The Search for Identity in Online Chat

Nawal F. Abbas

University of Baghdad, Iraq

Rana H. Al-Bahrani

University of Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

Internet communication is one of the most important applications of the 21^st century. College students are among those who make use of this activity for both academic and personal interest. Students usually vary in their use, appreciation and response to this widely used activity. Accordingly, the present research paper aims at answering the following questions: to what extent college students use the instant-messaging system in initiating and developing personal and social communication? and to what extent the revealed identities are real or fake? If real, how many aspects of identity are real or fake? What is the purpose behind using fake identities? Are there any similarities and differences between gender-based identities? To what extent messages reflect the user's identity and gender? And what are the different ways of identity manifestations? To achieve the above aims, a questionnaire has been conducted on the students of Baghdad University to closely examine the relationship between online interaction and gender identities. The results showed that the highest percentage of students, 94%, agrees that chat is of great help in establishing and maintaining distant and local relationships. While the lowest percentage, 1.1%, goes with the proposition that chat is the most important application of the internet.

Keywords: Identity, hidden identity, gendered-based identities, self-disclosure, disguised chat

Uses of Humour in an English Language Class

Shumaila Abdullah

University of Baluchistan, Quetta, Pakistan

Javed Akhter

University of Balochistan Quetta Pakistan

 

 

Abstract

         

  Humour is peculiar to human beings and an essential characteristic of human life. When it is applied in English teaching, it enhances students’ learning ability. If the teachers start adding element of humour in their teaching method it could definitely improve students’ English learning ability. Therefore, humour is considered an important element to reduce the anxiety factor and boredom in an English language class. However, its uses make English language class more effective and interesting. It creates a learning environment in such a way in a language class that helps the students to perform even better. Mostly the teachers follow the same old traditional method of English teaching and avoid cracking jokes in the class in order to maintain discipline and class control. That is why students do not take much interest in their classes. However, the negative kind of humour such as to make fun of the students, to hit their families, sarcasm, hit ethnicity and insult should be avoided as it badly damages the students’ personality as well as it ruins the sacred environment and discipline of the class. The negative impact of humour makes the student offensive and can bring negative results in the classroom.

                           

Keywords:  Pedagogical Humour, Students’ Learning, Mimicry, Mockery

Médée d’Euripide et d’Anouilh

Ari Mohammed Abdulrahman

University of  Sulaimani, Iraq

Abstract

 The title of this research is ' Euripides and Anouilh’s Medea '. This research is a comparative study comparing the protagonist Medea in two literary works.The aim of the current research is to study the mythical character Medea in two different literary works; one by the Greek playwright Euripides and the other by the French author Jean Anouilh

 This research will pose a number of key questions and it will address the main topics discussed by the two authors. It will begin by examining the texts analyzing why Jean Anouilh chose mythology to show the reality of his society of the time. The research will explore how social and political conditions witnessed by the authors in their countries formed their political and philosophical thoughts and undoubtedly influenced their writing.

Medea is a drama of No and resistance. Euripides and Jean Anouilh have used this classic myth to address and focus on the various social and political issues that prevailed in society in their time. Anouilh’s Medea was written two years after Antigone and the same themes recur in Medea.

Keywords:   Medea, Happiness, Exile, Abnormality, Revenge, the other

Yoruba Traditional Education Philosophy in the Evolution of a ‘Total Man’

Ademakinwa Adebisi

University of Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria as a country is blessed with a large number of literate people: scientists, engineers and so on, yet the manpower needed to harness its enormous resources should be the natural outcome of its education system. The paper reassesses the notion which hinges African economic development on the achievements of its formal education system. The paper, due to this raises some questions among which are: is development best measured with the yardstick of high percentage of literate youths? Can we read economic achievements into the quantity of engineers, scientists and etc. that a nation is able to produce? What ethics predominates in the conglomeration of African elite to influence African development?

Materials are drawn from the rich stock of traditional Yoruba proverbs while two novels by Chinua Achebe’s: No Longer at Ease and T. A. Awoniyi’s Aiye kooto analyse the ingredients necessary for the creation of a ‘total man’. They also provide veritable socio-political backgrounds for an adequate comparison of the various concept of education churned up in the process.

It was established in this paper that traditional Yoruba concept of economic development   is at variance with the modern concepts since traditionally, Yoruba society placed high premium on human development as opposed to those we term ‘naira and kobo’ inherent in the modern concept of economic development. The paper symbolises the failure of the current education system by its products exemplified by the ill-trained and corrupt elite at the helms of affairs in the country. The paper reiterates how Nigerians can maintain a symbiotic African traditional education system and the modern formal one as one of the ways capable of guaranteeing the formation of a ‘total man’. The paper sees the ‘total man’ as the alternative to currently evolved individuals that are ill-trained ethically and mentally to fast-track the development of African continent on the social, political and economic fronts.

The importance of this paper rests on its interdisciplinary assessment and use of African cultural perspective, literature and myths to analyse the role of culture in African development.

Keywords: Total man, economic development, omoluwabi, education, training

Le Problème Sociolinguistique Dans La Traduction Française Des Romans De Fagunwa

Gbadegesin Olusegun Adegboye

Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Résumé

La situation sociale détermine souvent le choix des termes et la tournure de la voix au cours d’une conversation entre un locuteur et son interlocuteur. Puisque les comportements des personnes impliquées dans la conversation et les rapports d’agir entre eux varient d’une société à l’autre, nous disons que ce phénomène est un fait socio-culturel. La culture yorouba vouvoie pour l’effet du respect. Les Français font le même geste mais pour l’effet de la courtoisie. Les Yorouba toutoient normalement pour démontrer un statut distanciel entre le plus agé et le moins agé, entre le patron et le serviteur, entre le père ou la mère et l’enfant, etc. Pour les Francais, le toutoiement se fait non uniquement pour démontrer un statut distanciel mais aussi pour souligner un rapprochement intime entre eux. Ces différences constituent un souci pour le traducteur littéraire et voilà la préoccupation de cette communication.

Mots clés: sociolinguistique, la tonalité, le problème culturel