Humanities Journal of University of Zakho

A THREEFOLD RELENTLESS RIVALRY: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MASCULINITY AND NARRATIVE RELIABILITY IN MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN OR THE MODERN PROMETHEUS

2025-08-11T11:17:30+00:00

This paper delves into the intricacies of the multilayered narrative aspects of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus to draw connections between reliability and the assertive power of masculinity. The narrative unfolds in accordance with the appearance of Rebert Walton, Victor Frankenstein and the monster in the novel respectively. Through a three-leveled narrative, Shelley represents an interconnected story that provokes readers’ sense of curiosity to untangle it by following its main male characters’ plot lines. She painstakingly makes the readers engrossed in a close observation of how these characters compete to demonstrate the trustworthiness of their stories as an attempt to construct their status as men of integrity. While the three male characters take turns in narrating the story, their efforts of being able to make their narratee(s) believe their stories remains a key task for them. The three narrators are portrayed in a fierce rivalry; each trying to add credibility to their narrative and outdo the others. That is, they strive to defy masculine subordination by presenting the most reliable version of events. This paper posits that for these characters to assert their masculine power, they rely on being believed, understood, and most importantly, accepted by other characters. Accordingly, the paper adopts narrative theory to explore certain concepts of masculinity studies. It argues that the masculinity of these characters is constructed vis-à-vis the reliability of their narrative in the novel. The consequences of the relentless competition between these men are often dire and their pursuit of male hierarchy leads to calamities.

ETHICAL INTEGRATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN EFL LEARNING: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES, AND FAIR ASSESSMENT (STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE)

2025-08-26T11:43:45+00:00

This study examines the ethical integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in English foreign language learning (EFLL), focusing on its potential benefits, accompanying challenges, and its implications for fair assessment practices. Using a mixed-methods research design, data were collected from 98 undergraduate students at the University of Zakho to understand their perceptions and use of AI-driven tools. The findings show a common embracing and a positive reception of AI for language development, particularly in writing and speaking. However, concerns regarding academic integrity, overreliance on AI, and the reliability of AI-generated content were also prominent. Despite these challenges, students confirmed awareness of ethical considerations and braced for implementing institutional guidelines. The study concludes that while AI grasps transformative potential for EFL learning, its integration must be directed by ethical principles, educator training, and inclusive policies to ensure equitable and responsible use.

THE METAPHORICAL CHARACTER IN THE NOVEL (KAF) ACCORDING TO THE SEMIOLOGICAL THEORY (PHILIP HAMON)

2025-08-24T11:10:38+00:00

The novel, as a literary genre that includes a group of metaphorrical characters, has been the subject of theoretical and applied research, particularly in narrative semiotics criticism, especially in the theory of Philippe Hamon. One of the main features of the metaphorical character is that it embodies human emotions, both positive and negative, which express love, hope, hatred, anxiety, and more, which prompts the reader to reflect and interpret. This character is not a foreign or isolated element within the text but is rather connected to all other elements and narrative types, acting as an active agent in the narrative cycle. It also relates directly to the novel's theme and plot. Naturally, the novel's text includes a wide range of characters. This study attempts to analyze and interpret the metaphorical character in the novel ( Kaf )by the author( Diyar Ardani). The central question is: does the character in the novel embody the characteristics of a metaphorical character as defined by Philippe Hamon's theory? The study ultimately concludes that elements such as hatred, pessimism, and despair give way to happiness, hope, and inner peace within the character. In practical examples, it was evident that each signifier pointed clearly to a specific meaning.

CRITICAL CONTEXTUALISM OF HALABJA LAUKI TEXT, ACCORDING TO MURRAY KRIEGER'S THEORY

2025-09-03T12:59:10+00:00

In addition to the initial understandings of the outside of the text, another direction, is to analyse literary texts in the modern American criticism using specific critical tools under the name of modern context or contextualism. In the beginning of the mid-twentieth century, the US critic Morra Criger used his theoretical ideas in the light of the concept of context by using new formalism and new criticism, naming it modern context or contextualism. Modern context or contextualism is a critical tool for analysing and understanding the literary text, added another dimension to the literary texts analysis. Based on this view, the title of research (Modern Contextual Analysis of the Text of Laoki Helbaja, According to the Views of Murray Krieger's Theory) a well-known text of Kurdish poet Rafiq Sabir, based on the critical descriptive method and in the light of Murray Chriger's theory and its tools and procedures. Through its tools and procedures, we analyse the symbols and metaphors resulting from language and its structures within the text, their contextual connotations within the language itself, and their expressive capacities for meanings and symbols.

EXPLORING KURDISH EFL TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON TEACHING RELATIVE CLAUSES THROUGH TASK-BASED LANGUAGE TEACHING

2025-06-22T10:05:10+00:00

Few studies have investigated teachers’ views on the use of the Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) approach in teaching grammar structures. However, no study has specifically examined the use of this approach in the University of Duhok context. Thus, this study addresses the gap by exploring English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ perceptions of instruction and evaluating its effective use in teaching relative clauses. Therefore, 30 EFL teachers who teach English grammar from various colleges of the University of Duhok participated in the study by completing a closed-and open-ended questionnaire to provide their opinions on the use of TBLT in teaching relative clauses. A mixed-method approach was used with quantitative and qualitative data collected via questionnaires. The findings indicate that English EFL grammar teachers at the University of Duhok generally hold positive attitudes towards the use of TBLT in teaching English relative clauses and demonstrate familiarity with its principles. However, they also identify key challenges in task design and offer insightful recommendations for its development.

THE ASSYRIAN MERCHANT'S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ROLE IN ANATOLIA (1939-1840 BC)

2025-09-11T12:17:23+00:00

The study is an attempt to shed light on an important aspect of the economic life in Mesopotamia in the Land of Assur during the second millennium B.C. which is the trade and merchant (Tamkaru) who was the focus of commercial activity in the city and enjoying a prominent economic and social status especially in the second millennium B.C because of the expansion of his job and nature of his work in away that non of the Mesopotamia’s era could reach and the role of the Assyrian kings supporting Tamkaru to carry out royal trade for the benefit of the palace to deliver messages and conclude treaties (mamitum) with the rulers of the cities of Anatolia.

GEO POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ITS IMPACT ON ROMAN MILITARY STRATEGY (264–27 BC)

2025-09-11T12:16:01+00:00

This Study explores the interaction between the geopolitics of the Mediterranean and the trajectory of Roman military strategic policy during the period 264-27 BCE, a pivotal historical period in Rome's transformation from a regional power within the Italian peninsula to a dominant force in the Mediterranean. The study examines the geographical and geopolitical attributes of the Mediterranean and their influence on Roman military conception of strategy and ideology, with a particular emphasis on geopolitical positions in both the eastern and western regions of the sea. Additionally, this study explores the impact of conflicts with Carthage, Macedonia, and the Hellenistic kingdoms, which shaped the trajectory of Roman strategic decisions. The research aims to elucidate the geopolitical dimension of the Mediterranean Sea and its effect on the development of Roman naval strategy, based on a historical-analytical approach to the understanding of historical events. The study concludes that Roman dominance in the Mediterranean and the adaptation of military strategy were necessitated by geopolitical factors and significantly contributed to the success of the imperial project. Supremacy in the Mediterranean was not only of military importance but also crucially formed the backbone of the subsequent Roman economy.