Manar Elsharq Journal for Literature and Language Studies

The Role of Pragmatics in Cross-Cultural Communication: A Comparative English-Arabic Perspective

Zainab Kareem AbdulHasan Al Hitawi — 2025-11-09

This research investigates the role of pragmatics in cross-cultural communication, with a particular focus on English and Arabic. It combines theoretical perspectives on pragmatics, speech acts, and politeness theory with an applied corpus-based case study. Through the analysis of requests, apologies, compliments, and refusals, the paper identifies key differences in directness, indirectness, and politeness strategies between English and Arabic. Findings show that misunderstandings often stem from pragmatic, rather than grammatical, differences. The study highlights the pedagogical importance of pragmatic competence in second language acquisition.

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARABIC LANGUAGE CURRICULUM IN SOME SELECTED PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ADAMAWA STATE-NIGERIA

Ahmad Garba — 2025-11-09

This study focuses on assessing the implementation of the Arabic curriculum in some selected public secondary schools in Adamawa State. It examines key factors affecting the implementation of Arabic education, including availability of instructional materials, government policies, and students’ engagement with the curriculum. The study is limited to public secondary schools within few local government areas, as these schools are directly affected by government policies and curriculum implementation challenges. the descriptive survey research design was adopted. This is considered suitable because it allows the researcher to collect data from a representative sample of the population with the aim of assessing the extent of Arabic curriculum implementation in the selected public secondary schools. The design also facilitates the gathering of views, perceptions, and opinions of Arabic teachers and possibly school administrators regarding curriculum implementation without manipulating any variables. The population of this study consists of some selected Arabic language teachers and students. which approximately 870. meanwhile the sample size of the study was 300. a simple random sampling technique was employed to ensure each Arabic teacher and student in the population has an equal chance of being selected. a structured questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The study concluded that the implementing the Arabic language curriculum in public secondary schools in Adamawa state faces several challenges that undermine its effectiveness. The presence of academically qualified teachers is a positive indication; however, their numerical strength is insufficient for the growing student population. Moreover, despite the moderate availability of instructional materials, their distribution and accessibility remain a concern. These factors suggest that without deliberate policy reforms and strategic investments in Arabic language education, the long-term goal of equipping students with language and cultural competence through the Arabic curriculum may not be fully realized. The study also revealed that government involvement in the implementation of Arabic curriculum is generally passive, with insufficient funding, weak inspection mechanisms, and irregular capacity-building initiatives. These issues have created gaps in accountability and reduced the motivation of teachers and administrators to fully commit to the Arabic curriculum. This study recommended the government, through the State Ministry of Education, should prioritize the employment of more qualified Arabic teachers to address the current shortage. Educational authorities should supply schools with Arabic textbooks, visual and audio aids, and Arabic literature materials. these should be distributed equitably to ensure all public schools benefit from teaching resources. As well as periodic training and retraining of teachers through workshops, seminars, and refresher courses related to Arabic language education.

The Theme of Isolation in Robinson Crusoe: AI Treatment

Mustafa Ali Hadi — 2025-11-09

This research investigates the theme of isolation in Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, drawing connections to contemporary experiences of solitude shaped by interactions with artificial intelligence (AI). Crusoe’s physical and emotional separation on a deserted island is reexamined through the lens of modern digital loneliness, particularly in the context of human engagement with artificial intelligence (AI) companions such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and social robots. The study will highlight parallels between Crusoe’s adaptive strategies for survival and the coping mechanisms employed by individuals in technologically saturated environments. It argues that while artificial intelligence (AI) systems offer simulated companionship, they often deepen the emotional divide by replacing them rather than restoring human connection. The paper also engages with ethical concerns surrounding the delegation of emotional labor to machines and the implications for human identity and agency. By bridging literary analysis with contemporary technological discourse, this research offers a multidisciplinary perspective on how narratives of isolation endure and evolve in an age increasingly defined by artificial intelligence.

Lexical Ambiguity in English Media Discourse: A Semantic and Contextual Analysis

Ali Kadhem Mahdi Al-Halawi — 2025-11-09

This research investigates lexical ambiguity in English from both theoretical and applied perspectives, with special emphasis on media discourse and everyday communication. The study aims to (1) identify the main types of lexical ambiguity in modern English usage, (2) explore how contextual factors influence meaning interpretation, and (3) analyze how ambiguity is used rhetorically in media language. The results show that ambiguity is not merely a linguistic challenge but also a stylistic and communicative strategy, especially in media headlines and social media discourse. The findings highlight the dynamic interaction between semantics and context, contributing to more effective communication and deeper linguistic understanding.

Trump - Clinton Presidential Campaign Debates: A Pragmatic Study

Shahad Abbas Saeed — 2025-11-09

Political discourse is an important tool for politicians because it helps them present ideas in a persuasive and effective way. Among the different forms of political discourse, debates are considered one of the most powerful strategies during election campaigns, as they can strongly influence public opinion and shape people’s beliefs. This study focused on a pragmatic analysis of the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The aim was to examine how language was used as a source of power in political life. To achieve this, the researcher used an eclectic model based on Grice’s conversational maxims and Yule’s types of presuppositions, applying them to ten selected excerpts from the first debate. The analysis sought to answer two main questions: (1) What role did Clinton’s and Trump’s use or violation of Grice’s maxims play in their debate? (2) How did both candidates use presuppositions to manipulate language and deliver their messages effectively?

Solidarity, Power and Ideology in the Political Speeches of Iraqi MP Abdulrahim Al-Shammari: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Thaer Farhan Muhammad — 2025-11-20

This study applies Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine selected Iraqi political speeches by Abdul Rahim Al-Shammari, exploring how power, solidarity, and ideology intersect in his political communication. Using an integrated framework—Fairclough’s Three-Dimensional Model (1989), Halliday and Matthiessen’s Transitivity System (2014), and Quirk et al.’s Modality framework (1985)—the study analyzes how linguistic choices, discourse practices, and sociocultural contexts shape meaning. The research focuses on performative and expressive speech acts—including congratulations, blessings, and welcomes—to assert authority and foster solidarity. Findings show that Al-Shammari uses inclusive and emotionally charged vocabulary, collective pronouns (“we,” “our”), and material and relational processes to construct a shared identity, present himself as an agent of progress, and reinforce national and regional ideologies. Religious, cultural, and historical references strengthen legitimacy and cultural identity, while appeals to justice and international norms situate his discourse within global political contexts. Overall, the study concludes that Al-Shammari's political discourse strategically blends local cultural values with global ideological currents, using solidarity as both a rhetorical and ideological tool to legitimize authority, promote national cohesion, and project a vision of an autonomous, globally engaged Iraq.