Pakistan Languages and Humanities Review

Blurring Boundaries: The Use of Free Indirect Discourse in Contemporary Pakistani Novels

Muhammad Ajmal — 2025-07-01

The objective of this research is to investigate free indirect discourse (FID) in contemporary Pakistani novels written in English, analyzing how these blends the narrator with each character’s thoughts. The selected novels are Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie, The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid and Cracking India by Bapsi Sidhwa. The research is supported by using Dorrit Cohn’s (1978) elaboration of different narrative modes and Banfield’s (1982) interpretation of FID within a narratology and stylistics model. The analysis reveals how personal and political tensions are expressed with the help of FID. This narrative mode not only deepens psychological realism but also constructs an ambivalent space where personal and collective histories intersect. Through close readings and comparative analysis, the research reveals how FID contributes to the evolution of the Pakistani English novel as a site of aesthetic innovation and socio-political engagement.

Structural Patterns and Communicative Functions in Goodbye Mr. Chips: A Genre-Based Analysis

Mussarat Aashiq — 2025-07-02

This study analyzes the structural patterns and communicative functions in Goodbye Mr. Chips by James Hilton, a prescribed text in English (Book 3) in government colleges in Punjab, Pakistan, using White and Makki’s (2016) framework. Academic textbooks play an important role in student success, necessitating careful linguistic selection to engage readers. Employing a qualitative approach, the study examines how structural elements contribute to character development, plot progression, and thematic exploration. Findings reveal that specific narrative patterns enhance communicative effectiveness, offering pedagogical insights for literature instruction. The study recommends further genre-based analyses of academic texts and suggests integrating structural analysis into teaching methodologies to improve students' critical reading skills. Curriculum designers may also benefit from these findings when selecting literary texts for English courses.

Traumas leading to Dilemmas: A Feminine Psychological Analysis of Alex Michaelides’ The Silent Patient

Bismia Fatima — 2025-07-05

The study is a complex examination of marital conflicts in Alex Michaelides’ The Silent Patient (2019), based on Karen Horney’s theory of Feminine Psychology as the framework guide. The psychological traumas of Alicia Berenson, the novel’s female protagonist, are central in decoding the intricacies of her broken marriage. A qualitative method and descriptive approach has been adopted to analyze the traumatic occurrences that cause the breakdown of the marriage and the resulting consequences. Through close reading of the narrative with reference to Horney’s theory that counters classical Freudian views on women's psychology, the study enlightens on the deep impacts of gender stereotypes and objectification in society. The study investigates how Alicia Berenson adapts to the outcome of her failed marriage, gaining insight into her personal journey of rebuilding and resilience. Female psyche, marriage dynamics, and societal influences on women’s roles in relationships can be better understood through such researches

Under the Skin: Disability, Trauma, and Marginalized Psyche Divulged in The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie

Qasim Ali Kharal — 2025-07-07

The present study aims to explore the intertwined theoretical perspectives of psychological trauma, disability, and social marginalization in Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap (2021). It argues that the play’s structured plot and complex characterization, particularly of Christopher Wren and Miss Case Well, reveal deeply embedded portrayals of marginalized pMarginalized Psychesyches shaped by personal and collective trauma. Engaging an argumentative approach grounded in Cathy Caruth’s trauma theory and modern disability studies, the research inspects repressed narratives of abuse, mental health, and institutional violence. The findings suggest that The Mousetrap transcends its genre as a murder mystery by metaphorically staging a site of psychological containment and confrontation. The study commends a critical reconsideration of the play as a nuanced interpretation on alteration, urging readers and scholars to move beyond traditional readings centered on entertainment or deception

Transnational Labour Vulnerability and Shared Precarity in the Neoliberal World Order: A Neo-Marxist Study of Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West

Ayaz Muhammad Shah — 2025-07-09

This paper aims to critically examine the global condition of working class under neoliberal capitalism as represented in Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West, contending that economic precarity and systemic vulnerability are transnational phenomena impacting workers across both the Global South and Global North. Neoliberalism—an advanced stage of capitalism— dismantles the welfare infrastructures, thereby intensifying labour insecurity and marginalisation. Engaging with contemporary neo-Marxist and leftist theorists such as David Harvey, Werlhof, and Rajesh Makwana, the study interrogates how neoliberal regimes facilitate upward wealth redistribution while undermining collective protections. Through close textual analysis, the novel is shown to destabilise the dominant narrative that migration to the West guarantees economic opportunity, exposing instead the transnational reach of neoliberal disposability. By situating Exit West within the framework of Anglophone Pakistani resistance literature, the research foregrounds the novel’s critical intervention into global labour politics and its call for post-neoliberal solidarities transcending national and economic boundaries.

Psychological Wellbeing, Life Satisfaction and Hopelessness in Delayed Marriages

Ajwa Arooj — 2025-07-10

Delayed marriage is increasingly common in Pakistan, particularly among urban and educated populations, yet its mental health consequences remain underexplored. In a society where marital status is socially significant, postponement of marriage can induce emotional distress, stigma, and reduce life satisfaction. This research explores how gender and voluntariness affect psychological responses to delayed marriage. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with 210 participants (105 men and 105 women) using purposive sampling. Data was collected through standardized tools: Ryff’s 18-item Psychological Well-Being Scale, the 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the 7-item Beck Hopelessness Scale. Statistical analysis included correlation, regression, and independent t-tests using SPSS v23. Findings revealed that psychological well-being positively predicted life satisfaction and negatively predicted hopelessness. Females and those who voluntarily delayed marriage reported significantly higher psychological well-being and life satisfaction, and lower hopelessness. Mental health awareness programs, culturally sensitive counseling services, and public education campaigns are needed to support individuals facing societal pressures due to delayed marriage.

An Insight Into Palestine Politics: Edward Said Vs. Yasser Arafat

Muhammad Ilyas — 2025-07-11

The objective of the study is to critically review the ideological perspective by Edward Said concerning the Yasser Arafat leadership in the 1970s 1990s. Yasser Arafat has been known globally as a major player in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, whereas Edward Said despite his international stature most times criticized the policies of Yasser Arafat. Said is seen as the supporter of resistance movement and secular ideals of democracy whose partial contradictory stand offers a multidimensional ideological stance that has to be examined more properly. The qualitative approach utilized and a critical discourse analysis is carried out on the published text of Edward Said, language, tone, and strategic rhetoric of such an analysis on Arafat is considered. The results highlight that Said was inconsistent in his arguments, so that his critiques, although based on the intellectual truths, could have interfered with the Palestinian political unity when it was needed the most.

Exploring the Causes of Language Anxiety in English Speaking Classrooms: A Qualitative Case Study

Farah Naz Abbasi — 2025-07-13

This research, with implications for language learning, aims to explore the Causes of language anxiety among English-speaking students at Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur Mirs, Sindh, Pakistan. This study used a qualitative method and was based on a case study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 15 students. According to the study's findings, the primary elements associated with the high degree of anxiety among English language learners in a particular environment include communicative apprehension, fear of negative evaluation, test anxiety, fear of forgetting vocabulary, and fear of the opposite gender. Furthermore, according to the study, students who report having higher levels of anxiety related to foreign language anxiety have a poor opinion of themselves and their capacity to communicate in English in front of others, such as their teachers and classmates.

Applied Linguistics: CLIL and Language Learning Outcome in ESL Learners

Maryam Munir — 2025-07-14

The motive of this research is to dig deep down into CLIL and different techniques to incorporate in it. The term was first coined in 1994, yet there is still a lack of its implementation in Asian Educational Context .CLIL is a teaching prospective that unites teaching of Language and Content. A mixed method approach was followed and a sample size of 36 students was selected through stratified random sampling and data was analyzed through paired sample T-tests and classroom observation through thematic analysis. The result approved that CLIL is a contemporary way of teaching English Language. It is recommended that for effective incorporation of CLIL teacher’s training is a must and the use of resource materials which integrate Content and Language for better learning outcome. Different levels of competence (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening) must also be explored with regards to CLIL.

Rewriting Culture and Womanhood: A Postcolonial Feminist Study of Ice Candy Man and Burnt Shadows

Shamsa Faiz — 2025-07-14

The objective of this study is to make a comparative postcolonial feminist reading of Ice-Candy-Man (1988) by Bapsi Sidhwa and Burnt Shadows (2009) by Kamila Shamsie with respect to the manner in which Pakistani culture is represented. The research is defined within themes of gender, trauma, and cultural displacement within the understanding of postcolonialism. Sidhwa and Shamsie present the socio-political breaks of Partition, migration, and war through what is central to the female experience. Their writings challenge and re-define conservative gender roles and identity in postcolonial context. Close reading approach was chosen to critically review the selected passages in the two novels. The textual meaning was informed with the postcolonial feminist theory. The results show that both writers portray women as strong individuals struggling with hybrid identities molded out of colonial history. Sidhwa gives pride of place to indigenous culture whereas Shamsie renders transnational trauma and perseverance.

Echoes of a Warming World: An Ecolinguistics Lens on Salience and Conviction in Global Climate Change Discourse at COP28

Abdul Moiz Khan — 2025-07-15

The current research study delineates the concepts of Conviction and Salience with reference to CoP28, through the selected speeches. In the present era, one of the pressing global issues is climate change, which calls for world leaders to act immediately. So, developing the understanding of the power of language is inevitable in this regard. Therefore, this research study employs a qualitative methodology to unearth these concepts and achieve their objectives. The study examines how speakers emphasize important climate issues, arouse moral and emotional responsibility, and use persuasive language features like modal auxiliaries, personal pronouns, and hopeful framing to encourage international collaboration. The findings show that while emphasis on climate finance, the transition from fossil fuels, and sustainability promotes salience, emotional and moral appeals, inclusive language, and urgency signals strengthen conviction. Hence, to encourage climate action through emotionally and morally compelling messaging, policymakers should take advantage of language's persuasive power.

Effect of School Culture on Teachers’ Burnout and Job Performance at Elementary Level

Maryum Zulqarnain — 2025-07-17

This study aimed to explore the effect of school culture on teacher’s burnout and their job performance at the elementary school level in Lahore district using a causal-comparative design. The environment of an organization has a significant role in shaping the psychological well-being and performance of teachers. School culture is a major factor in improving teacher’s attitude, reducing the burnout rate, and enhancing their professional outcomes. However, limited research exits within the context of Pakistan, particularly at elementary level. The current quantitative study employed a causal-comparative design. Data were collected from 156 teachers serving at elementary school level using closed-ended questionnaires. The tool measured school culture, teacher’s burnout, and their job performance. In the study, convenience sampling strategy was used, and data were analyzed using SPSS, applying regression analysis and correlation coefficient to test hypothesis. Results showed that school culture significantly reduced teacher burnout and positively affected management skills and interpersonal relations of teachers. While no significant impact was found on their teaching skills or the overall job performance. The pearson correlation showed a negative association with discipline and regularity. In order to reduce burnout and strengthen performance, school leaders should foster inclusive, collaborative cultures. Further research should explore qualitative dimensions.

Relationship among Higher Education Students’ Research Attitudes, Anxiety, and Self-Efficacy

Nimra Amjad — 2025-07-18

The study deals with the relationship that exists between research attitude and research anxiety and research self-efficacy among undergraduate students in Lahore studying in both the public and private universities. The researchers used a survey design approach. Simple random selection together with convenience sampling was used for selecting the 500 participants. Three scales were used for the study. Reliability was ensured through pilot testing whereas validity through subject experts. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was applied for analysis. Findings revealed that research attitude along with research anxiety and research self-efficacy had shown positive relations. Research self-efficacy showed moderate and significant positive relationship with research attitude. It is recommended that the workshops and seminars should be planned not only to share the value and significance of research but also to give practical training and students an opportunity to feel successful in using research in current activities.

A Corpus-Based Multidimensional Analysis of Pakistan’s Diplomatic Discourse on the Belt and Road Initiative

Syedah Nobia Zehra — 2025-07-21

The present study examines the linguistic characteristics of diplomatic discourse pertaining to BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) and the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) within Pakistani diplomacy. Seeking to inquire into linguistic patterns as well as communicative functions embedded in the selected diplomatic discourses, the study is underpinned by the analytical lens of Biber’s (1988) multidimensional framework. Its aim is to investigate these discourses using a self-compiled specialized corpus made up of press releases issued by the MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan) from 2013 to 2023. The findings reveal that the selected texts tended to be formal, abstract, informationally dense, impersonal, non-narrative and strategically persuasive. Such characteristics reflect the communicative objectives of diplomatic discourses which lay emphasis on clear, strategically intentional and positively representative communication, carefully designed to promote bilateral cooperation with China and to foster optimism regarding BRI and CPEC. Further, these discourses reflect Pakistan’s steadfastness in completing and advancing CPEC on time. At a broader level, the study highlights the need to probe diplomatic discourses so as to map the underlying functions and strategic deployment of language in international relations.

The Role of Family in Career Development of Secondary Schools' Students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanThe study aimed to investigate the role of family in career development of secondary schools’ students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Study’s objectiv

Alam Zeb — 2025-07-25

The study aimed to investigate the role of family in career development of secondary schools’ students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Study’s objectives were to find out the role of family in career development of students at secondary level. Its population was 30439 students. Its sample 380 was selected with selected with simple random sampling. A questionnaire was developed, validated and pilot tested for collecting data. Data were gathered with self-administered questionnaires and analyzed with using mean scores, standard deviations and chi-square test. The study found significant effect of family on students’ career development at secondary level. Families selected their subjects for study, informed them about careers, supported financially and assist them through coaching academies. The study recommended availability of career guidance facilities in schools. Additionally, family and school may collaborate for effective career development of students.

Digital Feedback Modalities: Real-Time vs. Delayed Feedback in ESL Reading Platforms

Rashid Hussain Abbasi — 2025-07-26

Although digital feedback tools are widely used in ESL, little has been investigated about the comparative effectiveness of real-time automated feedback to delayed teacher-mediated feedback on reading comprehension and motivation according to learners. However, the gamified platforms (e.g., Kahoot!, Duolingo) focus on prompt feedback, whereas conventional pedagogies stress delayed, instructor-mediated feedback. The existence of this gap requires empirical research to maximise feedback design to suit the different needs of learners. The proposed study fills one of the existing gaps in the field of ESL pedagogy, as it assesses the effects of the timing of feedback on cognitive and affective results. It is based on self-determination theory (SDT) and flow theory, which provide theoretical points of view on the relationship between feedback modality, learner autonomy, andement. In practice, it has the potential to assist the teacher and the makers of the platform in adjusting the feedback processes to their levels of proficiency. A mixed-method sequential design was used. Using a quantitative design, 300 ESL learners (who were stratified according to their proficiency level A2, B1, or B2) were randomly allocated to groups using a real-time (n=150) or delayed feedback (n=150). Understanding improvement was assessed using pre-/post-tests, and motivation was tracked using Likert-scale surveys. Qualitatively, thematic analysis of interviews (n=30) was conducted to inform opinions of learners, which was corroborated using Cohen's kappa (n=30: k=0.82) and sentiment analysis (Python: NLTK).

Eco-Syntax Analysis of Jameel Akhtar’s Short Story “ٹوٹی ہوئی سڑک”

Naila Shaikh — 2025-07-28

This study examined the eco-syntax structures of the short story “ٹوٹی ہوئی سڑک” written by Muhammad Jameel Akhtar. In the examination of this short study, the eco-syntax structures were analyzed by using Labov’s model presented in 1972 on Natural Narratives. The narrative structures and the techniques used in the language highlighted the inherent connection between the natural environment and the characters of the story. It focused on the six elements of Labov’s model Abstract, Orientation, Complication, Evaluation, Resolution, and Coda where their eco-syntax structures were analyzed. The application of Labov’s model to written narratives brings out the cognitive-linguistic functioning into the act that helps to understand the impact of one action on others. The results of this study revealed how literary text's understanding was enhanced through the narratives and the connection of humans with the natural world.

A Discourse Analysis of Humour & Incongruity in Chinua Achebe’s “A Man of the People”

Qaisar Sharif — 2025-07-21

This paper analyzes how humor is constructed and functions thematically in “A Man of the People” by “Chinua Achebe”. Veatch states that two incongruous elements form humor, the first one is the violation of ‘subjective moral order’ and the other is socially normal. Considering Veatch’s principles about incongruity, several examples containing congruent and incongruent elements are foregrounded in this paper. Humor as well as its attachment and detachment with somebody or something, characters’ attitude, and the conditions in which humorous make-up is established along with others, is to be explained. The study finds that humor based on incongruity increases reader engagement while highlighting broader societal faults. Future research should look at comparative humorous methods in African postcolonial literature to better understand the role of humor in sociopolitical commentary.

Gender Differences in English Vowel Production by Pashto Speakers

Sawera Biland — 2025-07-29

This study explores gender-based differences in the production of six English vowels—/iː/, /ɪ/, /æ/, /ɑː/, /ʌ/, and /uː/—by native Pashto speakers. It aims to analyze the acoustic characteristics of these vowels and assess whether typical vowel contrasts are distinctly produced. Recognizing the phonological differences between Pashto and English, and physiological gender-based speech variations, this research applies a quantitative approach to assess vowel production patterns. Ten undergraduate students from the University of Buner uttered a minimal pair word list three times. Their utterances were recorded and analyzed using Praat software, focusing on vowel duration and the first two formants (F1 and F2). Quantitative data analysis revealed that male speakers produced longer vowels with lower formants, while female speakers showed shorter durations and higher F1 and F2 values. Despite these differences, both groups maintained clear vowel distinctions. It is recommended to examine the pronunciation of English diphthongs by Pashto speakers in order to identify and analyze the specific challenges they encounter.

A Study of Problematic Areas of English Collocations at Higher Secondary Level in Pakistani ESL Learners

Nadia Abdul Ghani — 2025-07-30

Collocations are a significant challenge in Pakistani L2 acquisition due to grammar focus, and limited lexical knowledge. The objectives of this descriptive quantitative study were to find out the problematic areas of English lexical Collocations among the Pakistani students of Higher Secondary level. This study investigated the role of the mother tongue in lexical collocations errors and the role of Collocations in second language learning with the framework of Benson, Benson, and Illson (1997). The data was collected through a multiple-choice questionnaire of English collocations with 600 randomly sampled (300 male/300 female) students of 6 Lahore government colleges. Findings showed that Collocations are problematic (Adj+N, 62.4%, V+N, 58.2%, Adv+Adj, 43.64%, N+N, 40.9%) due to interference of mother language and limited knowledge. This study suggests the solution as early material introduction, comprehensive collocation knowledge with updated teaching methods. Other researchers can include teachers’ survey with different educational levels and approaches.

A Psychosemiotic Analysis of Moral Dualities in Ice-Candy Man and Train to Pakistan

Maleeha Zahid — 2025-07-31

This paper addresses the issue of characters’ perception and their behavior that disrupted during the course of partition grounded on religious affiliations. This paper explores that how characters psychologically undergo significant transformations under the pressure of religious affiliations during Partition. Prior to partition, Hindu-Muslim was living harmoniously because of shared social fabric and culture but after partition their unity turned into animosity and created rift among them. This paper investigates how the moral binaries of good and evil are constructed, deconstructed, and psychologically internalized in Ice-Candy Man and Train to Pakistan through a psychosemiotic lens. This paper will qualitatively analyze the signs and symbols that are present in the two novels by applying Charles S. Peirce's theory of emotion. Drawing on Charles S. Peirce’s theory of signs and Lacan’s concept of the "uncanny," the paper examines how semiotic representations in the two novels reflect the evolving psychological states of the characters. Moreover, this paper concludes that perception of people changes due to changing social, biological, and psychological factors during the course of Partition. Religious extremism, fanaticism, and revenge are the factors behind this change in perception. This paper recommends that future research can be conducted where psychosomatic can be applied to various trauma or partition novels by incorporating psychology, history and literature to create a holistic approach towards research.