Jordan Journal of Modern Languages & Literatures

On the Issue of the Contextual Dependence of Semi-Predicative Constructions (Based on the Material of Modern English and Tatar languages)

2024-12-05T12:28:01+03:00

This article examines the dependence of semi-predicative constructions on context. The dependence of these constructions is considered within the framework of the concepts of autosemanticity – synsemanticity, complicated sentences. The authors put forward the thesis that the contextual cohesion of a semi-predicative sentence is reflected in its semantics and structure. Analyzing the degree of contextual cohesion of the sentence, the paper comes to the conclusion that these constructions relate to the context in different ways. The functioning of a semi-predicative sentence without a full-predicative one, to which the analyzed constructions belong, is impossible. Therefore, their connection with the context can be characterized as having a high degree of strength. In the present study, synsemantic constructions are considered as syntactic constructions that have semantic connections with surrounding sentences, and autosemantic ones – as devoid of these connections.

Attitudinal Resources in the Process of Persuasion in the Saudi Minister of Health’s Statements during COVID-19

2024-12-05T12:35:07+03:00

This analytical study aims to investigate the influence of evaluative language on the persuasive process in the Saudi Minister of Health’s statements during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the effect of positive and negative attitudes. The analysis was conducted on a statement dated April 7, 2020, employing Martin and White’s appraisal theory derived from Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics framework. A mixed-methods approach was employed: the quantitative analysis gave the frequencies and percentages of the three subsystems of attitude resources and positive and negative resources in each, and the qualitative analysis explored and commented on the functions and processes of each subtype of attitude. The findings indicate that the Minister relied his persuasion on various attitude resources, with the affect subsystem being the most influential, followed by judgment and then appreciation. Furthermore, the results show that he based his persuasion on negative attitudes, proving that negative is more persuasive than positive.

Information Structure: The Impact of Pragmatic Focus Categories on Word Ordering in the El Tarf Dialect of Algerian Arabic

2024-12-05T12:40:37+03:00

The study examines how word order variations in the El Tarf dialect (Arabic dialect spoken in east Algeria) are affected by information structure. All participants are from El Tarf. The data is collected through an Answer/Question test. Following Lambrecht (1994). The paper’s goal is to investigate how word processing varies per the pragmatic readings of Focus categories namely, Argument-Focus (identifying a new referent, the subject), Predicate-Focus (commenting on a topic), and Sentence-Focus (presenting a new situation). The findings reveal that these categories influence how constituents are organized, processed, and interpreted. In Argument-Focus, speakers prefer identifying new referents through marked narrow Focus (non-canonical constructions, namely VSO, VOS, OVS, and OSV). Meanwhile, the Predicate-Focus needs an unmarked SVO order, a VO order with an unaccented topic (subject) is also used. The Sentence-Focus is unmarked. The results also show that word order within the Argument-Focus is more flexible compared to Predicate-Focus and Sentence-Focus constructions.

Syntax, Phonology, or Both?

2024-12-05T12:51:27+03:00

The realisation of focus in Makkan Arabic (MA) phonology and word order has not been investigated yet. Therefore, this study aims to find answers to (a) to what extent prosodic prominence marking is used; (b) which pitch accent patterns can occur in sentences without and with focus; and (c) whether and how broad focus, information focus and contrastive focus are realised in word order. Two experiments were conducted: production and perception. In the production experiment, a question-answer paradigm was used to elicit information focus and contrastive focus at three sentence locations (initial, penultimate and final) in comparison with their broad focus counterparts. A total of 3528 utterances were produced by 14 speakers of Makkan Arabic. The results from the production experiment show that (a) prosodic prominence marking was not used, and (b) the number of accent distribution patterns was limited, as was the number of two pitch accent types observed: L+H* and H*. The results from the perception experiment reveal that MA listeners have a strong preference for producing some word orders to encode focus over others. These results contribute to the debate about the interaction between phonology and word order in encoding focus.

Bidenian and Harrisian Metaphors: A Corpus-Based Analysis of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ Political Discourse

2024-12-05T12:54:45+03:00

This research analyzes some political leaders’ discourse which aims to achieve the objective of persuading their audience to align with their respective viewpoints and policies. Applying the Conceptual Metaphor Theory by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) and guided by the principles of Critical Discourse Analysis by Fairclough (1995), this study examines a corpus of 40 speeches delivered by each of US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The analysis uncovers a recurrent utilization of metaphors grounded in the domain of life, such as "LIFE IS A BATTLEFIELD," "LIFE IS A JOURNEY," and "LIFE IS A GAME" by Biden. Similarly, Harris frequently employs "LIFE IS A BATTLEFIELD," which conveys attributes of resilience and fortitude, reflecting her capacity as Vice President. Furthermore, the analysis identifies another prevailing conceptual metaphor, "AMERICA IS A PERSON," by Harris. These metaphorical expressions operate as persuasive tools, facilitating the transmission of their respective political ideologies.

Transition Deficit in Jordanian Arabic Stuttered Speech: An Acoustic Analysis of Word-Medial Geminate Consonants

2024-12-05T13:00:36+03:00

This study investigates the effect of medial geminate consonants on those who stutter. F1, F2, and Voice Onset Time values were investigated in medial geminate consonants for adults who stutter (AWS). To understand how AWS control the temporal compensation between the geminate consonant and the vowel preceding it, the study recruited 20 healthy fluent Jordanian adult male speakers (FP) who acted as a control group and 20 Jordanian AWS. Participants were asked to produce minimal like pairs (/bataa/, /batta/ and /badaa/, /badda/) which differ in the middle consonants. Results show that those who stutter spend more time producing the target sounds because of the phonetic complexity of the sounds and the transition deficit AWS suffer from.

The Use of Circumlocution in Translating Medical Terms on TED Platform into Arabic: The Causal Model Approach

2024-12-05T13:12:43+03:00

There are three strategies for translating specialized terms: borrowing, circumlocution, and neologism. Out of 253 terms taken from 19 videos on TED Platform, 144 terms were translated using circumlocution. Hence, the present paper aims to explore the following research problem: why do TED translators opt for circumlocution as main strategy? The paper's originality stems from the fact that it tests the applicability of the causal model (Chasterman 2000) in the study of terminology translation. The study hypothesizes that the causal model can bring more insights into the analysis of the translator's choices. It follows a methodology that consists of two phases: 1). the analysis of the translator's cognition, translation event, and socio-cultural factors; 2) the analysis of terms’ translation. The study reveals that circumlocution is over-used because of: the absence of instructions on TED guidelines, the explanatory nature of the Arabic language, and the assumptions of translators about the audience.

Social Deictic Shifts in Animal Farm: Evidence of More Intense Class Struggle and More Marked Social Stratification in Translation

2024-12-05T13:17:00+03:00

This article examines the shifts in social deixis in an Arabic translation of George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm. The results show that the translation moves toward a more frequent use of social deixis and more lexicalization of social/interpersonal relations between characters, bringing some major characters closer to readers in the emotional/psychological space while distancing some other minor characters. The translation moves toward a more emotive language/style, more accentuated/marked focalization, more subjective perspective and more involved reader. There is a tendency toward more explicit social differentiations that improve the text’s clarity and communicability. This explicitation pattern can reflect the translator’s (intentional or unintentional) attempts to reverbalize the original text after his concretization of the social realia of the original story. The explicitation may also be looked at as textual traces of the translator’s (intentional or unintentional) endeavors to speak for the original author, narrator or characters and adopt their speaking voice(s) in the story.

Representations of Saudi Culture in the Translated Narratives of ‘Abd al-Rahman Munif’s ‘Annihayat'- “Endings”

2024-12-05T13:24:02+03:00

This study delves into the intricate realm of narratives within the context of translation, focusing on the seminal work of Saudi author Abd al-Rahman Munif, 'Annihayat' (Endings). The exploration is grounded in Mona Baker's narrative framework (2005, 2010, 2014), which examines the fidelity of Roger Allen's English translation 'Endings' in capturing the diverse narrative types proposed by Baker. The analysis extends beyond narrative types to scrutinize key narrative features. By employing these features, this study aims to uncover the nuances introduced during the translation process, exploring how Allen's choices impact the relationships among narrative elements, the appropriateness of selected details, the significance attributed to events, and the faithful representation of temporality. The findings show that Allen maintained the same narratives constructed by Munif and therefore kept the same positive image of Saudi culture. Allen was successful in translating Endings into English, Munif’s voice was heard, and the essence of Munif's work was conveyed.

Representation of Social Inequality in Parvīn E’tesāmī’s Poetry: A Semiotic Study

2024-12-05T13:30:01+03:00

The significance of Parvīn E’tesāmī’s poetry as a social satire, rendered in debates (munāzere) subordinated to ‘no authorial voice,’ has received insufficient treatment. The present study proposes to focus on the representation of social inequality in E’tesāmī’s debate poetry through an in-depth analysis of her most recurring signs. We will argue that her poetry is built upon an ‘opposition’ between various entities all personified, ‘signifying’ the conflict between the opposite social classes: the dominant vs. the subordinate. Six oppositions are examined in sections of “drunk and sober,” “jewel and tear,” “two drops of blood,” “wolf and dog,” “flower and thorn,” and “two courts.” In each poem, E’tesāmī exploits ‘classical’ Persian literary repertoire in a ‘topical’ context to criticize the corrupt ruling system for the deplorable conditions of her homeland. Despite their engagement with contemporary issues, E’tesāmī’s poems seem to function within a fatalistic framework, much of which being informed by Islamic scripture.

Frank Bascombe’s Loss of Hegelian Familial Love in Richard Ford’s The Lay of the Land

2024-12-05T13:36:46+03:00

This article attempts to read and analyse Richard Ford’s The Lay of the Land (2006), the third Frank Bascombe book, with a specific focus on Frank, the protagonist, in light of Hegel’s theory of familial love. As Hegel’s notion of familial love relies on the constant unison of family members as well as their individual involvement with self-consciousness as an unavoidable prerequisite of familial love, this article argues that one potential reason for Frank’s unending feeling of loss and identity crisis might lies in the substantial influences of his divorce from his former wife, Ann Dykstra, who could be regarded as his Hegelian true, original source of love and the only origin of his self-consciousness. It is hoped that this article provides a different approach to examining family and identity crises not only in Ford’s Lay of the Land and his well-known hero but in similar modern works of fiction through the lens of Hegelian familial love.

Metaphorical Representation of Human Body Parts in Javanese

2024-12-05T14:47:41+03:00

Metaphors as a means of conceptualizing reality are not arbitrarily but physically and culturally embedded. This study focuses on the metaphorical representation of human body parts, as well as grounds and socio-cultural factors influencing the connection of the source and target domains in Javanese metaphors’ formation. Seventy-two utterances were manually collected using purposive sampling and analyzed using a descriptive-qualitative approach. The findings of this study showed that Javanese human body parts metaphors were constructed through the similarities and associations of the upper, middle, lower, and entire body parts as the source domain. This study also revealed that despite all humans having the same biological or physical parts, every language exploits and functions such body parts in varied ways across cultures. Consequently, human body parts can be associated with various entities and intentions. Considering the connectivity between metaphors and culture, this study is critical for raising a better understanding and awareness of the speech communities’ cultural thinking patterns.

Interpreters’ Lack of Agency in Postcolonial Environments: A Postmodern Perspective

2024-12-05T14:53:53+03:00

This work investigates the task of the translator in a postcolonial setting. The short story, “Sizin Memlekette Eşek Yok Mu?” [Don't You Have Any Donkeys in Your Country?] by the Turkish satirist, Aziz Nesin, is selected to throw light on the social and political status quo of translators in nonwestern cultures and the impact of imperialism. Using the politics of postmodernism and postcolonial theory, the paper shows how the marginalization of a Turkish interpreter working in the service of an ethnocentric oriental-rug merchant is representative of power relations between the ‘developing world’ and imperialistic states. Some pertinent notions from postcolonial theory including mimicry and hegemony are summoned to illustrate the sharply polarized binary author/ translator. The study also discusses how the extensively studied issue of the invisibility of translators is linked to the essentialist principles of faithfulness, equivalence, and symmetry in translation.

La Symbolique du Sacré chez Patrick Chamoiseau : l'Art à l'Epreuve du Deuil

2024-12-05T14:59:27+03:00

Étant le «Guerrier de l’imaginaire », Chamoiseau part d'un deuil personnel pour se hisser «Aux grands vents de la relation ». La disparition de sa mère Man Ninotte l'a plongé dans une expérience mystique où son dire poétique débouche sur une révélation qui le met face à l'invisible et au sacré qui lui est associé. C'est en ce sens que l'absence de Man Ninotte participe au surgissement d'une parole relevant de l’indicible qui se réalise en fait dans un langage poétique qui marque essentiellement une rencontre avec une altérité radicale prenant la figure du Sacré, un sacré poétique qui intègre le Tout-Monde et qui invente une nouvelle vision de l'homme par le biais de l'esthétique de la Relation.

Cultural Chase: The Gendered Medieval and Renaissance Discourses in Margaret Cavendish’s Blazing World and Sir Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis

2024-12-05T15:03:32+03:00

Ahead of feminine writing in the linear track of western literary gendered and chronological progression, feminine writing has always been a chronological step back. The Renaissance female writers entered the already masculine-occupied space of literary scripture and used several strategies and tactics to secure a rightful place within the literary continuum. This paper investigates “The Cultural Chase” between Margaret Cavendish and Francis Bacon, and attempts to display the generic and chronological differences between their representative works: Blazing World and New Atlantis. The first section of this paper’s argument explores those texts’ introductory passages and the role the authors’ genders play in selecting a literary genre to convey their agendas. The later section explores the strategies used by Cavendish and Bacon in presenting major contemporary intellectual controversies. Furthermore, we explore the successes and frustrations of Cavendish and Bacon and their impact on the cultural arena of the time. Finally, the paper blurs the binary opposition forced on humanities, as well as the sciences and attempts to use Newton’s Laws of Gravity to analyze and explain the nature of this Cultural Chase.

T. S. Eliot’s Influence on Al-Sboul’s Novella You as of Today

2024-12-08T09:38:23+03:00

The purpose of this paper is to show how T. S. Eliot’s poetry has in/directly influenced Jordanian writer Tayseer Al-Sboul’s novella You as of Today (1968). First of all, Al-Sboul’s protagonist, Arabi, is a flȃneur who meanders through the streets of Arab cities and unveils ugly socio-cultural and political realities that echo Eliot’s sordid images. Secondly, motifs like the cat and the corpse, appear in Al-Sboul’s novella. Thirdly, just like Eliot’s The Waste Land, You as of Today is fragmented in structure. Moreover, images of despondency in the final section of The Waste Land are almost repeated in Al-Sboul’s novella to reflect the state of despair and loss that Arab people have experienced after the 1967 defeat in a way that echoes the state of desolation and helplessness that people in Europe experienced after WWI. Finally, Arabi describes the Arab nation as “punching bags stuffed with hay,” a description reminiscent of Eliot’s hollow men. By drawing on Eliot’s poetry, which has influenced generations of Arab intellectuals since the translation of Eliot’s works into Arabic in the 1930s, Al-Sboul shows how the 1967 defeat shattered young Arab people’s hopes of progress and development and raised questions on contemporaneous Arab politics and ideological affiliations.