Manar Elsharq Journal for Literature and Language Studies

A critical Stylistic Analysis of Humiliation in “The Merchant of Venice”

2026-05-09T21:58:40+00:00

Critical stylistics is a linguistic field which provides crucial tools to examine, and analyze how linguistic patterns and structures are used to enhance ideologies. By using critical stylistic tools, this study, with particular focus on the character Shylock, aims to uncover how Shakespeare’s language reflects, constructs, and communicates the act of humiliation in the play “The Merchant of Venice”. Humiliation is viewed as a deeply social emotion including degradation, put down, and loss dignity. It is imposed externally, usually publically, and carries long-lasting effect. The study explores how stylistic choices contribute to character humiliation. It sheds light on humiliation as a distinct discursive and stylistic phenomenon by identifying linguistic features which depict humiliation in “The Merchant of Venice”. Through selected excerpts from Shylock’s dialogues, and the language used towards him, the analyses reveal the effectiveness of stylistic choices such as lexical selection, transitivity, and modality in the contribution to constructing his margin-alized identity and humiliated character. The study demonstrates that “The Merchant of Venice” both critiques and reflects social hierarchies, providing a clear framework for examining the linguistic strategies of humiliation. The results contribute to understand the role of language in literary texts to sustain or challenge power relations.

Enheduanna’s Hymns (Cultural and Religious Features)

2026-05-09T22:03:48+00:00

The study sheds light historically on Sarjon Akadi’s daughter Enheduana (2285-2250 BCE), the female Akadian poet, princess, and high priestess. The study shows the Akadian and Sumerian social and religious relations with the temple, deities, and priestess Enheduana, who composed many effective hymns and poems for goddess Inanna. She faced many troubles when she was banished from the temple after the death of her father. Some examples of her hymns are also included and analyzed.

The Effects of Using AI on Iraqi EFL University Students' Performance

2026-05-09T22:13:44+00:00

This paper is concerned with investigating the role of artificial intelligence tools in enhancing English language teaching for Iraqi university students. AI refers to computer systems that can perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence. This study tackles the problems that many Iraqi university students believe that AI always provides correct answers. It tries to pinpoint the advantages and disadvantages AI brings to the teaching and learning process and it tries to find out to what extent can AI tools increase Iraqi students' motivation in the learning process. The paper is based on the hypotheses that (1) AI tools consistently deliver accurate and reliable information to university students who are learning English as a second language, (2) integrating AI into the teaching process positively enhances EFL students' performance. This study has come up with the conclusion that AI tools can increase the Iraqi EFL students' motivation making them feel more engaged and confident since they can get direct feedback, support and explanations according to their own individual needs.

NLP and Computational Stylistics for Iraqi Literature and Media: Evidence Map (2023–2026; includes one diachronic study covering 1980–2025), Methodological Standards, and a Responsible Roadmap

2026-05-09T22:18:54+00:00

This review synthesizes how Natural Language Processing (NLP) and computational stylistics are being used to analyze Iraqi literature, media, and culturally salient text streams. Because Iraqi Arabic is low-resource and highly variable, the paper emphasizes evaluation rigor, dataset governance, and interpretability for humanities-facing claims. We combine (i) a structured task taxonomy (sentiment/affect, topic discovery, stylometry, censorship detection, diachronic semantic change, dialect translation, and ancient text processing) with (ii) a title-coded evidence map of a curated seed corpus (N=35) drawn from Iraqi Literary and Cultural Review (ILCR) and Alnoor Journal for Humanities (JNH). The synthesis highlights recurring technical risks (OCR noise, code-switching, domain shift, small-sample instability) and proposes a practical roadmap: shared benchmarks for Iraqi dialect and genre coverage, transparent annotation protocols, robust metrics with uncertainty reporting, and privacy-preserving release strategies for sensitive political data.

Analysis of Noun Phrase and Verb Phrase Structures in Modern Standard Arabic by using X-bar Approach

2026-05-09T22:25:15+00:00

This research demonstrates the existence of nominal and verbal phrases in Arabic. The presence of nominal phrases is revealed through grammatical evidence. The Arabic form considered is Modern Standard Arabic, and X-bar theory is used to explore these phrases. Arabic structures are presented in phonetic transcripts, assigned morpho-syntactic features, and given English translations. The analysis covers NP and VP, verb features, VP ellipsis, and the application of X-bar theory to Arabic. It has been shown that complements and adjuncts stand in different syntactic relations to the head noun within the NP. A complement constituent in Arabic is a sister of the head noun and must be adjacent to the head and precede the adjunct category. The complement and adjunct positions spell out syntactic processes such as preposing, postposing, questioning, and pronominalisation. These processes provide empirical evidence for the complement/adjunct distinction, leading to the conclusion that Arabic has a hierarchical three-level phrase structure and an intermediate X′ level. This study shows that NP and VP categories in Arabic fit into the X′ schema proposed for universal syntactic structure. Arabic data also show that head words are projected into phrases, which are projected into sentences. Sentences in Arabic, as in other languages, are structured from phrases, and phrases are grammatical categories filling syntactic positions within sentences.

The Morphological Dynamism of Digital Discourse: A Mixed-Methods Study on Derivational Productivity in the AI Era

2026-05-09T22:31:17+00:00

We also checked out the process by which words are always evolving in the digital world—like how we’re creating new words with internet slang and AI. So, we’re all about speed and creativity in the digital world today, and Gen Alpha and Gen Z are essentially rewriting the rules of the past when it comes to language and words. So, to really understand the process by which language and words are evolving today, we actually looked at a massive digital database of 1.2 million words to see just how often people use tags like “-core” or “cyber-” and even interviewed people to get the real story behind it all. So, it turns out that social media sites like TikTok, X, and Reddit essentially act like a pressure cooker for language and words—making brand new words feel "normal" quicker than ever before. To be honest, the process by which language and words are evolving today isn’t "ruining" the language so much as it’s actually a really cool testament to just how logical the language is today.

Semiotic and symbolic order in Shakespeare ‘s All’s Well That Ends Well (1623) and Webster ‘s The Duchess of Malfi (1613)

2026-05-09T22:43:03+00:00

This paper examines the portrayal of powerful female characters in Webster ‘s The Duchess of Malfi (1613) and Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well (1623) through the lens of feminist theory. It demonstrates the strategies that Helen and the Duchess employ to challenge patriarchal norms, positioning them as nonconformist women who pave the way for other women to assert their identities. This paper will show clearly the interplay between the semiotic and the symbolic in the text and how subjectivity is revealed through language. In each play, the struggle between these two aspects shows how the Duchess portrays the triumph of the symbolic, which represents patriarchal society, over the Duchess's strategies, while Helen shows the victory of the semiotic, which represents personal drives and desires dominating the symbolic. Furthermore, the paper will explore the strategies that these women use to achieve their goals, highlighting their intelligence and their management of the people around them.

Teacher Mentorship and Inclusive Practices in English Language Teaching: A Case Study of the Atbara Locality – Sudan

2026-05-09T22:47:44+00:00

This study explores the impact of structured teacher mentorship and inclusive practices within English Language Teaching (ELT) at secondary schools in the Atbara Locality, Sudan. Amidst regional educational disruptions, the research addresses the critical need for sustainable pedagogical frameworks that bolster teacher resilience and accommodate learner diversity. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed, involving a sample of 120 English language teachers (male and female, aged 27–50). Quantitative data obtained from Likert-scale questionnaires were triangulated with qualitative insights derived from semi-structured interviews and systematic classroom observations. The results of the mixed-methods analysis indicate a high degree of convergence between data strands. Quantitatively, the $N=120$ cohort reported a 35% increase in pedagogical confidence and a 28% improvement in classroom management efficiency following mentorship intervention. Qualitatively, thematic coding revealed that mentorship significantly reduced professional isolation, providing a "psychological and professional safety net" vital for educators in high-stress environments. Furthermore, the integration of mentor-guided inclusive practices—supported by scaffolding and Generative AI for differentiated instruction—yielded a 42% rise in student engagement and a 30% improvement in vocabulary retention among diverse learners. The findings underscore that the synergy between mentorship and inclusivity enables educators to adapt effectively to resource-constrained and fragile environments. The study recommends institutionalizing mentorship within the Atbara Locality to elevate ELT standards and promote educational equity. These results offer significant implications for policy and practice in post-conflict Sudanese contexts and similar global educational settings facing systemic instability.

The Persistence of Fossilization in English Language Learning and Acquisition

2026-05-09T22:52:50+00:00

Fossilization is widely recognized as one of the most persistent and complex difficulties in learning and acquiring the English language, especially within the domain of second language acquisition (SLA). This study explores the characteristics and durability of fossilization in learners’ interlanguage through three key research questions: (1) Which cognitive, linguistic, and affective variables lead to the development of fossilization in English language learning? (2) Is fossilization a permanent condition, or can it be reversed during second language development? (3) What types of pedagogical interventions can reduce or overcome fossilization in formal educational settings? The study is theoretically grounded in Interlanguage Theory, the Critical Period Hypothesis, and cognitive-interactionist approaches. It employs a qualitative descriptive method based on a critical examination and synthesis of both foundational and recent literature in SLA. The analysis demonstrates that fossilization emerges from a multifaceted interaction between internal elements—such as first language interference, restricted attentional capacity, and the automatization of incorrect linguistic forms—and external influences, including teaching methods, the nature of feedback, and sociocultural exposure. The results also suggest that although certain fossilized forms are highly resistant to modification, carefully designed instructional techniques and continuous learner awareness may support partial defossilization. The study concludes that fossilization should not be interpreted as a deficiency on the part of learners, but rather as a natural outcome of language development influenced by cognitive limitations and learning conditions. A thorough understanding of its persistent nature is therefore crucial for developing effective pedagogical strategies that promote linguistic accuracy and sustained language growth among English learners.

Machine Translation and Its Effects on Professional Translators

2026-05-09T22:57:24+00:00

This study examines the concept of translation as a fundamental process in language learning and cross-cultural communication, with particular emphasis on both human and machine translation. , the research provides a comparative analysis between human and machine translation. Human translation is shown to offer higher accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and contextual understanding, while machine translation is characterized by speed, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness. However, machine translation systems face limitations such as lack of contextual awareness, reduced fluency, and difficulty handling idiomatic expressions. In addition, the study discusses the significance of machine translation in a globalized world, particularly in enhancing cross-cultural communication, international business, diplomacy, and accessibility. It also examines different types of machine translation systems, including rule-based, statistical, hybrid, and neural machine translation, highlighting their development, advantages, and challenges. The study concludes that while machine translation continues to evolve and improve, human translation remains indispensable for ensuring accuracy and cultural appropriateness. A balanced integration of both approaches is recommended to achieve effective and reliable translation in various contexts.

The Event in Qur'anic Stories Surah Yunus as an Example

2026-05-09T23:01:30+00:00

The stories in the Qur'an are characterised by their sacred realism, where historical events are recounted not for entertainment, but to achieve lofty doctrinal and educational goals. This is clearly evident in Surah Yunus, which is a prominent example. As a Meccan surah, Surah Yunus focuses on the fundamentals of faith, such as monotheism and the proof of resurrection and prophecy. The narrative events in the surah are presented according to a sophisticated artistic approach, in which a single scene (the story of the Prophet Yunus, peace be upon him) is repeated in multiple places in the Qur'an, each time with details and implications that serve the context and overall theme of the surah, revealing an "unparalleled semantic density" and eloquence in linguistic composition. This diversity in the presentation of a single scene aims to achieve persuasion, dispel doubts, and prove the truth. The story of the people of Jonah (in verse 98) stands out as the axis around which the events of the surah revolve, confirming the main function of the event: to remind and admonish before it is too late. The story presents a unique model of the response of a people who believed in sincere repentance, so the torment was lifted from them, establishing the centrality of God's mercy and His acceptance of repentance when it is sincere.

Place formations in the Iraqi novel taking Shalal Anouz’s novel (Yamama Baghdad as an example)

2026-05-09T23:06:25+00:00

In this study, however, place in the novel is not regarded from an uncritical view as a neutral context where action kertaa merely take place; rather, it is viewed as a significant structure that aids in meaning making and expresses the psychological and social dimensions of the text. This perspective gives a new approach using the novel Yamama Baghdad by the novelist Shalal Anouz as a case study to analyze spatial structures in the Iraqi novel. Using the descriptive-analytical method and a narrative orientation, this research traces the sense of place in hidden and revealed senses and its artistic and symbolic status in the general texture of the novel. The research problem is formulated into one main question which araise due to the nature of the novel and its which is "How does spatial formations appears through the novel and what role does play in terms of shaping the plot and characters and further reflects the changes in Iraq society." This begs deeper questions about spatial patterns and the relationship between place and character, what distance there is between these and social and political changes. The research determines the home, the bedroom, the courtroom and the hotel as enclosed spaces that work psychologically, evoking notions of anxiety, memory and fragmentation. On the other hand, open spaces like the street, the university, the river, and the cemetery function as paths of mobility, transformation, and re-signification. The results also uncover that place is not just descriptive in the novel but an active structural element that guides the action. And Baghdad itself is a kind of collective memory, containing loss and change all at once.