Human Discourse Research Articles

The Music Humanities Significance of the Standard Pitch 432Hz

This study focuses on the socio-cultural narrative reflected in the standard pitch of 432Hz, establishes an argument for representing the Semantic structure of music humanities, which is the practical line of humanities, and critically reflects on the main character of humanities that can be accepted as a general education text, which is the concept of humanities as an educational ideology. The purpose is to expand the framework of humanistic thinking based on and interpretive performance. Accordingly, in order to explore the historical trend of the concept of standard pitch, we attempted to analyze literature focusing on the pattern of pitch levels in Western society from the late 14th century to today and the discussion of political, social, and cultural aspects related to this in the 19th and 20th centuries. The major issues in the background of pitch standardization and the musical humanities implications of the historical identity of 432Hz were discussed. 432Hz expanded the horizon of the humanities discourse process on the communication value contained in cultural diversity and presented another possibility to converge on a musical humanities trajectory, which sheds light on the value of cultural solidarity through consilient thinking, thus contributing to social It provides a foundation for understanding that can be transferred to the terrain. Accordingly, this study embraces the humanistic message reflected in the history of pitch standardization to share musical humanistic reasons as practical humanities with society in general, and to expand the dimension of cultural literacy to another level by reexamining the social function of music. We hope that it will be accepted as a general educational text.

Does digitalization drive sustainable transformation in finance and accounting?

PurposeThis paper investigates the interplay among Finance-Accounting Digitalization (FAD), Advanced Finance-Accounting System (AFAS) and Accounting 2.0 and FinTech (AFT). It aims to elucidate how FAD impacts the adoption of AFAS, the evolution of AFT, and the ensuing sustainable evolution of finance and accounting practices.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive survey was conducted from 2021 to 2023, involving 500 companies in Kosovo, spanning various sectors and sizes. The data were meticulously analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software, using structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess hypotheses, model fit and direct and indirect effects.FindingsSignificant relationships emerged between FAD, AFAS and AFT, highlighting the importance of computerized financial and accounting systems, the role of AFAS in achieving financial goals and the accessibility and adaptability of accounting data. In particular, the SEM analysis underscored a robust positive correlation between FAD and AFT, highlighting the transformative potential of digitalization. In addition, AFAS as a technological solution facilitates sustainability and operational efficiency. These findings provide crucial insights for future research and advocate for the use of digitalization to improve the efficiency of financial management.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is constrained by its focus on Kosovo’s companies, potentially limiting generalizability. Additionally, the study’s reliance on survey data might introduce response bias.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the literature by delineating the intricate relationships between FAD, AFAS and AFT, shedding light on their implications for financial and accounting practices. It underscores the transformative value of digitalization in these domains, offering novel perspectives for academic and managerial discourse.

Defining Unique Features of Discourse in Club of Funny and Inventive: A Study of Humor in KVN Performances

This article focuses on identifying the distinctive characteristics of discourse within the "Club of the Funny and Inventive" (Russ. KVN). The primary material for this study consists of team performances from the KVN television show. Attention is given to the challenge of defining the concept of discourse, along with a review of major approaches to its interpretation. It is demonstrated that humorous performances in KVN can be analyzed within the existing scientific paradigm as a communicative figure comprising three components: "reality – text – discourse," as well as being viewed as a specific communicative event. The authors examine the ontological characteristics of humor, highlighting its basis in contradiction and its sociocultural nature. Functions such as communication, socialization, identification, and differentiation facilitated by humor are described. The relevance of this research is underscored by the significance of KVN as a cultural phenomenon in shaping and developing humorous discourse as a whole. The article posits that KVN can be regarded as a distinct variety of humorous discourse due to its thematic and stylistic coherence. It is suggested that the specific characteristics and conditions governing KVN lead to the emergence of traits similar to those found in institutional discourse. The novelty of this study lies in articulating the antinomic characteristics of KVN discourse, concluding that their existence is intrinsically linked to the foundational contrast inherent in humor itself.

Культура музейного соучастия как форма организации социальной консолидации

The article delves into the problem of social consolidation and the search for specific forms of its organization. Based on the experience of humanitarian scientific reflection and on the results obtained by other researchers, the author points out the complex and dynamic nature of various aspects of consolidation in each specific case, including in the sphere of cultural practices, museum activities and the culture of museum complicity, which are included in the problematic circle of discussion of the scientific article. The thesis is put forward that the most important form of organizing social consolidation is the culture of museum participation, which involves the creation of a certain museum product or service based on the joint activities of visitors, various communities and partners at certain stages of project implementation. It is emphasized that the analysis of scientific humanitarian discourse allows us to formulate a theoretical approach to understanding the relevance of studying the culture of museum participation as the most important form of consolidation, contributing to the cohesion of the local community in order to create favorable conditions for consolidation processes in culture.

Refugee Rights and International Law: Evaluating the Efficacy of Global Humanitarian Responses to Forced Displacement

The increasing scale of forced displacement due to conflict, persecution, and environmental crises has brought refugee rights to the forefront of global humanitarian discourse. This article critically examines the efficacy of international law in protecting refugee rights and assessing global responses to the growing refugee crisis. Through an analysis of key international legal frameworks, such as the 1951 Refugee Convention and the role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the study evaluates the adequacy of current policies in addressing the challenges faced by refugees. It highlights gaps in protection, such as unequal burden-sharing among nations, restricted access to asylum, and prolonged displacement in refugee camps. Case studies from various regions reveal how inconsistent application of international law undermines refugees’ access to fundamental rights, including safety, healthcare, and education. The article argues for stronger international cooperation, better policy implementation, and more robust legal mechanisms to ensure the protection of refugee rights. It concludes by offering recommendations for improving global humanitarian responses and creating more equitable and sustainable solutions for forced displacement.

Overcoming embarrassment in humorous narratives among Pakistani young men: A case study

This case study illustrates the use of humor support strategies by Pakistani young men in their conversation to overcome embarrassment and construct and maintain a humorous discursive frame. The present research draws on video recordings of Pakistani university young men’s conversation, analyzed using Hay’s framework of humor support strategies in relation to the pragmatic implicatures of full support. The findings reveal that laughter, overlaps, contributing more humor, repetition and contradicting self-deprecation are among the most prominent humor support strategies. These strategies not only indicate heightened involvement in the conversation but also serve to release the tension of being embarrassed. The study concludes that humor support is a coping strategy used by Pakistani young men for the release of the pressure of being in an awkward position and to open up space for the construction of humorous discourse.

Universalizing the particulars: neoliberalizing English language teaching (ELT) through outcome-based education (OBE)

Abstract Universities, once regarded as places for producing organic intellectuals and critical thinkers, now are targets of neoliberalism, where managerialist discourses and lexis are dominant in various forms. Students and teachers are transformed into entrepreneurs, consumers and customers through such discourse and lexis. As a neoliberal variant used in education today, outcome-based education (OBE) – focus of the present study – can be viewed as one such discursive attempt on the part of the universities with an aim to perpetuate neoliberal market rationality. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews with teachers at engineering universities in Pakistan, this study examines OBE-driven ELT pedagogy using Gramsci’s hegemony as a theoretical framework. We aimed to understand how OBE-based ELT tends to transform teachers’ subjectivities into neoliberal ‘selves’, the way it impacts pedagogy and learning of the English language, and how these subjectivities are resisted. It appears that OBE-based ELT circulates market logics in the ELT pedagogy and learning by viewing English language as a skill/commodity. Student learning and teachers’ pedagogical performance indicators are based on achievement of specific outcomes. Some teachers, however, argue that OBE-led ELT deprives them of their pedagogical experiences, freedom, and conceptualizations appropriate for their pedagogical approach. We therefore advocate de-centering and deconstructing neoliberal logics in pedagogy and suggest pedagogy of becoming, critical/dialogic language pedagogy and translanguaging as possible alternatives.

‘Start-Up Nation’: The Making and Performativity of an Empty Signifier

The article sheds light on the process of fabrication of a polysemous, ambiguous, and mocking French entrepreneurial expression – the ‘start-up nation’ – construed as an empty signifier. The fabrication of such empty signifiers in the discourses of entrepreneurship and management, what creates them and what they create, remains little explored questions. This article addresses the following question: how do repeated quotations of an empty signifier enable it to perform entrepreneurship? We trace the circulation of the expression from its first utterance in the political sphere by Emmanuel Macron, then French minister of the economy, through to the media and the scientific sphere, using a communicative analysis of Emmanuel Macron’s speeches (n = 4), press articles (n = 210) and academic productions (n = 30). We show the shifts in meaning and values that take place, in particular the way in which the ‘start-up nation’ takes on denunciatory and pejorative values, and is transformed from a political formula into a pejorative, decontextualized little phrase. Our results enrich the critical literature on management and entrepreneurship, particularly the analysis of the performativity of entrepreneurial discourse. By describing the manufacture of an empty signifier through its circulation in social space, the study reveals the counter-power potential of performativity. The results also highlight the surprising absence of an academic critical dimension.

Who Counts as Child? Using Child as Method and Fanon to Challenge Figurations of Childhood

Child as method is a critical and interdisciplinary approach interrogating figurations of childhood that engage, organize, justify (and perhaps even resist) sociopolitical processes. In this article, we start by presenting Child as method as a conceptual and methodological tool for critical research in childhood, education, and psychological studies and then show how it informed discussions of and about childhood in two different projects. The first concerns Legal Gender Recognition in the United Kingdom where a Child as method perspective highlights how the idea of developmentalism is embedded in figurations of childhood. This aligns with age conformities of “being more like adults than children,” while also showing how gender recognition and childhood have been built in opposition to each other. The second project mobilizes Child as method as a conceptual and methodological orientation to critically reflect on the role-played by age assessment practices in migration control in Greece. This highlights how “the child” becomes a trope within forced migration policies and practices, and how “childhood” performs a social condition in which children are represented as victims in state and humanitarian discourse. In doing so, this not only creates a “universalised” notion of childhood but also enacts epistemic violence. Indeed, these discourses mobilize action in the form of age assessment for those young people who do not look or perform like “real children,” establishing, in essence, who is and is not welcomed in the Western territory. The article ends by discussing Frantz Fanon as a critical childhood theorist. It depicts how Fanon’s contribution informs, conceptually and methodologically, the research analytic of Child as method. Together with Child as method, we put forward Fanon’s contribution to critical childhood studies while highlighting Fanon’s call for action from everyone, including children.

Climate risk maps as boundary objects for future forests

Climate change poses significant threats to ecosystems and biodiversity. Conventional management strategies often fall short, leading to uncertainties in addressing these challenges. Natural and environmental scientists play a crucial role by providing evidence-based guidance. Social science research, at the same time, highlights the complexity of transferring and applying knowledge across different social and professional groups and shows that further research is needed. Using a German case study, my research addresses this issue by examining the dynamics between predictive climate risk maps, intended as decision-support tool for forest management, the developing scientists, the receiving environmental managers and further political actors. Semi-structured qualitative interviews with representatives from these groups were conducted and analyzed, revealing that climate risk maps can function as predictive boundary objects, balancing flexibility and robustness. With their high level of visual and epistemic power, these maps generate knowledge tensions, facilitate interactions, and foster the implicit co-production of broader environmental management discourse. At the same time the maps are continuously contested, discussed, and updated through feedback, becoming themselves part of an ongoing informal co-productive process. This dual role creates ambiguity: they provide concrete answers to specific management related questions while highlighting simultaneously limitations that prompt more fundamental inquiries, driving an overall societal learning process. Hence, future efforts should enhance formal support for co-productive processes to ensure evidence-based advisory tools are scientifically robust, contextually adapted, and democratize knowledge dynamics through continuous dialogue, mutual learning, and integration of scientific as well as local knowledge.

Maida Herman Solomon (1891–1988): an invisible forerunner in the field of clinical social work

Purpose This paper aims (1) to create a sense of resonance with Maida Herman Solomon and her ideas, (2) to inspire a reconsideration of current management history (the unquestioned block box of dominant figures, dominant foci and dominant practices), (3) to bring Solomon’s contributions to clinical social work into present discourse in management and organizational studies and (4) to foster recognition for Solomon in her own field of social work, as forerunner in a developing profession. Guiding this study is the question: “What are Solomon’s key contributions and why is she overlooked?” Design/methodology/approach This paper features a novel methodology, ficto-feminism. The feminism in ficto-feminism is presented as ontology, epistemology, method and mode of writing. Ficto-feminism combines polemical (or prowoman writing) with aspects of collective biography, autoethnography and fictocriticism. As such, the paper contributes to the emerging feminist tradition of writing differently. The approach is an embodied and reflexive approach that engages with history to investigate the absence of women. Findings Maida Solomon was an educator, researcher, practitioner and advocate. Her contributions to the development and practice of clinical social work spanned over 60 years, and yet, she is little more than a footnote in the history of the field. Her contributions include authoring and implementing graduate programming, which continues to be the taken for granted training; penning some of the most seminal works and advancing theory; introducing academic and scientific approaches, which saw the field professionalize and adopt new standards; and helping to change the way that society thought about mental health and sexual health. A confluence of factors contributes to her marginalization and neglect: gender, ethnicity, the feminized field of social work and the stigmatized focus for her practice. Originality/value The paper combines assertive autobiographical and literary strategies to foreground an overlooked female leader in the field of clinical social work, namely, Maida Solomon. Drawing on biographical material, literature, media and archival material, this paper features a fictional but truthful conversation between the present-day author/writer/historian and the posthumous, historical protagonist (Maida Solomon). In so doing, the engagement with history is both one that deconstructs while reconstructing a historical account with both aesthetic and political implications.

The representation of sub-Saharan African migrants in the Tunisian written media: a corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis

ABSTRACT While the topic of migrant representation in media discourse has been extensively researched, a significant portion of scholarly attention is concentrated on Western media. This focus leaves a considerable gap in the study of media representations in transitional countries, particularly North African nations like Tunisia. This topic assumes greater significance in light of the recent surge in xenophobia towards sub-Saharan African migrants in the country – a movement partly instigated by President Kais Saied's anti-immigrant rhetoric. Utilising Corpus-Assisted Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this paper examines the discursive representations of sub-Saharan African migrants in Tunisian written media discourse, focusing on the 2022 and 2023 anti-migrant wave in Tunisia under the presidency of Kais Saied. The research findings reveal that while a glimpse of a humanitarian discourse was evident, the majority of the discourse was characterised either by biased neutrality or explicit prejudice. The research indicates a predominantly negative representation, categorising migrants as invaders, security threats, economic burdens, and moral hazards. Significantly, much of the discourse echoes the political anti-immigrant policy, suggesting a potential media alignment with the emerging authoritarian tendencies in Tunisia. This alignment harbours damaging implications for the safety and well-being of the migrant community, as well as for the overall human rights and democratisation process in the country.

Unraveling social undermining at the workplace: A systematic review of past achievements and future promises

AbstractIn the contemporary landscape of organizational dynamics, it is imperative to understand the nuance of social undermining behaviors in the workplace for effective strategy and decision‐making. In this regard, this study reviews, identifies, and critically evaluates the social undermining literature and offers new avenues for future research. The systematic literature review methodology has been used to select and critically review 65 studies on this topic. The analysis and findings of this review are presented in three sections, as follows, (i) research profiling—to highlight the current status of research on social undermining in management literature, (ii) literature synthesis—to highlight key theories and conceptions of social undermining as well as discuss the antecedents and outcomes of social undermining, and (iii) critical analysis—to highlight knowledge gaps in existing research and set future agenda. This review is the first comprehensive review on social undermining at the workplace and serves as a knowledge base by presenting a comprehensive literature review as well as extending further development of knowledge on this topic. A key contribution of our review is the proposal of a comprehensive framework of literature synthesis to provide a bird's eye view on this scholarly domain. Our study contributes to organizational behavior and strategic management discourse by offering crucial insights on human dynamics that shape organizational strategy, and change.

Human-AI Symbiosis: Unveiling the Inherent Limitations of AI through the Sadharanikaran Model of Communication

In the unending discourse surrounding the potential replacement of humans by artificial intelligence (AI) in the future, this paper introduces a distinctive perspective grounded in the belief that such a substitution is implausible. It asserts that the invaluable intricacies of human communication, essential for fostering genuine connections, remain beyond the grasp of AI. Employing Adhikary’s Sadharanikaran Model of Communication (SMC) as the guiding framework, this article embarks on a methodical exploration of human communication, dissecting the nuanced components that contribute to its depth and richness. Through empirical evidence and comparative analyses, it sheds light on the inherent limitations of AI, providing a comprehensive understanding of why the SMC reinforces the irreplaceable role of humans in communication. By scrutinizing instances where human communication transcends mere information exchange, it is argued that the qualitative dimensions of human interaction defy replication by AI. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of AI-driven communication and human discourse also has been presented. Rather than positioning AI as a substitute, the emphasis is on leveraging its strengths in tandem with human capabilities, emphasizing the collective potential of a harmonious collaboration between the two entities.

TERMINOLOGYOF MANAGEMENT IN THE DISCOURSE SPACE (BASED ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE)

The article is devoted to the study of the English terminological system in the field of management with regard to aspects of the structure and semantics of its components. The typology of cognitive-linguistic and institutional features that distinguish management discourse from other discursive types is explored. A comprehensive analysis of the main ways of forming management terms is carried out, among which morphological derivation, compounding and abbreviation are highlighted. The reasons that determine the dominant role of compounding in management terminology are established. The most frequent morpho-grammatical models in the discursive space of management are identified. Attention is focused on the syntactic status of such terminological units, which allows us to assert that multicomponent terms represent one member of a sentence that does not have synonyms, which fundamentally makes them different from free phrases. Extralinguistic and intralinguistic factors that determine the specifics of the formation of the terminological layer of the lexical system of a language are also explored. Based on the analysis of practical material with its integrative connection to the structural and compositional realities of the modern discursive space of management, the authors of the article propose a comprehensive structural and thematic stratification of terminological units, which allows us to study the conceptual apparatus and trace the main algorithms of the hierarchical interaction of terms of each of the identified structural and thematic segments. Using the continuous sampling method, five structural and thematic groups are identified and stratified, which allows us to conclude that the term management system is a consciously constructed system, divided into flexible and open terminological fields. A statistical analysis is carried out to establish the frequency of use of terminological units of structural and thematic subsystems of the general management terminological system in the discursive space of business. The distinctive feature of abbreviations is investigated, which is represented by a high level of consistency and hierarchy of correlations between abbreviation terms.

Sublating Humanism

Chinese humanism developed distinctly from European humanist discourses, reflecting unique cultural and philosophical traditions. Analysing these differences can enhance our understanding of both the specific characteristics of Chinese humanism and the diverse potentialities within contemporary global humanist thought. This comparative perspective, enhanced by employing the method of sublation, underscores the planetary relevance of humanism. It demonstrates how diverse cultural perspectives enrich and broaden the scope of global discourse, leading to a more inclusive understanding of humanism worldwide. In this paper I will give a brief historical overview of the origins and development of the formation of ideas which, in China, placed the human being at the centre of culture and the cosmos. But in order to better understand the differences that demarcate Chinese views of humans and their position in the world from European ones, we will first look at how the relationship between people and the communities in which they live is structured in the Chinese tradition. We will then examine the political and philosophical currents shaping Confucian discourse and take a look on the way in which each of them contributes to the Chinese model of humanism. By applying the method of sublation, we intend to investigate how these two systems could complement and enhance each other, thereby helping to establish a foundational framework for a newly proposed transcultural planetary ethics.

Unlocking the Potential of the Decolonial Approach in Migration Studies

ABSTRACTBased on a bibliometric analysis of Scopus‐indexed articles on decolonial research on migration from Social Science disciplines this article outlines the main topics covered by the sampled literature, namely: (1) the academic migration as framed by the internationalization discourse in higher education; (2) migrants' social movements and their transnational dimension; (3) gender and age in decolonial studies of migration; (4) the ways in which intersectionality shapes migrants' experiences through their class, race, gender and sexual orientation; and (5) critique of humanitarian discourse regarding refugees and asylum seekers. The article shows that type of literature first emerged in 2010 and significantly increased after 2020. Likewise, the geographic distribution of the knowledge production in this field highlights the uneven contributions by various countries and regions. Moreover, this picture is further complicated by the biographies of authors who, in many instances, are academic migrants coming from different national backgrounds in the Global South to work in higher education institutions in the Global North. The article ends with suggestions for further developments of the decolonial approach in the study of migration.

Scaffolding techniques and speaking skill

The use of scaffolding techniques in the classroom help students improve the development of their language skills. The present study aimed to analyze the influence of Scaffolding techniques on the development of speaking skill in students of seventh semester in “Pedagogia de los Idiomas Nacionales y Extranjeros.” The research developed a quantitative approach and it was experimental. The population in the study were 24 students of seventh semester. The instruments used during the investigation were a preand posttest, the researcher used part 3 of B1 preliminary test to assess students before and after the treatments. The treatments consisted on 5 session where the researcher applied scaffolding techniques, additionally, a survey was applied to determine students’ perceptions towards the use of scaffolding techniques. Assessing speaking performance rubric was used to evaluate speaking sub skills such as: grammar and vocabulary, discourse management, pronunciation and interactive communication. At the end of the investigation, the findings showed an improvement in students speaking development since the average before the treatment was 6,8/10, in contrast, after the treatments students’ average was 7,7/10. Thus, scaffolding techniques influence the speaking skill instudents of seventh semester from Pedagogía de los Idiomas Nacionales y Extranjeros atUniversidad Técnica de Ambato.

Transformations in urban gardens: Neoliberal influences and land use conflicts in Shiraz's Qasr al-Dasht Gardens

The extensive transformation of urban gardens is a significant element in the process of planetary urbanisation. This is driven by the constraints of a neoliberal political economy aimed at maximising the capitalistic utilisation of urban spaces. This study examines the conversion of urban gardens to paved or hard surface areas, a phenomenon described as "de-gardening". The study is conducted through a qualitative methodology that involves engagement with key stakeholders around Qasr al-Dasht Gardens in the city of Shiraz, Iran. The investigation traces the origins of these transformations to the 1960s, noting an acceleration in recent decades. The analysis identifies the pervasive influence of neoliberal urban planning and management discourse as a critical factor. This discourse redefines the value of garden spaces by escalating land costs and altering economic valuations by various social actors. Consequently, diverse social groups, ranging from traditional gardeners to modern urban developers, engage differently with these spaces. For traditional farmers, gardens are essential for livelihood, whereas for advocates of neoliberalism, these areas represent potential for investment, luxurious havens for peaceful and comfortable living, and capital accumulation. These conflicting views have led to extensive land use changes in Qasr al-Dasht Gardens. The study concludes by proposing policy measures and institutional frameworks aimed at preserving and enhancing urban gardens. Recommendations include the establishment of an independent municipal body dedicated to the gardens, forming non-governmental organisations and oversight groups, and reevaluating the "Organisation and Conservation Plan of the Qasr al-Dasht Gardens of Shiraz".

‘Firm but fair’? Migrant children’s rights through dramaturgy and nation branding in Norway and the UK

Applying nation branding literature and the work of Erving Goffman on dramaturgy to the situation of asylum-seeking children in Norway and in the UK, this paper develops a comparative framework for understanding why child rights appear to be de-prioritised in the current climate of ‘migration control’. The paper identifies historically grounded differential approaches towards child rights and children in the two countries, which currently appear to merge into a common trajectory of migration control, framed in terms of national security and economic productivity. It explores similar tensions in both countries between the discourses of national migration management on the one hand and children's welfare and rights on the other. It finds that universal rights which should protect the welfare of all children are limited and fragmented by ideas of nationalism and foreignness. Despite a more robust legal framework for child rights, Norway is on a similar pathway as the UK; a worrying indictment of how nations fulfil their obligations towards children.