2025

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https://escholar.umt.edu.pk/handle/123456789/10154

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The unheard voice: the silencing and suppression of marginalized voices in Ahmed Ali's twilight in Delhi
(UMT. Lahore, 2025) Romaisa Fatima
This study, titled The Unheard Voice: The Silencing and Suppression of Marginalized Voices in Ahmed Ali's Twilight in Delhi, explores the intersection of colonialism and patriarchy within the novel, particularly how these forces contribute to the silencing and marginalization of the subaltern, especially women. The study was dedicated to epistemic violence, which can be characterized as the violence of denying knowledge and narrative erasure, meaning that the voices of the marginalized have been excluded from the narrative mechanisms. This study offers a critical analysis of how Ahmed Ali interprets the colonial suppression of knowledge, language, and history, as well as the consequent erasure of subaltern identities, particularly those of women and marginalized groups, which Ahmed Ali illustrates through postcolonial and feminist dialogues. In the study, it is clear that colonialism increases the oppression of women, keeping them under the control of men in a patriarchal society. Male characters often ignore the needs, feelings, and struggles of women, which reinforces their subordinate position and limits their freedom and voice. By conducting a close textual analysis, a comparative analysis, and applying Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), the paper will examine the perpetuation of power structures through language. It also discusses how the language used by Ahmed Ali exposes the presence of emotional work, victimization, and objectification of women portrayed in the novel, who have been reduced to mere spectators both within the family and society. The results of the present paper enrich the field of postcolonial feminism, as they offer more insight into the mutual impact of colonialism and patriarchy on the forms of identity and experience of women in Twilight in Delhi. The study provides an opportunity for further research into the interpretability of colonial oppression and gendered violence as two overlapping challenges within postcolonial texts.
The effect of text messaging on academic writing: students' perceptions and experiences
(UMT. Lahore, 2025) Nimra Arshad
The study’s scope is specifically to explain the perception of students about the impact of text messaging on their academic writing abilities. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative techniques, along with cross-sectional methodology, to achieve this. The research tool that was applied in the collection of data was an online questionnaire. The study’s target audience consisted of students from three Lahore institutions, while its sample consisted of both male and female graduate students. The random sampling technique was used, and the sample size was 200. An email and WhatsApp message was sent to them about the online questionnaire, which was used to gather the data. Out of the 250 that were mailed, 200 responses were received. The received data was analyzed using the Thematic analysis framework. The result provided in the current research showed that text messaging has an effect on their academic written process. The study also illuminated that through their attitudes they save time on it as provided by the participants of this study.
Water wars on threads: a sentiment analysis of public reactions to the Indus waters treaty suspension
(UMT. Lahore, 2025) Malaika Shoaib
The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in April 2025 has intensified political tensions between India and Pakistan, sparking widespread debate and public concern. While the treaty has long been studied in legal, hydrological, and diplomatic contexts, limited research exists on how ordinary citizens respond to such developments in digital spaces. Grounded in Media Framing Theory and Public Sphere Theory, this study examines public reactions to the suspension of IWT on the emerging social media platform, Threads. Using a qualitative research design, 80 English-language posts were purposively sampled and analyzed through thematic and sentiment analysis. The findings reveal that the suspension was not perceived as a technical or legal matter alone, but rather as a political, existential, and moral crisis. Thematic patterns indicated discourses of existential threat, political blame, militarisation, nationalism, economic vulnerability, humanitarian appeals, and global spillovers. Sentiment analysis further showed that most posts expressed negative attitudes, highlighting fear of water scarcity, food insecurity, and distrust in political leadership, though some voices emphasized dialogue, cooperation, and human rights. These findings demonstrate the highly polarized and emotionally charged nature of digital discourse, reflecting both securitized narratives and alternative visions of peace and collaboration. The study concludes that online public opinions represents a critical dimension of hydro-politics, as digital platforms like Threads shape and reflect societal perceptions of transboundary water conflicts.
Constructive approach to inflectional processes in English and Turkish language
(UMT.Lahore, 2025) Khadija Bint Suhail
This study focuses at contrasting and comparative analysis of inflectional morphological cases in the English and Turkish languages to discover the similarities and differences in both languages. The research will examine the patterns and principles that regulate word construction in both languages through the lens of constructive morphology in inflectional processes. The study looks into the concepts of inflection (changing existing word forms) and deals with 6 cases of inflections in English and Turkish language and explore the comparison of inflectional morphemes in these two languages. The study provides vital insights into the structure and complexity of the Turkish language by comparing these processes in English and Turkish. The research is descriptive, comparative and exploratory in nature, employing qualitative methodology. The theoretical framework of this research is based on constructive morphology. The findings enable to improve understanding of morphological characteristics in Turkish and English, as well as knowledge of inflection in both languages.
A corpus based research on lexico- semantic borrowing in Pakistani English novel Salt and Saffron by Kamila Shamsie
(UMT.Lahore, 2025) MAHA RIAZ
This study investigates lexico semantic borrowing in Pakistani English novel Salt and Saffron by Kamila Shamsie. The study design is explanatory sequential and descriptive, it employs mixed method approach, combining quantitative frequency analysis and qualitative content analysis, the study examines the lexical borrowing patterns that includes frequency, grammaticalization, collocation, affixation, hybridization of the borrowed words and also how this lexico-semantic borrowing reflect local and cultural concepts. This is a corpus based study, Antconc is used both for quantitative and qualitative analysis. The borrowing theory and language contact theory is used as foundation for this research. As a sample a famous Pakistani English novel Salt and Saffron has been selected which is known for incorporating indigenous words, is analyzed using text analysis software. Focusing on the lexico-semantic borrowing the study aims to understand the influence of Urdu and other languages lexicons, their meanings in Pakistani English literature. The analysis reveals that the author had incorporated 147 Urdu and other languages borrowed words, from which the cultural and traditional words occurred frequently. The discussion emphasizes the lexical borrowing patterns, semantic domains and the role of borrowing in reflecting cultural and local concepts and the authenticity of Pakistani English literature. The findings demonstrate that these words are borrowed to fill lexical gaps and to maintain Pakistani cultural heritage, traditional richness, religious essence, local concepts and for linguistic enrichment. While the study acknowledges limitations in sample size and representativeness, it makes a pathway for future research directions for exploration. Overall, the study contributes to the understanding that lexico semantic borrowing functions as both a linguistic phenomenon and cultural necessity to maintain Pakistani traditions in English literary.
A corpus-based study of borrowed words in ice candy man by bapsi sidhwa
(UMT. Lahore, 2025) Elham Arfan
This study examines how lexical borrowing in the book Ice-Candy-Man by Bapsi Sidhwa is accomplished, involving the insertion of terms as they are used in South Asian culture into the English language, while maintaining their original cultural contexts. In postcolonial literature, lexical borrowing is a significant phenomenon that serves as a connecting point between diverse linguistic and cultural realities. With a focus on research into the Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi languages, which are South Asian languages, the study aims to understand how these languages are incorporated into English phrases without losing their cultural significance. Based on a mixed methods approach, the study has implemented both textual-based analysis and corpus-based analysis, utilizing the KWIC feature in AntConc software to determine the frequency, grammaticalization, and influence of borrowed words in the novel. In the study, culturally relevant borrowed words such as Biryani, paan, Sari, Charpoy, and dost have been identified and classified, examining how these words enhance the authenticity of the narrative and add cultural context to the text. The analysis provides the context in which these borrowed words interact with other words around them and their functions in influencing the culture and social profile of the narration. It also discusses the issue of grammatical accommodation, where words such as Biryani and Masala are pluralized, implying that they become part of the English grammatical system. Through an analysis of how cultural meanings are preserved and transformed through borrowed words, the study presents the ever-changing interaction between language and culture, as well as their representation in postcolonial texts. By collecting such data, this research contributed to a broader understanding of lexical borrowing as a cultural and linguistic feature in globalized literature.
Investigating the influence of mobile assisted language learning games like Duolingo on 6th grade ESL learner’s reading and comprehension skills
(UMT. Lahore, 2025) Noor e Habib
Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) often highlights the tension between traditional instruction and digital innovation as learners and educators negotiate the role of technology in language acquisition. Duolingo is a key example in this area, widely used for its gamified and interactive approach to learning. This study does not only measure the effectiveness of Duolingo in developing reading comprehension but also explores issues of motivation, engagement and learner perceptions during this shift toward digital learning. A quantitative methodology was adopted based on the theory of Connectivist learning to interpret the effects of Duolingo on 6th grade ESL students in Pakistan. The research examined comprehension gains and attitudes through a pre-test/post-test design with 12 participants, divided between an experimental group using Duolingo and a control group receiving traditional instruction. The results show that Duolingo learners achieved significantly higher improvement in comprehension (t(10) = 7.48, p < .001) and that positive attitudes strongly correlated with learning gains (r = 0.72, p = 0.05). The findings suggest that Duolingo illustrates how gamified, interactive design not only supports skill development but also fosters engagement and motivation in ESL classrooms. The study demonstrates that digital learning tools create a dynamic and hybrid educational space where traditional and modern methods intersect. Further research can compare Duolingo with other MALL platforms or investigate whether technology-driven reading instruction remains equally effective across different contexts. By doing so this study contributes to the interpretation of technological innovation as both a pedagogical aid and a cultural shift in language learning.
Semiotic analysis of hashtag in the light of Foucault theory of power: a cyber discourse analysis
(UMT. Lahore, 2025) Rubaha Akram
This study investigates the semiotic significance of hashtags within the framework of Michel Foucault’s theory of power, with a particular focus on their role in shaping digital discourse. Hashtags have evolved from simple categorization tools into powerful socio-technical symbols that influence visibility, participation, and control on social media platforms, especially Twitter. Using a qualitative–quantitative approach, this research collected responses from 70 university students through a structured questionnaire comprising 22 items. Descriptive and inferential analyses were applied to examine how users perceive the relationship between hashtags and power dynamics online. The findings reveal that hashtags simultaneously operate as mechanisms of empowerment and instruments of regulation: while they provide marginalized groups with opportunities for visibility and activism, they also normalize dominant narratives and enable subtle forms of surveillance. The results support Foucault’s notion that power is not centralized but dispersed, functioning through everyday discursive practices. This study contributes to existing scholarship by highlighting the dual role of hashtags as both tools of resistance and channels of control, thereby advancing our understanding of digital semiotics and contemporary power relations.
Lexical semantic approach to affixal polysemy in khowar language
(UMT.Lahore, 2025) JIA ALI
This research examines affixal polysemy in Khowar through a lexical semantic framework. Khowar is a Dardic language of northern Pakistan with a rich system of affixation in which numerous affixes have multiple related senses. Both derivational and inflectional affixes are examined to examine the extent to which context shapes semantic variation. Based on evidence from native speakers and written texts, the research draws on cognitive and lexical semantics principles to determine patterns of meaning extension. Findings indicate that Khowar affixal polysemy tends to stem from metaphorical and functional transfer, the result of more profound cognitive and structural mechanisms. This research adds to insights into how affixal meanings emerge and co-exist with syntax and semantics in poorly documented languages such as Khowar.
Analysis of Urdu borrowed words in Mohsin Hamid’s selected novels: influence of Urdu on Author’s writing style.
(UMT . Lahore, 2025) NAILA SALEEM
The research examines how Urdu borrowings impact the literary style of Mohsin Hamid by exploring their linguistic integration and narrative functions as well as their cultural significance. This study adopts corpus analysis to detect Urdu loanwords in Hamid's selected publications while studying frequency, collocation patterns, and contextual roles of borrowed words. Based on Fishman’s Domain Analysis framework (Fishman, 1972), the study classifies borrowings into three categories; kinship, clothing, and food related terminologies. A mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative discourse analysis with quantitative linguistic examination, reveals that these borrowings are not merely stylistic but serve as markers of identity, tradition, and sociopolitical context. The findings reveal that kinship terms have the highest frequency among the shortlisted borrowed words, indicating the centrality of familial relationships in Hamid’s narratives. The results suggest that Hamid purposefully includes Urdu words in his text to establish cultural accuracy along with ensuring accessibility for a global audience. This research contributes to the study of linguistic hybridity in South Asian Anglophone literature, highlighting how Urdu borrowings shape Hamid’s narrative style and cultural representation.

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