Literary Texts Research Articles

The Postmodern Individual in J.M. Coetzee’s Novels: Exploring Issues of Identity, Representation, Intertextuality, and the Self

This paper explores the postmodern elements in J.M. Coetzee’s novels, focusing on his treatment of themes such as representation, intertextuality, fragmentation, and ambiguity. Through a close examination of works like Foe, Waiting for the Barbarians, and In the Heart of the Country, the study demonstrates how Coetzee disrupts conventional narrative structures and challenges traditional ideas of truth and reality. The analysis delves into how Coetzee’s novels reflect the postmodern rejection of a singular truth, emphasizing the plurality of perspectives and interpretations. The paper also highlights Coetzee’s use of fragmented narratives to depict the instability of identity and meaning in a chaotic world. Furthermore, it explores Coetzee’s conscious deployment of intertextuality, where his works engage with and reinterpret previous literary texts, reinforcing the postmodern view that no text is entirely original. The paper ultimately argues that Coetzee’s fiction exemplifies postmodern techniques, inviting readers to actively engage in constructing meaning and questioning established narratives.

Combining linguistic and non-linguistic expression in reading in the performative university

ABSTRACT This study investigates the complementarity between linguistic and non-linguistic modes of expression in reading in Higher Education and how this combination can counterbalance the accountability that characterises the measured university in current times. Participants are Argentine college students aged 21–22 at the time of data collection. They read a literary narrative text in Spanish about a culturally familiar theme – a regional Christmas celebration. The hypothesis that the native language and the familiar topic would facilitate cultural understanding was not confirmed. The case is innovative because cultural understanding is generally investigated using research instruments and measures of analysis that focus on memory and recall. By contrast, here participants completed a reading response task and a visual reformulation, which enabled the combination of linguistic and non-linguistic modes of expression – the latter not usually favoured by schools and universities. Content analysis shows the complexity and fluidity of cultural understanding in Higher Education even when students read about familiar cultural content in their native language. The article is of interest to educators and researchers involved with reading-mediated courses, activities and tasks in Higher Education. Implications for pedagogy are explored.

Perception Of The Use Of Literary Texts In Learning Arabic Syntax: Study At Kolej Universiti Islam Perlis (KUIPs)/ تصورات استخدام النصوص الأدبية في دراسة النحو العربي: جامعة برليس الإسلامية أنموذجا

This study aims to identify the perceptions of Arabic language students and teachers about using literary texts in the study of Arabic Syntax. To achieve the research objectives, the researcher relied on the analytical approach with the qualitative approach, which collected data using semi-structured interviews with eight students specializing in Arabic and four Arabic language teachers at Perlis Islamic University College (KUIPs) Malaysia. The audio data is transferred to the written text and encoded manually. One of the most important findings of the research is that the students agreed that the employment of literary texts in the study of Arabic grammar helps them practice the language daily through the methods used and master the Arabic grammar by parsing words correctly, and this differs from using ordinary texts because they did not feel enthusiastic and fun while studying Arabic Syntax. Teachers also agreed that employing literary texts in the process of teaching Arabic Syntax helps students to know the correct style of Arabic, as most of the literary language is an eloquent language, and that employing literary texts with examples selected from prose texts and poetic texts, all of which are familiar and usual for students specializing in Arabic language and literature. Based on this, teachers should pay attention to choosing appropriate literary materials, such as short stories, when teaching Arabic Syntax to ensure that students understand the rules better and practice them on the ground.

Narrating Bodies

This special issue examines representations and constructions of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding in contemporary Japanese fiction in a selection of literary texts from the 2010s to the 2020s. It thus joins ongoing conversations and existing studies concerned with the representation of reproduction and motherhood in modern and contemporary Japanese culture (Saito, 1994; Seaman, 2016; Castellini, 2017; Harada, 2021). However, the essays in this section focus on depictions of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding in terms of narrating bodies as a way to articulate women’s experiences of physical and psychological oppression within Japanese society and redefine new forms of mothering, fathering, and parenting. This research investigates the ambivalence and complexity around motherhood and embodiment in contemporary women’s fiction. At the same time, it explores the connections between literary studies and contemporary sociocultural dynamics of gender and family.

Ethics in Sambas Malay Regional Literary Texts

This research seeks to explore and understand the ethical values reflected in the texts of Sambas Malay folklore. Thirty-five (35) texts were studied, which are compiled in seven (7) books of Sambas Malay folk tales, namely Si Gentar Alam, Datuk Kulup, Anak Hantu, Kalantika, Si Miskin dan Firman Tuhan, Kandung Dagang Palembang, and Nek Kuntan. Through the close reading method, ethical values that guide the lives of the communities owning these texts were found. The dominant values relate to honesty, loyalty, a sense of shame, humility (not being arrogant), prioritizing others (altruism), forgiveness, religious devotion, caring for the poor, obedience to parents, respect for leaders, and respect for others. These ethical values have preserved the life of the community for centuries. In navigating life in an era filled with rapid change, high uncertainty, complex issues, and ambiguity resulting from technological disruption, these values remain highly relevant. Therefore, these ethical values need to continue being internalized in the lives of the Sambas Malay community in particular, and Indonesian society in general.

The Translation of Nature Terminology in Literary Texts: A Case Study

This paper investigates the way nature-related terms are rendered in literary texts, highlighting possible explanations for the translation decisions. The discussion will be illustrated with examples of terms related to wetland and to the vegetation specific for this area, extracted from the novel Where the crawdads sing (2018) by Delia Owens and its Romanian translation. The conclusions show that there are several reasons why the translator may opt for a less accurate rendering of nature terminology, including the translator’s perception of the aim of the target text, e.g. entertainment rather than information, or the translator’s (limited) knowledge of the field.

Paradox of Wars in Indian Writings: Traversing The Unintended Path to Peace

This paper is an exploration as to why wars become significant and important through historical journey to present times. Events that happened in the deepest of deep pasts continue to fascinate and attract humanity from around the globe. Continuous interpretations and re interpretations of the great Epics and other revered Indian texts have helped in preserving both the religious and cultural identity of not only the great Indian Sub Continent but the whole region that comes under South Asia. Wars under discussion are more than physical confrontations. Be it cosmic or human warfare, it serves to emphasize upon the inter connectedness that exists between the material realm and the spiritual one. Wars have cathartic effect on individuals. Examples of this can be seen in literary texts, historical texts and those penned down by great philosophers. These transformative events bring psychological release for individuals. There is emotional purification both at individual and collective level of societies. Aristotle says that, “Tragedy is an imitation of a serious and complete action, having magnitude, which through pity and fear bring about a catharsis of such emotions”. Catharsis comes with different explanations. The events arousing ‘cathartic’ effect mean that they are fully clarified for their role as being essential and with universal significance. The narrators of tragic events are probably meant to make readers move from particular to the general by making ‘reader spectator’ come face to face with what is known as the ‘universal law’.

Eco-consciousness in Andrew Marvell’s The Garden

This paper explores ecological and environmental issues in Andrew Marvell’s poem, “The Garden.” The purpose of this paper is to subvert the anthropocentric world view by juxtaposing the Eco-centric world which provides ultimate pleasure to human beings. This paper employs qualitative and interpretative method to analyze the poem. The researcher has examined the poem from the perspective of Eco-criticism. Distancing himself from the anthropocentric world-view, Marvell highlights the Eco-centric world in order to valorize the beauty and serenity of nature. Marvell glorifies nature and natural beauty by using metaphysical conceits. The poem displays superiority of nature over trivial human culture. In addition, it shows eternity of nature by contrasting it with the transitory nature of human world. The garden is a place for refreshment and nourishment; it stands for innocence, solitude and recreation. Mistaken by the temptation of the material world, the poet seeks peace and pleasure in the human company. However; he finds such blissful states in the lap of nature. Marvell’s critique of anthropocentric and glorification of bio centrism opens an avenue for the critiques who are interested in integrating literary texts with the Environmental Studies. Thus; the present reading of the poem unveils the Eco-conscious elements of the poem from the lens of Eco-criticism.

Linguistic, Aesthetic And Cultural Aspects Of Translating Literary Texts (Arabic-English): A Model For Translation Pedagogy

The main aim of this paper is to explore the different linguistic, aesthetic, and cultural aspects of literary translation. The paper examines the various features of literary translation at both macro and micro levels. It focuses on those features of literary texts that are characteristic of literary works. First, we follow the standard linguistic paradigm in the discussion of literary translation, including phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and the aesthetic and cultural features of literary texts. The qualitative method is used to explore the various features of literary translation to identify the recurring linguistic and literary devices lacking systematic forms and patterns to find a comparable genre-specific form in the target language. The model proposed consists of five stages: (1) Retention of sound devices, (2) Retention of syntactic patterns, (3) Retention of semantic features, (4) Retention of figurative language, and (5) Retention of the cultural aspects. The model is a descriptive model for analyzing literary translation procedures and can be used as a pedagogical model for translation practice. Findings show that employing this model would offer translation students new insights to describe challenging linguistic, aesthetic, and cultural features in the source texts to think of some practical solutions for translating literary works.

Literature And Translation For Effective Teaching In Secondary School English Classes Of Arabic Students

This paper specifies that involving literary texts in the teaching class, especially in the context of the Arab world, is detrimental. Since major troubles are attributed to the negative transfer due to linguistic differences between Arabic and English, literary texts can be corrective and therapeutic. They provide the required contexts to socialize young learners with the language in use. The pragmatic function of language dictates much more than contrived examples to come to terms with its intended meaning. Literature-based teaching makes learning more natural than artificial through authentic language and make-believe situations. The flip side is that the language of literary texts may be troublesome, but this inconvenience can be wiped away by literary translation. According to the questionnaire respondents regarding the inclusion of translation in the teaching class, it can be applied without demur since Arab learners mechanically translate explicitly or silently throughout the lesson. As such, the blend of literature and English language teaching with the help of literary translation can be adequate pedagogic support for secondary school Arab learners.

Famine and ‘hongersnood’ as transnational memory: Literary legacies of the 1840s food crises in Ireland and the Netherlands

The potato blight in Ireland (1845–1849) and the dire effects of the Phytophthora infestans in the Netherlands (1845–1847) have been investigated primarily through a socioeconomical lens. The cultural practices that have shaped and transmitted the memories of these famine pasts, however, require further examination, especially in connection to the Dutch potato hunger. This article investigates the cultural legacies of these two concurrent famines as both transgenerational and transnational forms of famine memory. Focusing on literary texts, and in particular children’s and young adult novels, as carriers of famine recollections, this study demonstrates recurrent narrative scripts which go back to earliest cultural representations of these hunger crises. While tropes, plotlines and characterisations are thus a form of transgenerational prosthetic memory, the cultural repertoires used to convey famine memory also appear to be transnational, in that Dutch and Irish famine literatures are structured around similar narrative templates.

Analysis Semiotic of Meaning Courage in Qaṣīdah (al-Burdah, al- Niffarīyah, al-Mutanabbī, and al-Ahtyar)

<table style="width: 688px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="501"><p><strong>This study aims to analyze the semiotic meaning of the word "courage" in four classical Arabic <em>Qaṣīdahs: Qaṣīdah al-Burdah, Qaṣīdah al-Niffarīyah, Qaṣīdah al-Mutanabbī, </em>and<em> Qaṣīdah al-Ahtyar</em>. This study uses Roland Barthes' semiotic theory to identify the signifiers, signs, and connotative meanings of the word "courage" in these poems. This research uses a qualitative-descriptive approach and a content analysis research design. The data collection techniques used are literature reviews. Primary data is in the <em>Qaṣīdah al-Burdah, Qaṣīdah al-Niffarīyah, Qaṣīdah al-Mutanabbī, </em>and<em> Qaṣīdah al-Ahtyar</em>. Secondary data comes from readings related to the study. The data obtained is reduced, displayed, and verified. The findings show that the semiotic analysis of the word "courage" in the four <em>Qaṣīdahs</em> reveals a testament to the enduring value of courage in guiding Muslims to face challenges and uphold their beliefs in a changing world. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the rich and nuanced understanding of courage in Islamic culture. These insights can contribute to a deeper appreciation of the Islamic ethical framework and its relevance in contemporary society. In addition, the methodology of this study demonstrates the applicability of semiotic analysis in unearthing deeper meanings embedded in literary and cultural texts.</strong><strong></strong></p><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table>

Disfemisme Ungkapan Umpatan pada Terjemahan Arab-Indonesia Cerpen “طبلية من السماء” Karya Yusuf Idris

This article examines the use of dysphemism in swear words in the translation of Yusuf Idris's short story “Thobaliyyah Min As-Sama'” into Herpin Nopiandi Khurosan's short story “Tray from Heaven”. Dysfeminism refers to the use of language that is designed to emphasize negative connotations and make a statement sound worse or harsher. This study aims to determine the form of swear word dysphemism in the Arabic-Indonesian translation of the short story “Thobaliyyah Min As-Sama'”, knowing the function of swear word dysphemism in the Arabic-Indonesian translation of the short story “Thobaliyyah Min As-Sama”. The theory used in this research is Allan and Burridge's theory of dysphemism. The method of this research is descriptive qualitative, with 2 data collection techniques, namely reading the entire contents of the short story and recording the data in accordance with the theory. Then the data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman method, namely by collecting data, reducing data, presenting data, and conclusions. The results of this study show that there are some data that show the existence of dysphemism in swear words. Among them have functions, namely, to vent the speaker's emotions, to joke, to demean the listener, and to swear. This research makes an important contribution to the understanding of how dysphemisms are translated and how shifts in language can affect the meaning and emotional impact of literary texts. For future research, it is hoped that other researchers can explore the comparison of dysphemisms in various literary genres or in the context of translation between different languages.

The Perception and Meaning of a Literary Text in the Initial Stage of the Basic Level of Education in the Context of the Use of Cross-Curricular Connections (The Teacher‘s Point of View)

The article examines the problem of perceiving and making sense of a literary text, using interdisciplinary connections for this purpose. A brief retrospective analysis is introduced, then the relevance of the problem is emphasized. The methodology of the research is presented with the survey conducted among teachers from the initial stage of the basic level of education and conclusions from the two components are drawn. The survey is entirely online. It is based on two criteria with corresponding co-indicators to them. It includes questions about the perception and understanding of literary text by students in the elementary stage, as well as the use of intersubject connections by teachers - opinions about their usefulness, examples of their application and achieving the motivation of students for the learning process; as well as the strategies used to improve skills, the difficulties students encounter, and the joint activities with parents. Relevant conclusions have been drawn.

Her Space: Women’s Collective Living as a Form of Emancipation

Collective and cooperative living; a free, nonhierarchical space to express their individuality. These are some of the characters that emerged in feminist and women-centred utopias. La cité des dames by C. de Pizan (1405) and Herland by C. Perkins Gilman (1915) are two literary texts that, far in space and time, reflect on the modes of inhabiting spaces, in a fictional way, through the construction of an ideal milieu. Charged with a transformational power that allows them to go beyond a mere narration and become space, they constitute a tool for these women to critique the hierarchical living which reproduced (and still reproduces) gender roles. However, "What Would a Non-Sexist City Be Like?" through this question, Dolores Hayden condensed the lessons learnt from several built experiences of collective and collaborative housing that aimed at freeing women going from an androcentric to a gendered city. This contribution becomes part of the discussion about the spatialization – or translation – of gender equality into spaces and architectures by focusing specifically on women's collective living at different scales: the building, the block/complex, and the neighbourhood. These projects will be presented focusing on the role of architecture becoming a form of emancipation for women.

LINGUISTIC UNITS FORMING CAUSATIVE MEANING

The article deals with comparative study of linguistic units that express causative meaning in English and Karakalpak languages. It is noted that there are similarities and differences of causative structures that can be formed morphologically and syntactically. Moreover, some scholars’ views were stated and examples of causative verbs were taken from literary texts in order to reveal causative meaning used in the text. Due to the study, analytical form is used to express causative meaning in English while it is mostly formed morphologically in Karakalpak language.

Blog Serials: Digital Literature, Seriality, Readerly Performativity

Abstract The 1990s and the first decade of the 2000s were a period that witnessed dramatic changes in the literary scene in South Korea. Literary production’s engagement with digital media was one of the major changes in this period, when the divide, collision, and merge between pre-digital and digital came to affect almost every aspect of the society. This article explores the divergent strands in the development of digital literature, the new affordances of the digital environment that affected the literary serial vis-à-vis the print serial, and a virtual and actual community that readers and writers created through their engagement with literary texts and beyond. Through close analysis of a blog serial of Hwang Sŏgyŏng’s Evening Star (February 27–July 21, 2008; 102 episodes in all), which represents one of the significant moments in the early digital serialization of South Korean literature, this article discusses various types of performativity and participatory culture generated by and connected to the blog serial and participants.

Wywlekanie na wierzch brzydkich uczuć i zdradliwość obietnicy szczęścia

This article is a polemic with two literary texts, I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee and Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace. From among the metafictional devices, a concrete poetics of therapeutic discourse emerges. An analysis of the ways in which the experience of depression is thematized will be facilitated by defining Sianne Ngai’s characterization of “ugly feelings” and by noting that the whole process of discursivization is driven by what Sara Ahmed calls the promise of happiness. A critical look will expose some fixed elements of these poetics and outline the frame in which they operate. Key-words: depression, happiness, ugly feelings, sadness, therapeutic discourse

The Effect of Semantic Mapping Strategy on EFL Preparatory School Students' Higher Thinking Skills

Literary text usually begins with a writer’s need to convey his or her personal vision to reader. Even when a writer uses factual material, historical documents newspaper stories, personal experience his or her primary purpose is not just to convey information but to give a unique view of experience, one that has significance beyond the moment. Literature is the news that stays news. To convey his or her view of experience, invents characters, and creates dialogue. In order to solve this problem, the teacher should have creative activity, and semantic mapping strategy can be an alternative way as a learning and make students enjoy and easy to write. The present study aims at; 1) finding out whether there is any significant difference between students' achievement at the recognition level on one hand, and their achievement at the production level, on the other hand. 2) Finding out EFL preparatory school students' ability to identify figurative language, recognize and be aware of other cultures, and higher thinking skills. A sample of (60) students has been randomly selected from Iraqi EFL fourth year preparatory school students who study ‘Literature Focus’ at Al-Manahil school for boys in the city of Tikrit during the academic year 2023/2024. The sample represents (25.60%) percent of its original population and is divided into two equal groups, i.e. the experimental and control groups. Both groups have been equalized in their age, the parents’ educational attainments, and their scores in English language subjects in the previous year of the academic year (2022-2023). An achievement test of six question is constructed, validated, its reliability is obtained, it is items have been analysed and then applied to the two involved groups of the study. The results show that SMS is more effective than using the conventional method for organizing, clarifying, or simplifying complex information.

User Experience of ChatGPT: Insights from Undergraduate English Language and Literature Students in Bangladesh

ChatGPT, a large language model, has become increasingly popular, and students have begun to use it for the purpose of learning. The purpose of this research is to explore the experiences of undergraduate English language and literature students from Bangladesh who are using ChatGPT. Qualitative research methods were utilized for this study and the data were collected using semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis technique was employed to analyze the data. The study reveals both positive and negative experiences associated with the use of ChatGPT by students from the English Language and Literature department. ChatGPT helps students to practice their reading and writing skills. It aids them to provide literary explanations of their texts and helps students to understand complex literary texts in lucid language. However, it sometimes provides confusing or wrong answers and provides wrong explanations regarding literary texts. As students possess some negative experiences along with many positive experiences, they are inclined to continue using it with heightened awareness of their use. However, users in this study believe that its use should be limited, and it should be used as a complement rather than a primary tool. The findings of this research may provide educators and policymakers with valuable insights that might help them integrate new aspects of artificial intelligence in education.