion. The study concludes that linguistic strategies are vital in media discourse, significantly impacting audience perception and shaping public opinion. The findings underscore the importance of critical analysis of media texts and provide valuable insights for media analysts, journalists, and linguists. Further research is recommended to explore the evolving nature of linguistic strategies in digital media and their implications for public discourse.

Education and Training Award (1997) / Prix de l'education et de la formation (1997)AbstractThere are groups in society that experience profound social problems including widespread academic underachievement. This discouraging profile applies to Native people, African Americans, and certain Latino groups, notably Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans.I argue that cultural difference theories, in the form of genetics, cultural deficit, and cultural discontinuity, are incomplete and misguided. A theory of is proposed that focuses on collective identity as the primary psychological process, even taking precedence over self-esteem.Intergroup processes are applied to explain the problems confronting society's most disadvantaged groups. Specifically, the intergroup power differential between societal groups is explored, leading to a theory of valueless colonialism. It is the effects of valueless colonialism that leads to the destruction of collective identity for certain groups. The consequences of a poorly defined collective identity are difficulties with personal identity and self-esteem. Social problems and academic underachievement are the visible manifestations.North America is the envy of the world: a land of opportunity and plenty that prides itself on confronting openly any aberrations of justice that might disadvantage members of a particular social group. But even as mainstream society applauds itself for initiating steps toward social equality, front-line educators and social service providers are quietly whispering. Their voices are loud, but appear as whispers to mainstream social scientists and policy makers who are not engaged in, to quote the jargon, active listening. The front-line voices are disquieting because they tell us that despite the politics of inclusion, there remain certain societal groups that are profoundly disadvantaged: Native people, African Americans, and certain Latino groups. Exceptional cases of achievement notwithstanding, these groups suffer from widespread academic underachievement and pervasive social dysfunction, and their plight cries out for immediate attention.Such devastating inequalities fall squarely in the domain of social psychology, and yet to date, no explicit theory has been offered to address this pressing inequality. This is not to suggest that all social psychological theory is irrelevant, but only that basic processes have not been directed at understanding the predicament of society's most disadvantaged.The present paper outlines a theory designed to explain the social reality of society's most disadvantaged. It is offered in the firm belief that theory is necessary to serve as a guide to both empirical research and social policy. The pivotal explanatory concept for the present theory is collective identity. My concept of collective identity builds on two diverse traditions on the social psychology of the self. First, it incorporates traditional notions of self-esteem, but concludes that the importance of this evaluative component of the self has been exaggerated. Second, it builds on an important distinction between personal and social identity, but argues for the primacy of social, or collective, identity. The concept of collective identity is then applied to a reformulation of current theories of colonialism that I label valueless colonialism. I will argue that challenges to collective identity in the form of valueless colonialism are key to understanding the academic and social problems confronting society's most disadvantaged groups.In order to set the stage for a social psychological analysis involving collective identity and valueless colonialism, it is necessary to, first, briefly document group differences in academic underachievement, and second, review current theories.Group Differences in AchievementIn order to address the question of group-based academic achievement, it is important to review not only which groups tend to underachieve, but also those which tend to excel. …

This paper is aimed at investigating the use of pronouns, specifically the use of personal pronouns in diplomatic discourse made by some Cameroonian diplomats. Diplomacy is a tool for international communication and negotiations, and researchers have shown significant interest in it. The main emphasis here is the use of first personal pronouns ‘I’ and ‘we’ as persuasive methods of communicating to their audience, and diplomatic ideas through the tactical use of the inclusion and exclusion of their audience. There is the use of ‘self’ and ‘group’ participation in their productions. Using personal pronouns, the diplomats’ intentions are identified and also help in the construction of their image. The speeches were selected from the official website of Cameroonian Ministry of External Relation. Critical Discourse Analysis was adopted in order to investigate in what context the personal pronouns (I and we) were used in speeches of two Cameroonian ministers of external relations: Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo and Lejuene Mbella Mbella. The findings show that the occurrences of personal pronouns ‘I’ and ‘we’ in the speeches of both speakers differ slightly, particularly in specific contexts of use. They tend to use more of the ‘we’ pronoun than the ‘I’ in their production. This implies that these pronouns are used differently to achieve different results. They are used to reveal the diplomat’s attitude, motivation, social status and trustworthiness as well as paint a positive image of his country.

The concept of identity has been approached from multiple perspectives, as the self always relates to everything and everybody that surrounds it, getting adjusted by every experience it passes through, in a continuous attempt to gain self-apprehension and to recover its sense of belonging. Place, time, emotions, culture are only a few of the factors that impact upon the self, reconfiguring it, as a result of the “troubled condition of the individual, displaced and oscillating between cultures” (Dobrinescu 2017: 156). It is the quest for personal identity, against the background of social relations, that urges the individual to accept or to reject some configurations and representations of his/her self. This personal-social dichotomy has received scholarly attention, engendering numerous theories that aim to integrate the eclectic nature of identity into a coherent picture. Nevertheless, identity should rather be viewed in its own making, as a process, emerging from constant and fluctuating identities (Hall 1997) and leading to permanent or volatile identity fragments (Norris 2011). As Lawler (2014) argues, despite having a stable core embedding both sameness and difference at the same time, identity is produced in the flow of social relationships. Moreover, as Simon (2004) would add, identity is not only socially constructed and negotiated, but also represented and conceptualised at a cognitive level. Thus, identity pertains to the individual’s own perception of him/herself, to the way s/he wants to be perceived by the others, and to the feedback s/he receives throughout the social interactions. Therefore, the individual will get the complete picture of his/her identity once s/he manages to bind “untold and repressed stories” and “the actual stories the subject can take up to and hold as constitutive of his personal identity” (Ricoeur 1984: 74). The contributions in this special issue surpass the boundaries imposed by the Self-Other dichotomy that pervades scholarly research, pinpointing to the multifaceted nature of identity. Its versatility is clearly reflected in the semiotic resources people use to express their identity. Regardless of whether they have it acknowledged by the others or not, they adopt different “stylistic resources” resulting into social semiotic manifestations that best reflect their identity. In Van Leeuwen’s (2022: 2) words: “…not only stable but also hybrid and conflicted or confused identities manifest themselves through different uses of shape, colour, texture, timbre and movement” that are “socially and culturally valued and regulated”. Such signifiers of identity distinguish or, on the contrary, unite different categories of people. “Différance is the systematic play of differences, of the traces of differences, of the spacing by means of which elements are related to each other”, as Derrida (1981: 27) explains it. And he goes on saying that “Differences are the effects of transformations…”. Identity production is such a transformation that results into manifest, perceptible difference. Broadly speaking, the contributions in this special issue highlight the sociolinguistic significance of the personal, the relational, and the collective sense of self, as outlined by a variety of genres, such as postmodern autobiographies, film adaptations, essays, novels and short stories, linguistic usage guidebooks, the discourse of education focused on the teaching of stylistic devices, and political cartoons. As surveyed by numerous studies (e.g. Hecht 1993, Brewer and Gardner 1996, Jenkins 2008), the three perspectives on identity pinpoint either to the psychological approaches that mainly focus on the individual and group membership level, or to the interactional approaches that delve into the interpersonal level of identity construction and negotiation, emphasising its sociopragmatic dimensions, such as identity positioning and (mis)management of face (Spencer-Oatey 2007) or the dialogic nature of identity (Feller 2014). This special issue of the Journal of Linguistic and Intercultural Education proceeds with Tidita Abdurrahmani’s (Bedër University College, Tirana, Albania) contribution entitled “Otherness and contemporaneity of identities in black female autobiography at the turn of the 21st century”. Drawing on a couple of feminist studies by Teresa de Lauretis (1986) or Simone de Beauvoir (1973), as well as on the postmodernist view of alterity as propounded by Gergen (1993) and Vegas-Gonzáles (2001), the study provides an insightful analysis of the multiplicity and specificity of the ethnic self as revealed by two autobiographical writings, namely: Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde and Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood by bell hooks. Aware of their matrilineal heritage, the protagonists find the power to acknowledge the conflictual selves or even the Otherness within themselves. Thus, it is argued that a key aspect of the postmodern Self is the continuous pursuit of wholeness and the reconciliation of its fragmented nature. In his contribution, Franck Colotte (Université Clermont Auvergne, France) explores the transfer of meaning and ideology from Balzac’s novel Illusions perdues to Xavier Giannoli’s film Lost Illusions. These shattered illusions belong to the young man from the provinces, Lucien Chardon, who is mesmerised, challenged, and finally defeated by the Parisian mirage in his quest for social recognition. Scholars often debate the extent to which an adaptation should remain faithful to the source material. Some adaptations aim for a high degree of fidelity, closely mirroring the original work, while others embrace transformation, interpreting the source in new and innovative ways. Frank Colotte delves into the techniques employed by Xavier Giannoli to structure the Balzacian narrative and to engage the viewers. By focusing the film on the central portion of the novel, which details Lucien’s time in Paris, and shifting the plot into the background while highlighting the interactions among characters, Giannoli effectively immerses the audience in the ruthless world of the press, outlining economic and social struggles, along with the relentless pursuit of social success. The study conducted by Anca Dobrinescu (Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, Romania) critically explores Virginia Woolf’s multimodal techniques that she employs in her essay Three Guineas, including drawing, painting, photography, along with the literary ones, to demonstrate how the interplay of text and image enhances the impact and memorability of the conveyed message, thereby fostering a lasting effect on the reader. The article not only validates Woolf’s masterful experimentation across artistic boundaries, but also underscores her acute awareness of contemporary social issues, such as gender disparities, education, and war, all of which are explored as (dis)connections between the Public and the Private. “Otherness from a Chinese Perspective and Mo Yan’s Hallucinatory Realism” is an expository piece of writing, aimed at conveying the author’s preoccupations with the unnecessarily rigid understanding of “Otherness”, especially in the context of Chinese literary theory. Marius Virgil Florea (Shanghai International Studies University, China) creates a correlation between historical, cultural and geopolitical perspectives and their impact on literature in the perceived chasm of East and West. The paper starts with a detailed account of the rise and development of realism in China, a movement focused on topics such as society, morals, economy, and history. In order to highlight the connection between Chinese and Western literature, the author chooses to examine the Chinese critical reception of Nobel Prize laureate Mo Yan, whose work has elicited polarized interpretations. Mo Yan’s style, characterised by a combination of magic realism, modernist elements and influences from both traditional Chinese literature and Western literature, led to two divergent critical opinions, one viewing his work as a continuation of the great Chinese literary tradition with minimal foreign influence, and the other characterising it as an imitation of Western literature. Nevertheless, as Marius Virgil Florea points out, Mo Yan’s work serves as the most effective means to challenge the enduring myth of the incompatibility between West and East, demonstrating that the two cultures can coexist and mutually influence one another without contradiction. Loredana Netedu’s (Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, Romania) contribution represents an excellent study of decoding the meaning in contemporary Romanian comic strips by means of a diligent semiotic analysis. Even though the extant literature refers to it in various terms, such as “hybrid genre” (Kaindl 2004), “graphic art” (Inge 1990), or “visual narrative” (Eisner 2008), all studies acknowledge the multimodal nature of the genre, with its dramatic qualities underscored by the dynamic action and the character-driven message delivery. The corpus consists of the comic strips produced by HAC! magazine, representing the reconstruction of one of the traditional Romanian fairy tale written by Ion Creangă, namely Povestea lui Harap Alb (The Story of the White Moor). Thus, HAC! stands for Harap Alb continuă (The White Moor Continues) and involves the transposition of the source text into a successful piece of fanfiction and a metacomic. The research shows how traditional Romanian values can be revived and brought to the attention of both the young and the old generations by using a modern and attractive form of communication, in which the visual and the verbal narratives intertwine. The analysis and interpretation of the data is thoroughly and vividly presented, while the rewriting of canonic texts is clearly explained. Advocating a sociolinguistic perspective complemented by Fillmore’s (1975) frame semantics and Langacker’s (1990) profile/base theory, Adina Oana Nicolae (Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti) investigates a small corpus of nominal pairs employed in British and American English, selected from several usage guidebooks. The study highlights the semantic differences that emerge between apparently synonymous lexical items, which, although profiling a shared concept, convey distinct meanings shaped by the cognitive framing influenced by cultural, social, or legal contexts. The analysis accounts for the way in which seemingly equivalent nominal phrases belonging to British and American English give prominence to various features of the same object or action, leading to their different conceptualisation and implicitly to different interpretations, as a result of the background knowledge they activate in the human cognitive domain. Therefore, such an approach to dialectal variation also underscores the mental images speakers project via the lexical choices they make, thereby revealing a wide range of ideas and experiences that shape our communication and the way we present ourselves to others. In their joint contribution, Irena Shehu (University College Beder, Albania) and Enkeleda Jata (Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania) argue that stylistic devices such as zeugma, puns, and oxymoron, combined with artistic elements like humour and media, contribute to the multimodal construction of identity in the classroom by engaging students emotionally and intellectually. These devices help create a learning environment where students not only develop language skills but they also express their identities. The integration of these elements allows students to relate new information to their own experiences, facilitating deeper connections with the content and fostering a sense of belonging in the classroom. This aligns with the broader theme of identity construction, as the multimodal approach enriches the learners’ self-expression and engagement. In her study, Ágnes Virág (Institute of Fine Arts and Art Theory, Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, Eger, Hungary) examines the visual representation of corruption in political cartoons, with a focus on metaphorical depiction of the European Union and the figure of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. While research on corruption imagery remains limited, political cartoons frequently employ source domains such as poison, disease, and natural disasters to illustrate its destructive nature. A dataset of 57 Hungarian and 15 international cartoons was analysed, with 25 Hungarian and 14 international illustrations from 2012-2023 selected for their emphasis on corruption. The analysis reveals that Hungarian cartoons often depict Brussels, EU politicians, and the European People’s Party metonymically, portraying them as corrupt or threatening entities. In contrast, international cartoons tend to use official EU symbols such as the stars on a blue background, euro signs, and the EU flag. Key metaphors highlight that the EU is frequently represented as a human figure, appearing as a doctor, lion tamer, enemy, investor, or banker, depending on the cartoon’s political stance. While Hungarian illustrations emphasise a power struggle between Orbán and the EU, international cartoons focus more on financial themes, portraying the EU as a treasury or bank whose primary role is distributing or withholding funds. Through the analysis of these visual and narrative techniques, the study highlights how political cartoons reinforce ideological perspectives on corruption and European politics. This special issue concludes with a book review by Jana Bérešová (Trnava University, Slovakia) on Maria-Ionela Neagu’s (2020) edited volume Voyage and Emotions across Genres (Berlin: Peter Lang). While the first part of the volume – Voyage across Literary Studies – delves into the insightful journeys experienced by various characters, as depicted by Jonathan Swift, Sandra Cisneros, Flaubert, or Petronius, the second part of the volume – Space and Emotions. A Discursive Approach – adopts a cognitive, psychological, and/or educational perspective in order to explore a wide range of emotions that pervade the intercultural space. On account of the aforementioned, situated at the crossroads of cultural studies, sociolinguistics, and cognitive linguistics, all studies featured in the current special issue contribute original research on the multifaceted aspects of identity, construed and negotiated in the discursive space of literary texts, films, comic art, and political cartoons. The editor expresses her sincere gratitude to all contributors for their rigorously conducted scholarly work, which paves the way for new avenues of research.