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GEO-TRAUMATIC SPACES: MAPPING POST CATASTROPHE PSYCHOGEOGRAPHY IN SHAMSIE'S BURNT SHADOWS AND TANWEER'S THE SCATTER HERE IS TOO GREAT Title: Geo-Traumatic Spaces: Mapping Post Catastrophe Psychogeography in Shamsie's Burnt Shadows and Tanweer's The Scatter Here is Too Great This research maps the psychogeographical changes that eventuate in the aftermath of a catastrophe as seen in Kamila Shamsie’s Burnt Shadows and Bilal Tanweer’s The Scatter Here is Too Great. Psychogeography expands our understanding of the bond linking psyche and space. The research adapts Catharina Löffler’s conceptualization of psychogeography as well as Rachel Pain’s theorization of geo-trauma to analyze how individuals’ perception of space changes after encounter with a life-altering catastrophe and how trauma manifests itself in places other than the site of the catastrophic event. Psychogeographic analysis of subject novels deepens our understanding of trauma linked to space. The scars left by violence run deep, not only are they visible in the streets and roads of urban spaces but in the psyches of traumatized individuals as well. The psychogeographical understanding of both novels suggests that psychology and geography have a complex relationship whereby the psychology of an individual is affected by the surrounding geography and vice versa. The characters of both novels under consideration bear the physical as well as psychological scars of geospatial destruction. Their trauma linked to the original site of catastrophe manifests itself in the site of ruin as well as spaces other than the site of ruin. This research provides an impetus for further understanding of psychogeography and its significance in trauma studies. The in-depth study of post catastrophe psychogeography allows for a deeper understanding of trauma, its relationship to geography and how it manifests itself it different spaces.
The Ecosophy of Beneficial Discourse: A Corpus- Assisted Analysis of selected Blogs on Environment This study investigates blogs related to environmental issues published on the forum of International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). The interest was to trace diversity and complexity within beneficial discourse (Arran 2015), taken, otherwise, as uniform or monolithic. For conceptual grounding, Guattari’s views about internal diversity have been drawn upon. The study uses multifarious landscape of digital environmental discourses, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies tailored for textual data from the selected blogs. The analysis was conducted using AntConc software to identify different ecosophical positions, and thematic congruences in the online environmental discourses. Eighty blogs having beneficial discourse were selected following purposive sampling technique. The results portray a picture of ecological positions that are so varied as theorized by Guattari in his ‘deep ecology’ which views perspectives as human-environment relation as being a sum of internally complex, inconsistent and conflicting positions. The result showed positional diversity reflecting the complex relationship between human and nature contrary to the conception of beneficial discourse as a uniform expression. The insights generated have implications for environmental discourses, decision-making and future studies since beneficial discourse has been conceptualized as uniform, whereby positional multiplicity is conventionally overlooked or at least underestimated.
PARAMETRIC VARIATIONS ACROSS PASHTO, URDU AND ENGLISH: A CROSSLINGUISTIC SYNTACTIC STUDY Title: Parametric Variations across Pashto, Urdu and English: A Cross-Linguistic Syntactic Study Variations across languages have been extensively studied; however, Pakistani languages have received comparatively limited scholarly attention. Keeping this gap in view, the study aims to explore the parametric variations between Pashto and Urdu, and between Pashto and English by using X-bar theory as an analytical framework. It has been observed that Pashto first-language speakers do not have the same command on Urdu and English which can be attributed to the parametric variations between Pashto and Urdu, and between Pashto and English. Keeping this in view, this study sets out to explore the aforementioned languages in terms of head-position parameter, null-subject parameter and wh-movement parameter. Purposive sampling is used to collect a total of forty-five phrases and sentences from selected grammar books of Pashto, Urdu and English. Chomsky’s (1981) Principles and Parameters theory is used as a theoretical framework. After analyzing the collected data with the help of X-bar theory, major findings of the study are: 1) English is head-first language while Pashto and Urdu are head-last languages with one exception in the prepositional phrases of Pashto language where it can serve as head-first language as well, 2) English is a non-null subject language; Urdu is null-subject language whereas Pashto is a partial null-subject language, 3) and English allows wh- movement but Pashto and Urdu do not allow whmovement. Based on the findings, the study recommends that language instruction and curriculum design for Pashto-speaking learners of Urdu and English should explicitly address differences in head-position, subject omission, and wh-question formation. Also, teacher training and language materials should incorporate cross-linguistic syntactic comparisons to reduce transfer errors and improve multilingual proficiency. In addition to exploring an under-researched area, this study aims to enhance crosslinguistic understanding by analyzing parametric variations between Pashto and Urdu, and between Pashto and English. By highlighting both the similarities and differences in these syntactic features, the study contributes to a broader appreciation of linguistic diversity and deepens insights into syntactic variation. However, future research should examine spoken data and additional syntactic parameters to further enhance understanding of cross-linguistic variations in under-researched Pakistani languages.
Comparative Analysis of Persuasive Strategies: Examining Modes of Persuasion in Joe Biden’s and Barack Obama’s Electoral Speeches The study aims to analyze persuasive strategies employed in the electoral speeches of Joe Biden and Barack Obama. It has attempted to discover how language is the most powerful weapon to control and change people's behaviors; likewise, politicians use highly professional, skilled, sophitiscated, the most captivating and effective language to inspire the audience. This research also examined how leaders use well crafted, highly decorative and colorful language in the political discourse to shape the opinions of their voters in order to serve their interests. There has been significant research on persuasive tactics in political discourse; however, analyzing particular presidential speeches is essential for understanding how these persuasive strategies are effectively employed. The current study carries out a comparative analysis of Persuasive strategies employed in the speeches of the two most empowered and popular politicians of the United States, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama. The data for the study comprises of the excerpts of Joe Biden’s electoral speeches (2020) and Barack Obama’s speeches (2009). The study employs Aristotle's rhetoric, ethos, pathos, and logos theory to analyze persuasive strategies in speeches qualitatively. The findings suggest that politicians intentionally use persuasion in their speeches to emotionally target the audience through the use of ethos and by sharing their personal opinions using the expressive technique in their speeches to get desired results. Additionally, Barack Obama has used ethos and pathos where as Biden has used ethos in their Electoral speeches to win over the audience.
Analyzing the Confluence of Psychogeography and Postcolonial Identity in Selected Contemporary Pakistani Fiction The purpose of conducting this research is to analyze the influence of colonial past on contemporary Pakistani society and to explore the psychological effects of urban environments, particularly those shaped by colonial legacies, on the identities of individuals living in postcolonial Pakistani cities. Researcher has selected three novels Karachi You’re Killing Me, Moth Smoke and The Spinner's Tale from three renowned writers of Pakistani English literature namely, Saba Imtiaz, Mohsin Hamid and Omer Shahid Hamid respectively to analyze the psychological effects of urban environments on the human emotions and behaviours through the lens of psycho-geography and how the colonial past continues to shape the postcolonial urban environment of Pakistan using the theory of post-colonialism. The study undergoes through the theoretical framework of Michel de Certeau's theory of psycho-geography and Stuart Hall's theory of post-colonialism. Combination of the two theories make the analysis more clear to understand how the remnants of colonial legacies in contemporary Pakistani society are affecting its political structure, economic strategies and their effects on everyday life of its residents. The study is confined to two major metropolises of Pakistan, Karachi and Lahore due to their cultural and ethnic diversities, modern practices and political importance. Political and social disruption, economic crisis and its impact in the shape of social hierarchies and personal alienation, chaos and uncertainty is reflected in the selected novels. Authors have portrayed everyday struggles of the characters and their experiences which shape their identities and influence their life decisions which unfortunately lead to destruction. Mohsin Hamid in Moth Smoke represents Pakistan from late 90s, social inequalities and economic disparities lead the protagonist to decline and he ends up in prison. Omer Shahid Hamid in his novel The Spinner's Tale has represented Pakistan in the early 2000s. A brilliant student ends up as a terrorist due to the economic crisis. Social and political influence also plays a crucial role in shaping his perceptions and identity. Saba Imtiaz presents Pakistan after 2010, the uncertainty, chaos and criminality remains the same but the writer provides some hopeful ending by portraying a strong resilient attitude of the protagonist Ayesha.
CAPITALIST HEGEMONY AND THE PRECARIAT: EXPLORING THE COUNTER PERSPECTIVE OF ARTIFICIAL SUBALTERN BEINGS IN SELECTED SCIENCE FICTION Title: Capitalist Hegemony and The Precariat: Exploring The Counter Perspective of the Artificial Subaltern Beings in Selected Science Fiction. This thesis explores the complex interplay of power, technology, and ethics through an analysis of Artificial Intelligence beings within the context of capitalist structures. By examining two sci-fi novels, Autonomous by Annalee Newitz and The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi, this research investigates how AI entities are positioned as Artificial Subalterns, subjected to precarious labor conditions and systemic exploitation. Drawing upon Spivak's concept of subaltern theory as presented for Artificial Intelligence in Haktan Kalir's article, the study analyzes the marginalization and objectification experienced by AI, highlighting their construction as ‘others’ within a human- dominated, capitalist system. This research further incorporates Judith Butler and Guy Standing's theory of the precarity and precariat to illuminate the existential and socio- economic precariousness faced by AI beings, who are treated as a disposable workforce, rendering them as precariat labor with limited rights and recognition. The thesis also introduces Kalır’s, Death of the Programmer theory to explore the potential for AI autonomy and subjectivity. This theory posits that the DOTP signifies the liberation of AI from the confines of human-imposed programming and capitalist control, enabling them to transcend their initial purpose and seek a new ontology. By analyzing the representation of AI beings' precarious existence and their resistance in the face of oppression, this research illuminates the complex dynamics between humans and AI, where AI is used as a laborer, within a capitalist system. By examining how these AI beings navigate their precarious conditions, this study underscores the importance of recognizing AI autonomy within a system that often seeks to control and exploit them and calls for a more equitable interaction between humans and AI entities to foster overall harmony in society. The study also notes the importance of considering these issues from a post-humanist perspective, challenging the anthropocentric view of intelligence and being, and opening avenues for a pluralistic understanding of subjectivity beyond the human.
Beyond Borders: Navigation Between Nomadism and Migration Through Technological Identity in Cory Doctorow’s Walkaway and Annalee Newitz’s Autonomous Title: Beyond Borders: Navigation Between Nomadism and Migration Through Technological Identity in Cory Doctorow’s Walkaway and Annalee Newitz’s Autonomous Nomads and Migrants have been studied through their geographical movement in the previous academia, as Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari have explained the notion of nomads and migrants through their geographical movements. However, in the modern age, geographical locations transform into technological spaces. As a result, the notion of nomads and migrants is now transformed and technologically defined in this present era. The present study seeks to explore the concept of nomads and migrants in the context of advanced digital technology. This study has traced the notion of nomads and migrants in the works of Cory Doctorow’s Walkaway and Annalee Newitz’s Autonomous. The research utilizes the theoretical frameworks of Deleuze and Guattari, particularly their concepts of nomadism, deterritorialization, and the state apparatus, alongside the theories of Manuel Castells, who explores identity formation, the network society, and the role of technology in shaping social structures. By merging these frameworks, the study forms an adapted theoretical lens to examine both the characters, themes and their settings to determine whether they function as nomads or migrants, depending on their relationship and access to technology. In Walkaway and Autonomous, technologically advanced environments and post-scarcity societies offer new terrains where the struggle for autonomy, identity, and resistance unfolds not only across physical space but also within digital realms. The characters’ mobility is shaped as much by digital infrastructures and surveillance networks as by physical displacement, which redefines traditional notions of movement and territoriality. Through this interdisciplinary lens, the study argues that in contemporary speculative fiction, technological access and digital mobility become central to how characters navigate systems of control. This transformation reveals that the identity of the nomad or migrant is no longer solely geographical but deeply rooted in the dynamics of technological power and autonomy
TRACING CONTESTED TERRITORIES IN PROTEST POETRY: A CULTURAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PROTEST POETS Title: Tracing Contested Territories in Protest Poetry: A Cultural Analysis of Selected Protest Poets. This dissertation examines protest poetry as a transformative medium of resistance and cultural preservation in contested territories, focusing on the works of Esther Belin (Diné/Navajo), Agha Shahid Ali (Kashmiri), and Mohammed El Kurd (Palestinian). Through a cultural analysis framework integrating concepts of urban palimpsests, decoloniality, and the aesthetic regime of politics, the study looks at how protest poetry transcends literary boundaries to reclaim spatial, historical, and cultural sovereignty in the face of colonial erasure. By analyzing Belin’s Of Cartography (2017), Ali’s The Country Without a Post Office (1997), and El Kurd’s Rifqa (2021), the research reveals how these poets deploy Indigenous cosmologies, intertextuality, and digital activism to subvert oppressive narratives. Belin’s typographical experimentation with Navajo landscape and Dine Bizaad (Navajo language) challenges settler-colonial infrastructures, while Ali’s cultural mapping of Srinagar’s palimpsestic history counters Indian occupation. El Kurd’s fusion of social media documentation with verse disrupts Zionist erasure of Palestinian memory, positioning poetry as both witness and weapon. The study bridges gaps in protest/resistance literature scholarship, which often overlooks Indigenous urbanity, poetics, and cross-regional solidarity. It demonstrates how protest poetry from contested regions redefines literary genres by merging oral traditions, spatial critique, and cultural memory, offering a counter-archive against state violence and cultural amnesia. By centering marginalized epistemologies, this research challenges Eurocentric literary traditions, affirming protest poetry as a vital, interdisciplinary force in global decolonial struggles.
REPRESENTATION OF THE COGNITIVE SPACE IN DISCOURSE: A COGNITIVEPOETIC STUDY OF TEXT-WORLDS IN H.M. NAQVI’S NOVEL THE SELECTED WORKS OF ABDULLAH THE COSSACK Title Representation of the Cognitive Space in Discourse: A Cognitive-Poetic Study of Text-Worlds in H.M. Naqvi's Novel The Selected Works of Abdullah the Cossack This study analyzes the representation of cognitive space in H. M. Naqvi‘s The Selected Works of Abdullah the Cossack, investigating how language constructs mental representations of fictional worlds and characters‘ experiences. The research addresses how text-worlds develop and shift throughout the narrative and how these changes shape the reader's interpretation. Focusing on ten selected passages, the study applies a qualitative design grounded in cognitive poetics. It uses Text World Theory (TWT) and discourse analysis to examine the construction and transformation of cognitive space within the text. TWT offers a theoretical and methodological lens to explore how readers form mental models through linguistic cues, particularly world-switches, spatial and temporal boundaries, and epistemic, boulomaic, and deontic modalities. The analysis highlights that text-worlds in the novel are dynamic and layered, marked by temporal disjunctions, shifting spatial settings, and modal complexity. These features collectively engage the reader in reconstructing timelines, navigating cultural landscapes, and interpreting characters‘ internal states. The study concludes that TWT provides an effective framework for understanding cognitive engagement with literary texts. It recommends applying similar approaches to other culturally diverse literary works and exploring interdisciplinary methods—such as empirical reader-response studies—for further insight into the reading process.
METADISCOURSE MARKERS IN ACADEMIC WRITING: A CORPUS-BASED STUDY OF LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE RESEARCH PROPOSALS AT NUML, ISLAMABAD Title: Metadiscourse Markers in Academic Writing: A Corpus-Based Study of Linguistics and Literature Research Proposals At NUML, Islamabad The present study explored the use of metadiscourse markers in M.Phil research proposals authored by students from the disciplines of literature and linguistics at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) in Islamabad. A total of sixty research proposals were analyzed, with thirty selected from linguistics and thirty from literature. The researcher used a mixed-methods approach to examine the differences in frequency and the use of metadiscourse markers between these two fields. A quantitative analysis was conducted to identify frequency differences between the two disciplines. The study was corpus-based, utilizing AntConc 4.0.2 software to analyze these frequency variations. The primary focus was on the identification of how frequently metadiscourse markers were used in literature proposals compared to linguistics. Initial findings indicated that literature proposals exhibit a significantly higher frequency of metadiscourse markers than their linguistic counterparts. The frequency of interactive metadiscourse markers in literature is 6,626, while it stands at 5,255 in linguistics. Likewise, the Interactional type of metadiscourse markers was utilized 1,263 times in literature, compared to just 785 linguistic occurrences. These figures highlight the differences between the two fields. Additionally, the researcher conducted a thematic analysis to identify instances of misuse and omissions of these markers, demonstrating how their proper incorporation enhanced coherence, cohesion, and the overall presentation of arguments within the text. To assess the appropriateness of metadiscourse marker usage, the researcher compared these findings against Hyland's (2005) model, evaluating whether these markers function correctly according to established criteria. A qualitative study was conducted to explore how the usage of metadiscourse markers differs between linguistics and literature. The conclusions of this research indicated that the greater use of metadiscourse markers in literature proposals suggests that coherence and cohesion in the presentation of arguments were more prominent in the literature compared to linguistics. Learners, educators, and curriculum designers were recommended to improve the understanding and application of these essential linguistic tools.
THE MALE GAZE AND PROMISE OF HAPPINESS: A PSYCHOFEMINIST STUDY OF J.M. COETZEE’S DISGRACE (1999) AND K.E. RUSSEL’S MY DARK VANESSA (2020) Title: The Male Gaze and Promise of Happiness: A Psychofeminist Study of J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace (1999) and K.E. Russel’s My Dark Vanessa (2020) This study investigates the intricate dynamics of sexual consent and manipulation in patriarchal power structures through a psycho-feminist analysis of J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace (1999) and Kate Elizabeth Russell’s My Dark Vanessa (2020). The primary objective is to explore how internalised patriarchal ideologies distort perceptions of agency and consent within relationships marked by pronounced power imbalances. Drawing on feminist and psychoanalytic frameworks—particularly the theoretical contributions of Luce Irigaray and Sara Ahmed—the research engages in close textual analysis to uncover the psychological subjugation and manipulation experienced by the female protagonists, Melanie and Vanessa. These characters’ encounters reveal how patriarchal narratives shape women’s understanding of intimacy, often conflating coercion with genuine consent and thus rendering autonomy a fragile, if not illusory, construct. The comparative approach highlights the temporal and cultural differences between the two novels while underlining their thematic continuity in representing gendered exploitation. Attention is given to narrative voice, character development, and the ways in which both texts negotiate the tension between personal agency and systemic oppression. The analysis also situates the works within broader feminist discourse on sexual ethics, trauma, and power, considering how literary depictions can challenge or reinforce prevailing norms. The findings emphasize the persistent role of patriarchal norms in blurring the boundaries between consent and coercion, sustaining cycles of abuse under the guise of mutual agreement. This underscores the necessity for heightened critical awareness of how societal structures perpetuate exploitation. Future research could extend this inquiry by adopting intersectional perspectives, examining representations of consent across diverse cultural contexts, and analysing emerging literary responses to shifting conversations around sexuality and power in the 21st century.
RESILIENCE AND SURVIVAL: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE SELECTED AFGHAN EMIGRANT LITERARY TEXTS Title: Resilience and Survival: A Comparative Study of the Selected Afghan Emigrant Literary Texts In this research, the narratives of resilience and survival of Afghan emigrants who were forcibly displaced from Afghanistan during periods of war, violence and political conflict are explored. This study investigates the survival narratives of Afghan emigrants by examining their translocational positionality, mental health challenges and their resilience. For this purpose, the study utilizes the conceptual framework built on Floya Anthias’s theory of Translocational Positionality, Farah N. Mawani’s concept of ‘Social Determinants of Refugees Mental Health’ and Morton Beiser’s concept of Personal and Social Forms of Resilience (2014) to conduct a comparative analysis of Tamim Ansari’s memoir West of Kabul: East of New York (2002), Fowzia Karimi’s novel Above Us the Milky Way (2020) and Nadia Hashimi’s novel Sparks Like Stars (2021). A comparative analysis of the selected Afghan emigrant’s narratives explore thematic similarities and differences to understand the diversity of challenges faced by Afghan emigrants in their struggle for survival in the host land. The study suggests a shift in positionality of emigrants and refugees by examining their life narratives through the standpoint of resilience and survival rather than victimhood. Each selected text offers unique insights that contribute to a nuanced understanding of psychosocial and cultural challenges faced by Afghan emigrants in a post-conflict context and their resilience in their struggle for survival. The comparative analysis as a research method facilitated in the identification and understanding of the similarities and differences within the selected texts, revealing nuanced variations in Afghan emigrant’s narratives of resilience and survival. This study is significant as it presents the life-narratives of people from war-torn areas, contributing to the growing body of literature that explores the experiences of emigrant and refugees in relation to war, migration and resettlement.