Browsing by Author "Zafar, Shahila"

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    Beyond laughter and smiles: analytical paradigms in social media COVID-19 humour studies
    (Cracow Tertium Society for the Promotion of Language Studies, 2023-08-28T00:00:00) Bageshwar, Bageshree Ramdas; Zafar, Shahila
    Amid the deluge of serious social media posts regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, humorous posts brought users much-needed respite. This article reviews studies on social media-based COVID-19 humour in 42 research articles that were selected from four databases, viz. Science Direct, Scopus, Taylor & Francis, and Web of Science. After the classification and analysis of the articles on the basis of some key features, a detailed description and discussion of the findings have been carried out. The results concerning the characteristics and functions of COVID-19 humour reveal that most studies investigated image-text memes; the most important feature found was �humour�, in addition to others like sarcasm, irony, satire, criticism, juxtaposition, and locality. Intertextuality played a significant role in the structure of humorous posts, especially those related to specific countries. Additionally, it shows that although research on COVID-19 humour on social media is still in an early phase, several findings appear stable across various studies included in this review. Moreover, most humour studied is not only about the virus or the disease itself, but also focuses on absurd situations individuals found themselves in due to the pandemic and the lockdown that followed. � 2023,European Journal of Humour Research. All Rights Reserved.
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    Corpus Analysis for Literary Studies: Application and Relevance
    (Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021-08-28T00:00:00) Zafar, Shahila; Khan, Zaved Ahmed
    The use of corpus tools for the teaching-learning and research of literary texts is not widespread. The present study attempts to explore the possibility of the use of corpus tools in literature classrooms. It involves the creation of a corpus of representative poetry of major English poets belonging to the Modern period of English literature, W. B. Yeats, T. S. Eliot, and W. H. Auden. Using concordance software AntConc, a corpus of Word Types and Word Tokens was prepared. The corpus data showed the most frequent words, collocations, and concordances used in the selected�poetry of the period. An attempt at juxtaposing the results of the study with the common thematic, narrative, and stylistic interpretations of the poems is made. The results also indicate the potential of enhancing the reliability of the corpus-based analysis of literary texts, especially when corpora were extensive. A significant implication of the study was found to be that the corpus-tools could play a crucial role in promoting learner autonomy in a traditionally teacher-led literature classroom. � 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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    The effect of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in L2 learning amongst engineering college students: An investigation
    (Boom Lemma Publishers, 2020) Saranraj, L; Zafar, Shahila
    The main objective of this study is to investigate the L2 learners intrinsic and extrinsic motivation amongst engineering college students in Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu. Through simple random sampling method, 150 respondents were randomly selected from various engineering colleges in the study area. The adopted and modified AMTB (Attitude / Motivation Test Battery) questionnaire has been used in this study. Results showed that the male respondents have strong motivation towards intrinsic (integrative) and extrinsic (instrumental) than female. - 2020, Boom Lemma Publishers. All rights reserved.
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    Extraversion- Introversion Tendencies and their Relationship with ESL Proficiency: A study of Chinese Students in Vellore, India
    (Pertanika, 2017) Zafar, Shahila; Khan, Z.A.; K, Meenakshi
    This study investigates the relationship between the personality traits of extraversion-introversion and English as a Second Language (ESL) proficiency among 145 undergraduate Chinese students at VIT University, Vellore, India. It is one of the few studies in the subject area that is conducted in Asia and focuses on Chinese students studying in India. The data were collected using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Student Information Questionnaire (SIQ) and scores from the English Bridge Course (EBC) for Chinese students. After analysing the data using correlation coefficient and ETA values, it was found that extraversion-introversion had a significant relationship with different language learning skills. Students who scored high on extraversion were likely to score better in speaking skills and reading skills, whereas introverts tended to perform better in listening skills. Writing skills did not correlate strongly with either of the personality traits. While the results refute the claim that ESL academic superiority rests solely with extraverts, as proven by the higher listening scores of introverts than their extraverted counterparts, they also refute the conclusions drawn by psychologists and support the applied linguists' argument that extraversion is a positive trait for language learning. The paper concludes by suggesting that ESL instructors modify their teaching strategies, keeping in mind the various strengths of extraverted and introverted learners. ? 2017 Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.
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    A Feminist Approach to the Study of Sex Trafficking and Prostitution in Allison Hobbs’s Stealing Candy
    (2018) Garg, Geetika; Zafar, Shahila
    The present study focuses on the implementation of feminist theory to the issueof sextrafficking and prostitution throughan analysis of Allison Hobbs’snovelStealing Candy. Sex trafficking and prostitution are not synonyms,but both are interrelated. Sex trafficking and prostitution are presentedinthe novel throughthree teenage girlsfrom differentbackgroundsare abducted and are emotionally manipulated andbrainwashedinto accepting sexual enslavementas their hopeless plight in life.Various feminists discussed and are still discussing issues of sex trafficking and prostitution in their works and try to constructing some solutions to this crime.But some feminists are in favor of prostitution as a sex work. So,this papershows the journeyof teenage girls from normal life to prostituted lifeand how feminism reactsto sex trafficking.
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    Influence of Motivational Factor and Gender Differences on Learning English as a Second Language: A case of Engineering Students from Rural Background
    (Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 2016) Saranraj, L.; Khan, Zaved Ahmed; Zafar, Shahila
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    Influence of motivational factors and gender differences on learning english as a second language: A case of engineering students from rural background
    (Indian Society for Education and Environment, 2016) Saranraj, L.; Khan, Z.A.; Zafar, Shahila
    Objectives: This study investigates the role of motivational factors in second language learning and gender differences between integrative and instrumental orientation among engineering students. Methods/Statistical Analysis: An adopted AMTB (Attitude and Motivation Test Battery) was used to collect data from undergraduate engineering students in the study area. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's Alpha, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation coefficient. Findings: The results revealed strong positive correlation observed between desire to learn English and attitude towards learning English. A moderate correlation was found between attitude towards learning English and motivational intensity. Similarly,strong positive correlation was found between integrative and instrumental orientation among male students when compared to female. Applications/Improvements: The teacher must boost their learners' interest and create awareness about the importance of studying English both for intrinsic and instrumental reasons. Similarly, language instructors could change their teaching method according to the learners' interest.
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    The Institution of Marriage as a Framework of Power and Relationships: A Study of Wedding Album by Girish Karnad and Halfway House by Mohan Rakesh
    (Central University of Punjab, 2018) Rupal; Zafar, Shahila
    The present study aims to explore the role of the social institution of marriage as the framework of power and relationships. The study attempts to analyze various perspectives on marriage with reference to the play Wedding Album by Girish Karnad. It seeks to endeavor various ups and down in the marital life, family facades and the distorted web of relationship in light of the play, Halfway House by Mohan Rakesh. The current study aims to bring the two plays together on the same platform through the medium known as Marriage. It acts as the catalytic agent which is dully subdued in both the plays. Halfway House can be the extension of the play Wedding Album as both the plays deals with basic fundamental theme of Marriage.
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    Language and Power: A Foucauldian Reading of Lois Lowry’s The Giver
    (Barloni Books, 2018) Lone, Sartaj Ahmad; Zafar, Shahila
    Lois Lowry’s The Giver (1992) delineates a nightmarish utilitarian state where human beings are produced through artificial insemination for the optimal service of the state. The current paper explores how reality is constructed by power through operationalization of discourse. The Giver depicts a totalitarian state that not only contrives a systematic way of controlling the minds of its subjects but also their milieu. The regime employs genetic engineering and linguistic manipulation to keep its citizens controlled, collectivized and contented in an unusual way. The government controls the weather and topography to introduce the Concept of Sameness in the state. The totalitarian regime either erases certain words from its social fabric or transmutes them into certain bizarre concepts that are thought to be diseases which need medication. In addition, the paper also asserts that in the novel language acts as a double-edged sword that acts as oppressive as well as liberative weapon depending upon its usage.
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    Manipulation of Mechanisms of Surveilance and Control: A Critical Analysis of Veronica Ruth's Diverget Trilogy
    (Sou. Bhagyashri Ramesh Chougule, 2019) Lone, Sartaj Ahmad; Zafar, Shahila
    Veronica Roth's Divergent trilogy depicts a society where surreptitious surveillance is deeply embedded in its social structure. The current paper explores how totalitarian regime employs surveillance and ideology in tandem for the suppression and subjugations of its subjects. Michael Foucault's concept of Panopticon is used as a lens to unravel how surveillance is employed as a powerful tool for the control and containment of people. Foucault illustrates how Panopticon is used to exercise power on a human body to cultivate discipline and docility among inmates on a microscopic level. However, the study analyses how the totalitarian regime in Divergent trilogy uses the Foucauldian concept of Panopticon on the macroscopic level for the mass incarceration of the general public. In addition, the paper asserts that the present world has become a gigantic panoptic world where escape seems impossible.
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    Representation of Regionalism in TranslatedTexts of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's Patthumma's Goat and OV Vijayan's The Legend of Khasak
    (Central University of Punjab, 2018) Pk, Fameel; Zafar, Shahila
    The present study deals with therepresentation of regionalism in the translated Texts of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's Novel Patthumma's Goat and OV Vijayan'sThe Legend of Khasak.This study focuses on how regionalism creates a unique and special literature.Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and O V Vijayan give to reader to go deep into different experience throughout the novel. This study focuses on into different features distinguishing the life, social relations, customs, language, dialect, or other aspects of the culture of that area and its people.it also analyse compare and contrast two different regional novels to analyse the different forms of representation. To evaluate the contribution of regional literature for the mainstream literature,.is one of the main purposes of this study.