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Item Cmc grammar(UMT Lahore, 2013) Amnah MogheesComputer Mediated Communication (CMC) is proliferating like anything in our lives. Communication theorists have been exploring its various dimensions; however CMC grammar appears to be a less attempted area. The conception of CMC gi'ammar seems to be an emerging phenomenon in mediated-communication. To explore this phenomenon the present study sets out to investigate its form and function. Including this the study explores how far the participants can exchange interpersonal meanings via mediated-commimication. A sample of 50 BS students was chosen to address the underlying research questions. The study benchmaiked Sinclair and Coulhard (1975) discourse analysis procedure to address communicative success of their communication on Facebook. The data was mainly on linguistic postings of the participants. To avoid the superficiality the study was backed by imperial findings and factual detail. The study reveals that English Grammar is subject to reduction and simplification in mediatedcommunication. The elements of reduction and simplification can be characterised by subject omission, copula deletion and absence of auxiliaries in progressive and interrogative environment. These features are so widespread that they are increasingly getting stable and of course intelligible across the board. The study speculates that ever increasing proliferation of these features justify a new grammar which is the central investigation of this study.Item Critical discourse analysis(UMT Lahore, 2013) UMARA SHAHEENThe current study presents the critical discourse analysis of real estate print advertisements to examine and report the discursive and social practices exercised by the recipients and the producers of real estate advertisements (confined to the sale & purchase of small houses only) in Pakistani sociocultural context. The fiamework applied for the analysis of eighteen Pakistani real estate advertisements is that of Fairelough's (1989) which is integrated with Halliday's {\9'i5) Systemic Functional Grammar, Schrank's (1974) Language of Advertising Claims and Kress and van Leeuwen's (1996) Grammar of Visual Design to ensure theoretical triangulation. The manipulative moves of real estate companies arc unveiled by analysing data gathered from ditterent sources (questionnaire based on close ended and open ended questions, interviews and the text of eighteen print ads) with the application of mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) approach to ensure methodological triangulation. The findings reveal that all three income groups (Upper-middle class, middle-middle class & lower- middle class) do not significantly di*^"'' . as regards their perception of the real estate ads. However, the lower-middle, middle-middle classes are more attracted towards the real estate ads as compared to the upper middle class. The study also points out that the main focus of the most of the real estate companies is upper-middle class- the one which could noi afford posh an-as like Defence. The role of coloured images and code-mixing in capturing the customer's attention, thereby revealing the discursive practices, has also been discussed. The current study has followed the theoretical perspectives such as multi model discourse analysis and applied linguistics, thereby highlighting this important issue through the critical discourse analysis of real estate print advertisements.Item Effectiveness of online teaching of english language skills at graduate level(UMT Lahore, 2013) AFSHAN ASGHARThe present study is an attempt to fulfill three main objectives: (i) compare the effectiveness of online vs. conventional mode of teaching of English Language. (ii) determine the effect of online teaching of English Language skills in Pakistan with regards to reading and writing skills. (iii) observe the perceptions of students’ learning in virtual and conventional mode. It has been observed that online mentoring, though recent phenomenon, has planted its roots firmly in the education sector; however, the traditional mode of learning has managed to retain its position despite the convenience of the former mode. In this context it is hypothesized that online teaching of English Language Skills at Graduate level is more effective as compared to conventional mode. The population is Graduate students of Virtual and Conventional mode. Sample size comprises 100 subjects from both the modes. Data is collected from a random sample of students covering gender, age, residence and academic background. Experimental research design is used to evaluate the English Language skills (Reading and Writing) of the students along with Questionnaire to further assess students’ performance and perceptions. Pre-test and post-test results from Virtual and Conventional modes are compared. The Results show that students from Conventional mode have better grammar, writing skills and professional efficacy; whereas students from Virtual mode have better listening, speaking and reading skills. This indicates that both modes of instruction hold an advantage over the other in certain aspects. There is significant difference in the Reading skills of students between the virtual and conventional mode. According to the results, virtual mode students have better Reading skills. However, no significant difference is found between the virtual and conventional mode regarding the Writing skills of the students.Item Stereotypes about english as second language(UMT Lahore, 2013) Atiqa IftikharThis research work has been undertaken to assess the stereotypes about English as second language. The relation between stereotypes about English and adherence of students towards the stereotypes is explored. To take it a step further, it is examined that whether there is any relation between age, gender of students and the stereotypes about English as second language. Quantitative analysis of the topic under study involves a comprehensive questionnaire which was formulated to study the prevalence of stereotypes about English in a rational way. Given the popularity of English in the world in general and in Pakistan in particular, this research work aims at exploring that to what extent the young generation (students) is engraved with the concept of acquiring English language. The concept of English has become a metaphor for success and prosperity. This research work identifies various aspects of the stereotypes by breaking the large concept of “dominance of English” into small units so that they are identifiable and measureable as well. This research work enables to enlighten three important factors as stereotypes. These factors are English accent, code mixing, and image of target English population. The extension of scope to see how stereotypes affect age and gender of students thereby illuminates a certain pattern existent in our societal education system, along with recommendations for future research.Item Syllable structuring of urdu(UMT Lahore, 2013) Mazhar IqbalThe aim of this study is to explore the topic and find the consonant clusters occurring in the onset and coda positions and enlist the phonotactic constraints imposed by Urdu language, and also see the stability of these clusters. For this purpose, Urdu dictionary Feroz ul lughaat was consulted and all the word having “CC” clusters in either side were enlisted, and to check the stability of these clusters, some selected words were given to speakers belonging to different fields of life. Each language has its set of rules to follow and also constrains some sounds. Some consonant cluster combinations are allowed and some are not. One of the aims of this research is to study such constraints. Urdu has 4 heavy syllables or bi-moraic (CVC, CVV, VC, VV) and 5 super-heavy syllables (CVCC, CVVC, CVVCC, VCC, VVC), “C” denotes consonant, “V” light vowel, “VV” long vowel and “CC” denotes consonant cluster. In Urdu, “CC” is not allowed in the onset position. It only occurs in the coda position. Usually the speakers of Urdu language find difficult in pronouncing “CC” cluster. They break it by inserting epenthsis “ǝ” among these consonants. For example the template structure of an Urdu word [ʔǝql] (wisdom) is CVCC. Some speakers pronounce it as [ʔǝqǝl] and break the template CVCC into CVCVC. This study consists of five chapters. The first chapter deals with the general introduction to the whole study. Research questions, objectives of the study and brief introduction to research methodology have also been given in this chapter. Second chapter has review of all the major work done in the field of Urdu phonology. It also discusses different principles and theories of syllabification. Third chapter deals with methodology and research design adopted for collecting data and instrument used. This chapter also tells how two sets of data were organized. Chapter four has analysis and interpretation of the data. This chapter consists of the results of two sets of data. The first part shows the results of the study of one of the Urdu dictionaries Feroz ul lughaat and collection of all words having “CC” clusters. All frequencies of these clusters have also been given against each cluster in respective columns. These frequencies have also been shown through bar graphs. The second part has the theoretical aspects of the study. The results of recorded data and reports using SPSS have also been included in this chapter. Chapter five throws light on the results, findings and limitations. In the end, Conclusion sums up all the study and its results.Item Urdu language and the issue of regional and national identities(UMT Lahore, 2013) Rukhsana AnjumThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the issues relating to the survival of regional languages in the face of multilingualism, globalization and the ever increasing use of Urdu and English language, It also aims to determine factors due to which Pakistanis could not achieve their national identity on the basis of Urdu as national language; instead English took the place of national language which exercised adverse impact not only on Urdu, but also on the regional languages and culture equally. Data is collected through questionnaire, group interviews and by document analysis and is analyzed by using qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques. The plan includes unfolding power politics on the basis of language resulting in elimination of regional language and culture. The results show that modernization, globalization and lack of effective language policy planning and practice are the factors responsible for the loss of culture and regional varieties of language; and if timely steps are not taken we will be deprived of our cultural heritage.Item Critical discourse analysis(UMT Lahore, 2013) UMARA SHAHEENItem Grammatical gender assignment to english loanwords in urdu(UMT Lahore, 2012) Shahzad AhmadThis study investigates the phenomenon of gender assignment in Urdu with reference to borrowed English nouns which have become a part of the Urdu lexicon. These nominal referents are no longer foreign. They are frequently used in the Urdu language, and they behave the same way in the linguistic system of Urdu as the native words do. Urdu speakers assign gendered roles to these inanimate nouns which belong to neuter gender in English gender system and are referred to by anaphoric pronoun it. But in Urdu, the same nouns are assigned either masculine or feminine gender, as there are only two genders in Urdu: masculine and feminine. For a speaker of Urdu, bakery, diary, coffee, shirt, and car are feminine whereas clinic, bag, truck, juice, and pen are masculine. The present study is primarily based on a qualitative paradigm, supported by quantitative data as well. It encompasses comparative analysis of gender assignment systems across the two languages. There are three main criteria that prove to be very effective in the discussion: semantic gender assignment and formal gender assignment systems. Formal gender assignment systems further incorporate phonological and morphological systems Corbett (1999). English has tripartite, natural, semantic gender system, with no room for grammatical gender; whereas Urdu gender system is based on semantic, as well as grammatical gender. The study attempts to find the answers to questions, such as, how native speakers of Urdu assign gender to borrowed English nominal, inanimate referents, and also to what linguistic processes (semantic, phonological and morphological) are at work for such gender assignment in Urdu.