The focus of this study was female gender representation in secondary level ELT textbooks published by four different textbook boards of Pakistan, namely Baluchistan Textbook Board, Sindh Textbook Board, Khyber Pakhtunkhwah Textbook Board and Punjab Textbook Board. It targeted a comprehensive comparison between the female gender images as represented in four sets of textbooks and gender conceptions of their respective female readers. To achieve the objectives, the study was divided into two parts: In part 1, the textbooks by four state-run textbook boards were analyzed and in part 2, their respective female readers’ gender conceptions were collected and analyzed. The study employed multi-dimensional analytical tools like manifest, latent analysis and Fairclough (2001) CDA model for interpretation and explanation of textbook discourse. The study revealed a low representation share of female gender in four sets of textbooks. It brought out that female readership had stereotype conceptions regarding the attributes, professions and activities as appropriate for the female gender. It was also found that Sindh and Punjab Textbook Boards had improved female gender representation than other provincial textbook boards. The quantitative findings of part 2 proposed that textbooks could play a vital part in modeling gender conceptions of readership as Sindh and Punjab Textbook Boards’ female readership showed better gender conceptions. The study recommended a gender-based test of the textbooks at national level prior to publication to ensure gender equality as directed in National Curriculum.
Purpose of the study: The present research aims to explore the oppressed and marginalized Afghan women who are made subaltern socially and religiously. It further reveals the ability of women to endure the violence and to create the vision of women empowerment through their suppressed bodies. Methodology: The primary data of research relies upon the text of A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Hosseini (2007). Further, it has also been collected from secondary sources like articles and reviews mentioned in the reference list. The selected text is analyzed under the theoretical framework of the theory of subaltern by Spivak (1988), utilizing the content analysis. Main findings: The study dismantles the struggles of marginalized women for their survival and to free them from the suffocating chains of repression and violence. Nana, Mariam, and Laila being the subaltern know the word ‘Endurance’ while living in dilapidated social conditions. They show the degree of resistance and then also unite to stand against societal prominence. Mariam- the harami, sacrifices her life for Laila and Laila becomes the voice of her coming generation who can challenge the subaltern attitude and will speak loudly. Application of this study: Utilizing the theory of subaltern by Spivak, this research answers the question “Can the subaltern speak?” as ‘Yes’. It brings a message if the subaltern group combines and stands against the unjust norms, they will no more remain a subaltern and will be applicable for academicians and researchers as well. Novelty/Originality of this study: The study is distinctive because it explores the literature that portrays the stories of almost every home and corner of the world. Despite passing phases of woman's rights, the female gender is still being suppressed. It also unveils how gender inequality, poor and gender-biased educational systems, the justice system, and constrained or child marriages are being practised.
This paper highlights the power of image in shaping perception of the people regarding post 9/11 American representation in Pakistani print media discourses. The study deconstructs the semiotic discourse(s) of Pakistani English newspaper Dawn (daily) from September 2018 to February 2019 to argue that linguistic and semiotic devices and techniques work discursively to shape the readers’ perception regarding American foot-prints in Pakistani print media. It employs Multimodal Critical Discourse analysis approach by drawing upon Machin (2007), Van Leeuwen framework for recontextualization (2008) and Fairclough’s (2003) for visual and linguistic analyses to lay bare embedded ideologies propagated through word-picture conjunction. The levels of analysis include participants, settings, poses, objects, metaphor, inclusion, exclusion and discourse. Moreover, the researchers have validated the findings of their semiotic analysis by conducting two focus group discussions among the students of linguistics and other disciplines. The findings reveal that print media semiotic discourses provide an appropriate use of language in graphic form. The findings reveal that no use of language is ideology free and words and pictures work in conjunction to propagate desired ideology to the target readership. Additionally, the study notices the visible change that has taken place regarding American representation from superordinate to back foot and ready-to-hold dialogue through semiotic discourses of mentioned newspaper.
The emphasis of this research was religious otherness depiction in high school English textbooks issued by four State controlled Pakistani textbook boards of i.e., BTB Quetta, STB Jamshoro, KTB Peshawar and PTB Lahore. It besets a broad contrast among the religious otherness descriptions as depicted in provincial ELT textbooks and the otherness related notions of their corresponding students. To achieve the goals, the study was alienated in 2 phases: In phase 1, the textbooks of government textbook publishing boards were investigated and in the second phase their corresponding readers’ religious otherness ideas were obtained and evaluated. The research devised a modified model of analysis by blending Van Dijk (1998) and Fairclough (2001) CDA model for interpretation and explanation of religious otherness in representative text extracted from textbooks’ discourse. The study discovered the prevalence of religious otherness- related themes in all ELT textbooks. It was also found that STB discourse had improved religious otherness images and students’ otherness ideas than other provincial textbook boards and their respective readers. The study also revealed that Muslim male and female students had peculiar otherness notions about minority religious communities. The readers’ responses to questionnaire items in phase 2 of research suggested that textbooks had a significant part in molding otherness related notions of young readers. The study recommended an otherness-based investigation of the textbooks prior to publication at federal government level to ensure citizenship equality as envisioned by founder of the nation.
The focus of this research was depiction of and persuasion on national interest agenda through semiotics of Pakistani newspapers. It targeted a broad comparison among the semiotics as depicted in two Pakistani English newspapers i.e., Dawn and The Nation. To achieve the objectives, the study was divided into two parts: In part 1 the semiotics were analyzed and in part 2 the written part of political cartoons was analyzed. The study devised an integrated framework of analysis by blending Barthes (1957) theory of semiotics and Fairclough’s (1995) ‘three dimensional’ CDA model for interpretation and explanation of semiotics’ discourse. The study revealed the frequent use of multiple persuasion modes in political cartoons of both the newspapers’ semiotics and discourse. While comparing the two newspapers’ semiotics and discourse, the study also found that daily ‘Dawn’ semiotics played very negligible role in persuasion on national interest agenda of establishing military courts. However, ‘The Nation’ semiotics contributed positively towards national interest agenda-setting. The study recommended careful comparison between various newspapers by readership in order to know the ideological bent of newspapers while representing the facts and opinions.
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