JournalTOCs

Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review
Number of Followers: 1

This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Online) 2279-3933
Published by Sri Lanka Journals Online

[71 journals]

“De-Territorialization” as Depicted by Shyam Selvadurai and
Nayomi Munaweera
- Abstract: Concerning Sri Lankan Literature in English, this paper examines the causes and effects of “de-territorialization” as depicted in Funny Boy (1994) by Shyam Selvadurai and Island of A Thousand Mirrors (2013) by Nayomi Munaweera with special reference to Homi K Bhabha s’ Location of Culture (1994). The study is primarily conducted based on a desk review of the two novels, supported by related theoretical and supplementary literature, and further sustained by an interview conducted with Prof. Maryse Jayasuriya. The study investigates the post-colonial de-territorialization that occurred in Sri Lanka according to Selvadurai, and Munaweera. According to the findings of the study political enigma, ethnic misunderstanding, and identity crisis are the main causes of de-territorialization. In line with it, the discussion is streamlined by means of interpretative tools of cultural studies and anthropology. Ultimately, the study strives to envisage the practicality of adapting to the requirement of coexistence, respecting the liminal identities and cultural differences of the other communities, and the unfeasibility of seeking territorial shift under the circumstance of social unrest. Published on 2022-11-11 00:00:00
African Trado-Medical Diagnosis and Treatments of Affliction in Ola
Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not To Blame
- Abstract: This study examines African trado-medical diagnosis and treatments of affliction in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not To Blame. Though different studies have been done previously by scholars on treatments of diseases across the world, the aspect of trado-medical diagnosis and treatments of affliction in dramatic works has not been explored. This literary text is purposively chosen due to its contextual relevance and qualitatively analyzed. The study adopted the Freudian psychoanalytic approach which focuses on characters’ psyche and the motivations responsible for their negative thoughts, emotions and actions as presented in the chosen text. It found that abominable offences attract the wrath of gods, evil spirits and ancestors which cause afflictions in African societies. However, non-scientific methods like divination and in-depth interviews and focus group discussions can be employed to diagnose the cause of the life-threatening disease while forms of treatment such as sacrifices, herbal medicines, counseling and so on are provided. Published on 2022-11-11 00:00:00
Articulation Timing and Orthographical Representation of Consonant
Gemination in Sinhala
- Abstract: Consonant gemination, in general, has two major aspects: either lengthening or doubling the pronunciation of the consonant. This study mainly focuses on articulation and orthography in Sinhala, the two parts of the language where consonant gemination occurs. It examines the pronunciation time ratios of 16 pairs of singleton and geminated Sinhala consonants in order to analyze the relationship that exists between their articulation and orthography. The research problem was stated as ‘what relationship is disclosed by the articulation time ratios and orthography of consonant gemination in Sinhala’. To answer it, the articulation timings of the singleton and geminated consonants were measured with the ratios between them being calculated. Then, as the second step, the ratios and the orthographic symbolization were compared and contrasted. A group of ten adult participants contributed to the data: five males and five females. Praat.exe was the main technical instrument used to measure pronunciation timings. The data revealed that the ratios lie between a minimum of 1:1.6 and a maximum of 1:2.4 times. Therefore, consonant gemination in Sinhala is a lengthening process. Moreover, the alpha-syllabic writing system ignores the length ratios of the geminated consonants. Published on 2022-11-11 00:00:00
India’s Vaccine Diplomacy and Changing Geopolitics in the Global
South
- Abstract: Vaccine diplomacy has developed new dynamics of geopolitics between the world’s superpowers as a result of global COVID-19 pandemic vaccination. This study contributes to the existing body of literature on geopolitics in the global South while focusing on changing aspects of geopolitics resulting in India's vaccine diplomacy. It primarily determines the geopolitical agendas behind vaccine diplomatic practices of India, which is used as tool of soft power to influence the internal affairs of the countries in the global South. As a result, this study reveals the emerging dynamics of geopolitics which resulted in India’s vaccine diplomacy in the means of COVID-19 cooperation, including South Asia, driven by the power competition between the world’s superpowers such as the USA, the USSR and China. The study’s data and information are based on a mixed method which is secondary qualitative and quantitative facts that were gleaned via archival research. These findings discovered that India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ vaccine policy has extended to South Asian countries while ranging its vaccine cooperation towards the developed and developing nations in the global South and beyond, under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ program. Behind these vaccine campaigns, India is engaged in a geopolitical struggle over the global South against the USA, the USSR and China in place of its geopolitical agenda with the hopes of authenticating the solitary authority as the regional power beyond Asia. India's ultimate goal of regional supremacy has now given rise to a geopolitical conflict as world superpowers have launched their vaccine diplomatic campaigns against India in the global South. These tensions that underlie India's vaccine diplomacy are currently driving significant changes in regional geopolitics in the global South. Published on 2022-11-11 00:00:00
Morphological Awareness and Reading Comprehension: A Cross-linguistic
Study
- Abstract: This study investigated the association between cross-language morphological awareness and reading comprehension among the second language (English) adult learners who speak Sinhala as a first language. Measures of morphological awareness and reading comprehension (sentence-level and passage-level) in both languages were administered to appraise learners’ morphological awareness and reading comprehension. The results of the regression analyses indicated that although Sinhala morphological awareness was associated with sentence-level English reading comprehension, it did not associate with passage-level English reading comprehension. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that English morphological awareness did not associate with sentence-level Sinhala reading comprehension. The results suggested that cross-language associations between morphological awareness and reading comprehension differ depending on the language background and level of reading comprehension: passage-level or sentence-level comprehension. Published on 2022-09-26 06:15:19
Self-reported Effectiveness of Undergraduates’ E-learning Practices Used
During the Covid-19 Pandemic: With Reference to Sri Lanka
- Abstract: The study presented in this paper evaluates the self-reported effectiveness of online classes followed by Sri Lankan undergraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic, to identify difficulties/conveniences of virtual learning as experienced by the learner, using the survey method as the strategy of inquiry. 342 responses were collected from the undergraduate population in Sri Lanka using a pre-tested and structured questionnaire, the analysis of which, suggested that undergraduates have a general dissatisfaction with various components of online teaching, even though they are introduced to combat the pandemic situation. The Kruskal - Wallis test is used in this study to investigate the differences in the measures of the effectiveness of virtual education through the year of Undergraduates. The study could aid in obtaining an analytical perspective from the point of view of the learner in strategizing remedial actions and also in improving the overall involvement of technology and the internet in the education industry of the country. Published on 2022-09-26 06:07:31
Designing Local CFL Textbooks for Sri Lanka: A Conceptual Framework
towards Penetrating the Hegemony and Ideology in Global Competition
- Abstract: Despite the dramatic growth in demand for Chinese language in Sri Lanka, fewer efforts have been taken for catering the specific necessities of Sri Lankan CFL learners towards an optimal student friendly learning environment. The hegemonic and ideological approaches of global textbooks have least addressed the socio-linguistic attributes of Sri Lankan learners. The present study examines the shortcomings of global CFL textbooks used by Sri Lankan learners from a student perspective and develops a rudimentary conceptual framework with reference to existing literature. The key informants of the study were (n=35) Chinese language students of Sri Lanka who constitute for a non-probabilistic convenience sample. It was inferred from the analysis that there is a critical requirement of incorporating local languages, their specific vocabulary and local context into CFL textbooks in Sri Lanka. It was further concluded that textbooks best be optimized for supporting translanguaging or partial immersion rather than total immersion or monolingual instructional approaches that would accommodate the socio-linguistic, socio-cultural and meta-cognitive spaces of the learners. Published on 2022-09-26 05:56:09
Decolonizing Ecology: Design for Eco-State in Bangladesh
- Abstract: This paper seeks to analyse the ecological problems of Bangladesh. The underlying reasons beneath the genealogical problems of ecological crises in Bangladesh are significantly connected with the legacy of colonial governmentality. This investigation discusses how marine, river, forestland, and urban ecosystems have been colonized in the Bengal Delta. It also critically investigates the impact of colonizing ecology. Colonization has crucial effects on the ecosystem. It is impossible to establish ecological justice without dealing with these problems. Our perceptions of history, progress and development are still influenced by colonial knowledge/power. As a problem-solving method of ecological crises, this paper suggests recommendations for an eco-state in Bangladesh. Published on 2022-09-26 05:38:08
Factors Influence on Studеnts’ Intention of the Continuous Usage of the
Lеаrning Management System (LMS)
- Abstract: When considering higher education in Sri Lanka, technology received a high demand in most situations due to the passage of time and the conversion of teaching and learning methods into education. Mοrеοvеr, in thе contemporary wοrld, thеrе is а trend fοr using Lеаrning Management Systеms (LMS), which еnhаncе lеаrning online. Sri Lаnkа is аn emergent nation that is fаr diffеrеnt from dеvеlοpеd cοuntriеs in thе cοntеxt οf tеchnοlοgy, еcοnοmy, аnd the еnvirοnmеnt. In οrdеr tο rеcеivе thе bеnеfits of invеsting in thе LMS, thе studеnt's intеntiοn tο cοntinuοus usаgе οf the LMS is mοrе criticаl. Though a significаnt numbеr οf studеnts rеgistеrеd with thе LMS, thе аctivе studеnts аrе mаrginаlly аt а lοw lеvеl in certain educational institutes. The continuous usage of the LMS is relatively low among professional students. Though the student intention to use the LMS has been explored largely, the intention of continuous usage of the LMS is largely unexplored in the developing context. Thus, thеrе is а compelling nееd tο lеаrn аbοut whаt fаctοrs аffеct thе intеntiοn tο the cοntinuοus usаgе οf the LMS by studеnts аs οrgаnizаtiοns invеst lаrgеly in implеmеnting аnd mаintаining thе LMS. Thus, thе purpοsе οf this study is tο discοvеr thе fаctοrs аffеcting prοfеssiοnаl studеnts' intеntiοn tο the cοntinuοus usаgе of the LMS with special reference to the Nаtiοnаl Institutе οf Businеss Mаnаgеmеnt. Following a survey of the existing literature, the independent variables were identified. A survey questionnaire was distributed to professional undergraduates of the National Institute of Business Management, and 250 responses were gathered. Multiplе Rеgrеssiοn аnаlysis wаs pеrfοrmеd tο tеst thе fοur hypοthеsеs which wеrе dеvеlοpеd in this study. The findings rеvеаlеd thаt the pеrcеivеd еаsе οf usе, the pеrcеivеd usеfulnеss, sеlf-еfficаcy, аnd the quаlity οf the LMS аrе significаnt fаctοrs dеtеrmining thе intеntiοn for the continuous usаgе οf the LMS. This study is important for several stakeholders, such as administrators and vendors, as the findings of the study contribute to making certain strategic and policy decisions in ensuring the continuous active use of e-learning platforms such as the LMS. The present study contributes to the existing knowledge as the study explains an unexplored phenomenon of the continuous usage of the LMS in developing country contexts focusing on professional students. Published on 2022-08-30 00:00:00
Beyond the Working Age: Labour Supply of Elderly Men and Women in Sri
Lanka
- Abstract: The aging population, due to the increasing life expectancy and decreasing fertility rates as a result of the demographic transition in Sri Lanka, has created a number of challenges within the labour market. Elders re-entering the labour market is a common phenomenon in countries with rapid population ageing due to the lack of funding for the welfare of the elderly population. The main objective of this research is to compare the gender-based factors affecting Sri Lanka’s elderly labour supply. Secondary data of the Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey (2018) was used for this study, while three Logit Regression models were used for the analysis on labour supply decision making, using 5,897 males, 7,325 females and 13,222 of total elders above the age of 60 years as samples. According to this research, being in the provinces other than the Western Province and the non-urban sector caused a positive impact on elderly men’s employment. Similarly, it also revealed that age, marital status, being uneducated or only possessing primary education caused a positive impact on elderly women’s employment. Having children, household size has been non-Sinhala have negative impact on elderly labour supply. Finally, policy recommendations have been made to address the issues of the elderly labour supply in the two aspects of social welfare and institutional reforms of the labour market. Published on 2022-08-03 00:00:00