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Latest Articles
From Saying to Showing: Action, the Economy of Silence, and the Limits of Development Discourse
Contemporary discourses on inclusive and just development emphasise ambitions of empowerment and capacity-building without producing genuine socio-economic transformation. This article develops the concept of the Economy of Silence to explain why the smallest and most constrained actors are often those who generate social change most effectively in comparison with institutions that are dominant at the discursive level. Drawing on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s distinction between “saying” and “showing” in the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, the article argues that meaningful language must remain anchored in facts. When discourse becomes detached from material transformation, it generates what this article calls discursive inflation: the circulation of language without corresponding changes in reality. In a context of economic scarcity, material and institutional constraints require a certain discipline on the part of the actors who are most exposed to the consequences and do not have discursive power. Exposing their actions to consequences aligns intention, practice, and outcome. Action therefore functions as a materially intelligible form of communication that remains accountable to consequences. Amartya Sen's capabilities approach suggests that development consists of valuing the expansion of freedoms and opportunities available to individuals to achieve functioning using available resources, and not just by making mere declarative commitments. The article concludes that silence, often understood as exclusion, sidelining from institutional discourse or renunciation, emerges rather as the structural condition in which ethical, economic and political meaning converges in facts rather than in discourse.
Reframing ‘Scum’ (Çapulcu): A Frame Analysis of the Gezi Park Movement in Türkiye
This article examines the Gezi Park protests in Türkiye by focusing on how the term "scum" (çapulcu), initially used by government representatives as a derogatory label, was reinterpreted and transformed into a collective identity by protesters. The study aims to analyze how competing sociological interpretations of the Gezi Park Movement relate to this process of symbolic reframing. The research adopts a qualitative approach based on thematic classification and document analysis of academic writings and social media content. Drawing on Erving Goffman’s frame analysis and a relational cultural sociology perspective, the study examines how meanings are constructed, contested, and transformed. The analysis identifies three main strands of interpretation—class/political, civil society, and culture/identity-based approaches—and shows that, despite their differences, all converge in recognizing the movement’s transformative impact. The findings demonstrate that the term "çapulcu" was successfully reframed through humor, creativity, and digital communication, becoming a unifying and empowering identity. The study highlights the importance of cultural processes, symbolic interaction, and social media in contemporary social movements, suggesting that meaning-making practices are as significant as structural conditions in shaping collective action. The article argues that contemporary social movements cannot be adequately understood without attending to cultural processes and symbolic interaction alongside structural conditions.
A Comparative Analysis of the Figurative Language in Arabic and South African Languages
Arabic and South African languages contain rich idiomatic expressions, many of which are based on body-related metaphors that play an important role in everyday communication. This study compares body-part idioms in Arabic and South African to examine how physical body concepts are used to express abstract meanings. Most previous research has primarily focused on English idioms, leaving a noticeable gap in studies concerning Arabic and South African idioms. This study intends to fill that gap based on the perspective offered by Lakoff and Johnson, who emphasize that metaphors are intrinsic to everyday communication. Drawing on the conceptual metaphor framework of Lakoff and Johnson, the research analyses the underlying conceptual structures of these idioms. A qualitative comparative approach was employed to analyse and compare body-related idioms selected from Arabic and South African languages. The data being analyzed was specifically chosen to form a corpus for this study. The analysis shows that both languages rely extensively on conventionalized body metaphors. Despite cultural and linguistic differences, the two languages demonstrate notable similarities in the use of body idioms, although some differences appear in their conceptual interpretations. These findings contribute to cross-linguistic studies of metaphor and idiomatic expressions, addressing the limited research on Arabic and South African languages in comparison to the more extensively studied English idioms.
On the Dual Nature of Sem-Phrases in Hungarian: Negative Quantifiers or Negative Indefinites?
Sem-phrases in Hungarian are negative indefinites accompanied by the negative emphatic particle sem ‘neither’. Preverbal sem-phrases differ from postverbal ones in that the former behave as negative quantifiers (NQs), while the latter resemble s-words, which are negative concord items (NCIs) like senki ‘nobody’. By adopting Ladusaw’s distinction between syntactic vs. semantic licensing, the paper offers an explanation for this variation in a purely cartographic syntactic framework. Earlier accounts turned around the universal vs. existential interpretations of negative indefinites. The present proposal derives the interpretive differences from their different licensing requirements. It extends the proposed analysis to negative connectives, where nominals precede sem ‘neither’, and negative conjunction constructions, where nominals follow sem ‘neither’. Preverbal nominals show quantificational properties only when they precede sem ‘neither’; postverbally, however, the same nominals are non-quantificational NCIs. Nominals following sem ‘neither’ are invariably NCIs. Therefore, a uniform quantificational analysis for all these items is untenable. Finally, the paper briefly discusses (még) ... sem ‘not ... even’ constructions with nominals modified by numerical quantifiers and classifiers, which mimic the behaviour of sem-phrases and nominals accompanied by sem ‘neither’ in preverbal and postverbal positions. All these differences follow from a special freezing effect called Criterial Freezing, which applies whenever the specifier of the SEMP functional projection is filled.
Cognitive Therapy and Desensitization Based Exposure for Social Anxiety Disorder: The Case of “Ayesha”
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a critical condition characterized by excessive fear and avoidance of social situations. Cognitive Therapy (CT) combined with Desensitization-Based Exposure (DBE) is a short-term, evidence-based intervention (8–20 sessions) for SAD involves techniques such as identifying and disputing negative automatic thoughts, reducing safety behaviors, reinforcing positive self-statements, and developing assertive communication skills. This study aims to provide a systematic account of a 12-session CT-DBE intervention for a 21-year-old female, referred to a pseudo name “Ayesha” to maintain confidentiality. Using a case study design, qualitative data were analyzed alongside standardized quantitative assessment measures, i.e., Mini-Mental Status Examination, Rorschach test for Personality profile, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-SR) for self-report measure of social anxiety as pre-test measures, and Subjective Unit of Distress Scale administered as pre-and post-treatment measure. The intervention followed a structured approach incorporating cognitive restructuring, graduated exposure, and behavioural modifications to address Ayesha’s social anxiety symptoms comprehensively. The findings indicate a significant reduction in Ayesha’s social anxiety symptoms, increased engagement in social interactions. Qualitative analysis in the Rorschach test further highlighted enhanced cognitive flexibility, reduced avoidance behaviours, and greater confidence in social contexts. These findings (based on pre-intervention assessment and pre-post SUDS-ratings) contribute to the growing evidence supporting CT-DBE as a reliable treatment specifically in the Pakistani context for individuals with SAD. Future research should explore long-term maintenance of treatment gains and adaptations for diverse populations globally.
Linguistic Geoengineering: A New Paradigm for Discursive Infrastructure and Public Persuasion
This theoretical paper (1) defines linguistic geoengineering as a theoretical framework, (2) distinguishes its unique characteristics from established theories of language and power, and (3) analyzes its implications for public persuasion and democratic engagement. Linguistic geoengineering, a novel framework for analyzing language, power, and public influence, is defined as the deliberate, systematic restructuring of discourse environments with the goal of shaping collective perception, behavior, and decision-making. A typology is developed—metaphoric, narrative, lexical, and infrastructural engineering—demonstrating how linguistic practices can recalibrate collective perception, behavior, and decision-making. It addresses three overlooked aspects in current scholarship: intentionality, scale, and systemic impacts. This paradigm conceptualizes language as an engineerable environment, facilitating the analysis of how various actors, including states and activists, craft linguistic interventions to impact public life. However, this reframing presents ethical and methodological issues. How can scholars differentiate between organic discourse shifts and artificially constructed ones? What measures should be implemented to avert the misuse of language interventions? In what ways could the public oppose or counteract such interventions? Future studies must address these inquiries by formulating methodologies for identifying linguistic geoengineering in practice, analyzing its function across many crises and domains, and scrutinizing its normative consequences. This paradigm necessitates viewing language not only as a reflection of society but as a domain of design and conflict, where the contention over words represents a contest over futures.
Machine Learning-Based Prediction of University Students’ Mental Health: Integrating Developmental and Psychosocial Factors in Higher Education Analytics
Due to their impact on psychological well-being, educational engagement, and long-term educational outcomes, mental health problems among university students have received increasing attention. The goal of this research was to use machine learning algorithms to predict mental health conditions among university students and to assess how developmental, demographic, academic, and psychosocial factors affect those predictions. A publicly available dataset containing 101 university students was used to perform analyses using logistic regression, random forests, and gradient boosting algorithms, with the following variables included: age, gender, marital status, cumulative grade point average (CGPA), anxiety, panic attacks, and treatment-seeking behavior. The data were preprocessed, features were engineered, and an 80/20 train-test split was used to assess the predictive performance of the models. The results showed that gradient boosting achieved the highest accuracy (88%) in classifying targets, followed by random forest (84%) and logistic regression (76%), and the confusion matrix analyses further confirmed that the predictive models were stable, as evidenced by low false-positive and false-negative classifications. The most important predictors were anxiety and marital status; CGPA was a relatively weak predictor. Ensemble ML methods identified complex relationships in student mental health, and this study shows how to use these methods to provide an exploratory, predictive framework for early identification and screening of mental health issues, and to support strategies for students through data-informed decisions in universities.
A Metalinguistic Judgmental Analysis of Pakistani English Phonology by Odki Native Speakers
The study aims to explore the metalinguistic judgments of English syllable structures and lexical stress patterns perceived by Odki English as a Second Language (ESL) adult learners. The paper lays emphasis on phonological adjustments in Pakistan English spoken by the native Odki speakers and especially in their word stress and syllabification. The study examines syllables and stress perception and production by Odki speakers, which are attributed to their first language. The samples were gathered from six Odki-speaking undergraduate students in Karachi. The quantitative method was employed to analyse the frequency of syllable and stress variations. Stress and syllable division were analysed using a set of 100 English words that have different syllable counts. The identification of syllables and stress placement of English words was inconsistent, and some respondents identified these variables correctly, exhibiting partial adaptation. The results are intended to enhance cross-cultural communication and contribute to teaching the English language in Pakistan. The paper also revisits the previous studies regarding the phonological differences of Pakistan English, focusing on the impact of first languages such as Odki on the pronunciation of English. It further argues the role of other local languages such as the Pashto, Punjabi and Sindhi in English speech in Pakistan. The pronunciation of English in Pakistani English is also not given much attention in Pakistani education systems, thus causing a problem of fluency and accuracy.
Announcements
Announcement: Change in Publication Frequency
The Editorial Office of Cultural Arts Research and Development (ISSN: 2436-8539) is pleased to announce that, starting from 2026, the journal will change its publication frequency from biannual to quarterly. The journal will be published four times per year, in March, June, September, and December. This change aims to ensure more timely dissemination of research while maintaining the journal’s academic standards and peer-review process. Editorial Office Cultural Arts Research and Development
Announcement: Change in Publication Frequency
The Editorial Office of New Countryside (ISSN: 2758-1403) is pleased to announce that, starting from 2026, the journal will change its publication frequency from biannual to quarterly (January, April, July, October) This adjustment reflects the journal’s steady development and aims to better serve the academic community by ensuring more timely publication while maintaining rigorous peer-review standards. All editorial policies and review procedures will remain unchanged. Editorial Office New Countryside (ISSN: 2758-1403)
Announcement on Change of Publication Frequency
The Editorial Office of Philosophy and Realistic Reflection (ISSN 2759-7172) is pleased to announce that, effective from 2026, the journal will change its publication frequency from biannual to quarterly (March, June, September, December). Beginning in 2026, Philosophy and Realistic Reflection will publish four issues per year, reflecting the journal’s continued development, the steady growth in high-quality submissions, and our commitment to providing a more timely platform for scholarly communication. All editorial policies, peer review procedures, and publication ethics will remain unchanged. The Editorial Team remains committed to upholding the journal’s academic quality and integrity. We sincerely thank our authors, reviewers, editorial board members, and readers for their continued support. Editorial Office Philosophy and Realistic Reflection
Congratulations! Food and Drug Safety Is Now Indexed in CAS
We are pleased to announce that Food and Drug Safety has been officially indexed in the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), one of the world’s most authoritative and comprehensive databases in chemistry and related sciences. CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society (ACS), is widely recognized for its rigorous selection standards and global academic influence. Inclusion in CAS signifies the journal’s scientific quality, editorial rigor, and relevance to the international research community. This milestone marks an important step in the journal’s development and further enhances the visibility, discoverability, and academic impact of published articles in the fields of food science, food safety, toxicology, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and related interdisciplinary areas. We sincerely thank our authors, reviewers, editorial board members, and readers for their continued support and contributions. Food and Drug Safety will remain committed to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research and to advancing scientific exchange in food and drug safety research worldwide. We warmly welcome researchers and scholars to submit their latest work and join us in shaping the future of food and drug safety science.
Congratulations to New Environmentally-Friendly Materials Indexed in CAS!
We are pleased to announce that the academic journal New Environmentally-Friendly Materials has been officially indexed in CAS. This achievement represents a significant milestone in the journal’s development and reflects CAS’s recognition of the journal’s academic quality, editorial standards, peer-review rigor, and scholarly contribution to the field of environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. Since its launch, New Environmentally-Friendly Materials has been committed to: Upholding a rigorous and transparent peer-review process Adhering to high standards of academic ethics and publishing best practices Providing an open-access platform for the dissemination of high-quality research The inclusion in CAS will further enhance the journal’s visibility, accessibility, and academic impact, offering authors a more authoritative platform to disseminate their research to the global scholarly community. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all authors, reviewers, editorial board members, and readers for their continued support and valuable contributions. Building on this achievement, the journal will continue to improve its publishing standards and promote high-quality academic exchange in the field of environmentally friendly materials and sustainable material science. We warmly welcome researchers worldwide to submit their latest work to New Environmentally-Friendly Materials.
Editor-in-Chief Communication Meeting Successfully Held!
We are pleased to announce that the Editor-in-Chief Exchange Meeting for Urban Planning and Construction was successfully concluded via Zoom on September 10. The editorial office and the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Salman Shooshtarian, conducted in-depth discussions on key issues concerning the journal's development. The main highlights of the meeting are as follows: A review of the journal's performance indicators Exploration of emerging research areas to encourage the submission of high-quality manuscripts Planning for themed special issues and academic cooperation with universities Initiatives to improve the journal's impact We sincerely appreciate the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Salman Shooshtarian, for his valuable insights and ongoing support in advancing the mission of Urban Planning and Construction. For more information about the journal or inquiries regarding submission, please contact the editorial office at upc@bilpub.com.