A scientific quarterly refereed journal dealing with Arab Gulf affairs in all political, economic, social, linguistic and literary aspects, issued by the Basra and Arabian Gulf Studies Center - University of Basra. Scope of the Journal Open Access The Arab Gulf is committed to open access and all content is freely available to all immediately after publication. Copyright Authors retain the copyright of their papers without restrictions.
جامعة البصرة- مركز دراسات البصرة والخليج العربي
Issues of Public and Private Education in Iraq through the Most Prominent Official Government Reports, 1925–1945: A Documentary Study
Official correspondence, which represented the voice of the Directorate of Education during the period of direct British control over Iraq under the British Mandate, and later during the period of indirect control following Iraq’s independence, revealed the extent of neglect that befell this sector. Although education constituted the principal foundation for the progress of the nation, marginalization and superficiality dominated this vital sphere. Official follow-up of the general educational situation either encountered the scarcity of financial allocations in the state budget designated for this sector or the difficulty of implementation on the ground within a society afflicted by the scourges of ignorance and poverty. The study presents the state of education during the British Mandate in Iraq from 1925 to 1932, together with the most significant official correspondence concerning major governmental measures under a state that controlled all of Iraq’s resources, including the decision-making process, which remained constrained from 1914 until 1932. Britain continued to serve its diplomatic relations and strengthen its influence, giving priority to the gains it derived from the Mandate at the expense of the benefits it offered to others. In addition, the study discusses Iraq’s transformation from a mandated state to an independent one, and examines the extent to which successive Iraqi governments sought to avoid confrontations with major powers that might jeopardize their support for independence.
Assistant Professor Dr. Ali Ibrahim Mohammed Mustafa
Qatari–Iranian Rapprochement and the Position of the Gulf Cooperation Council States toward It, 2000–2021
Relations between Iran and the Arab states, particularly the Gulf states, have long been characterized by tension, caution, and mistrust, especially following the Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979. Qatar, however, developed distinctive strategic relations with Iran beginning in 2000, a period that witnessed a series of reciprocal diplomatic visits between officials of the two countries, leading to a number of agreements in various fields. The period from 2014 to 2017 witnessed a marked rapprochement between Qatar and Iran against the backdrop of strained relations between Qatar and certain Gulf Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This development further strengthened Qatari–Iranian ties and was reflected in the deterioration of Qatar’s relations with those Arab states. These states sought to boycott Qatar and impose an economic and maritime blockade on it, on the grounds that Qatar had failed to comply with the security agreement issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council in 2014. The three Gulf states, in addition to Bahrain, accused Qatar of supporting terrorism, to which Qatar responded by further deepening its rapprochement with Iran. In turn, those Gulf Arab states intensified their boycott of Qatar. This study seeks to shed light on the background to the Position of the Gulf Cooperation Council toward Qatari–Iranian rapprochement during the period 2014–2017, particularly the emergence of Kuwait as a mediator in resolving the crisis after a request by the United States to its Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, to restore relations between Qatar and the aforementioned Arab states to their normal course and to isolate Iran. This mediation culminated in the announcement of reconciliation among the parties to the crisis and the lifting of the blockade on Qatar on January 4, 2021.
Lecturer.Dr. Hawraa Abdul Sattar Abduljabbar
Iranian–Azerbaijani Political Relations amid Regional and International Transformations (1991–2005)
This study examines the development of political relations between Iran and Azerbaijan during the period 1991–2005 amid regional and international transformations. These relations were marked by instability and fluctuation as a result of the interplay of ethnic considerations, regional intersections, and complex international interventions. Despite the historical, religious, and cultural ties that bind the two countries, the reality of their relations was profoundly shaped by divergent political orientations and by the nature of the alliances adopted by both Tehran and Baku within a turbulent regional environment. Ethnic tensions became clearly visible, particularly in connection with the discourse surrounding the “Greater Azerbaijan” project, which heightened Iranian sensitivity toward the status of the Azerbaijani minority within its territory, in addition to Azerbaijan’s support for opposition currents inside Iran. The conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, together with Tehran’s support for the Armenian side, also contributed to the recurrent deterioration of relations, despite the shared religious background linking Iran with Baku. On the other hand, oil played a central role in reshaping the map of tensions. Iran’s exclusion from major energy agreements, especially the Baku–Ceyhan pipeline project, constituted a turning point that prompted Tehran to adopt more hardline positions. Likewise, the American presence in Azerbaijan, along with growing security cooperation with NATO and Israel, intensified Iranian concerns, as Iran came to view Azerbaijan as a northern front threatening its national security. Although some periods witnessed relative rapprochement, particularly during the era of Ilham Aliyev, who sought to pursue a policy of balance between Iran and the United States, relations did not move beyond the framework of caution and deferred conflict. They thus reflected a struggle of regional and international interests more than a natural relationship between two neighboring states. In this sense, these relations remained governed by geopolitical factors, sectarian and ethnic competition, and shifting international balances, which made them a model of troubled relations within a highly complex strategic environment.
Assist. Lecturer. Murtadha Khalaf Hussein Al-Sahlani
The Iranian Position on the Sha‘baniyya Uprising in Iraq, 1991
It is not easy to examine the course of Iranian foreign policy toward the Arab Gulf in general, and Iraq in particular, or to delve into the nature of that policy, as this is among the difficult issues encountered by researchers in scholarly writing. Nor is it easy to grasp all the details of this policy, given the ambiguity, complexity, and intertwining of the causes and consequences surrounding it. This is due to several reasons, most notably the shared borders between the two countries, which have made the influence of each state upon the other both prominent and clearly evident in the course of events between them at all levels. This is particularly apparent in the events of the Sha‘baniyya Uprising in Iraq in 1991, during which Iran played a prominent and distinctive role in assisting, supporting, and backing the uprising participants and the political parties opposed to the ruling regime in Iraq.
Hu The Human Dimensions of the Character of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (peace be upon him)
This paper examines the human aspects and dimensions of the character of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (peace be upon him), who is regarded as one of the most significant figures in Islamic history and the eighth of the infallible Imams according to Muslims . He was not merely a religious figure; rather, he was a symbol of humanity and its noble values. Manifestations of mercy, tolerance, patience, and justice were clearly embodied in the Imam’s conduct, as he dealt with people with compassion and kindness. As a result, he came to be held in esteem and respect by all segments of society. The study highlights that these dimensions of the Imam’s character were reflected in his behavior and actions, making him a model to be emulated in promoting humanitarian principles and values and in seeking to apply them in the life of contemporary societies
The Narrative of Family Affiliation in Buthaina Al-Essa’s Novel I Grew Up and Forgot to Forget
It can be argued that the narrative of family affiliation in the novel I Grew Up and Forgot to Forget constitutes the backbone of the work, as it is constructed as an oppressive system that reproduces patriarchal dominance and prevents the formation of a free female self. The novel, however, through narration and writing, does not submit to this affiliation; rather, it seeks to unsettle and dismantle it, revealing that liberation is achieved not through geographical separation from the family, but through deconstructing its symbolic authority in consciousness and language.
Love in the Poetry of ‘Atika al-Khazraji
The poetry of ‘Atika al-Khazraji is imbued with the preoccupation of love within the framework of the woman’s experience of it, through which the poetic self articulates its vision, philosophy, and emotions. This aspect of her poetic subject matter reveals concepts that disclose the essence of the feminine self and its particular need for love. In the poet’s texts, love emerges as a space for expressing its manifestations and repercussions in relation to the Divine Self, the man, and the place that embraces the positions of the self and its relationships. The poet’s selection of themes that openly articulate the daily experience of love is manifested through references to scenes and sensations whose trajectories signify the living bond between the woman and the beloved with whom she remains connected, whether spatially or spiritually.
Professor. Dr. Mariam Abdulnabi Abdulmajeed
The Implied Structure in Husseini Discourse
This study examines a corresponding, or near-corresponding, dimension of the implied structure in the discourse of Imam al-Husayn (peace be upon him), through a reading and analysis of this discourse within the context of the topic that presents the image of the Imam as a man of letters. The study first clarifies the linguistic and terminological concepts of both structure and discourse, drawing on the theoretical formulations of these two concepts in works of literature and النقد. It then addresses the cultural references to which the Husseini discourse may be attributed, as these references have shaped a clearly defined structural framework and vision. All of this is pursued through applications to selected examples of this discourse that realize what is meant here by the implied structure.
The Narrative of Food in Selected Models of Gulf Fiction
The relationship between food and narrative cannot be described as merely a formal or ornamental one; rather, it constitutes one of the systems of culture and social customs. Hence, Ibn Khaldun linked types of food to the nature of peoples. In the field of literature, food is a discursive phenomenon with a presence in both poetry and narrative. Accordingly, selected models of Gulf fiction provide a space for understanding this relationship between food and narrative. The study is organized into three main sections, preceded by an introductory section that serves as a preliminary approach. The first section, “Concepts of Food Narrative and Its Role in Gulf Fiction,” examines the theoretical dimensions of the topic. The second section, “Food and the Diaspora of Identity in The Bamboo Stalk by Saud Al-Sanousi,” includes subsidiary discussions addressing the theme of food in the novel The Bamboo Stalk. The third section, “Food and the Conflict of Modernity in Dar Khawlah by Buthaina Al-Essa,” contains two subsidiary discussions. The study concludes with a conclusion presenting its findings.
Lecturer. PhD. Walaa Ismail Abdul Kareem
Problematic Issues in the Revelation of the Qur’anic Text between the Islamic Perspective and Contemporary Debate: An Analytical and Critical Study
This study presents an analytical and critical examination of the problematic issues surrounding the revelation of the Qur’anic text in terms of its concept, stages, and interpretation, through a review of both traditional and modern Islamic views, as well as Western Orientalist criticism. The study focuses on analyzing the distinction between nuzūl and tanzīl, between instantaneous and gradual revelation, and between the unseen dimension of revelation and modern historical and textual approaches. It also discusses the most prominent Orientalist hypotheses in this field, such as the theory of the gradual composition of the text, environmental influences, and the historicity of revelation, while offering rational and textual responses to them. The study concludes that the Islamic perspective possesses a coherent interpretive framework that integrates sanctity and gradualism, as well as revelation and lived reality, in contrast to what is proposed by some Western readings.
Lecturer. Dr. Anwar Abd Ali Hamid Al-Miyah
Intentionality and Acceptability in Abu al-Su‘ud’s Exegesis: A Textual Study
This study engages with modern linguistic studies, including the seven standards of textuality, according to which a text cannot be regarded as a text unless these seven standards are present collectively. Among these standards, the study selects two—intentionality and acceptability—and traces their foundations in Irshād al-‘Aql al-Salīm ilā Mazāyā al-Kitāb al-Karīm, commonly known as Tafsīr Abī al-Su‘ud, by its author Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Mustafa al-‘Imādī al-Hanafi (d. 982 AH), as an applied model for analysis. The study adopts the descriptive-analytical method, following a theoretical discussion of the importance of these two standards. Hence, the research is entitled Intentionality and Acceptability in Abu al-Su‘ud’s Exegesis: A Textual Study. The study is divided into two chapters: the first is devoted to the standard of intentionality, and the second to the standard of acceptability. It seeks to uncover the roots of text linguistics, which represents a modern trend in the study of texts and in grammatical inquiry, with particular emphasis on these two standards—namely, intentionality and acceptability—in Abu al-Su‘ud’s exegesis of the Holy Qur’an. The study demonstrates the possibility of tracing the presence of these two standards in Abu al-Su‘ud’s Qur’anic exegesis, even though he did not designate them by these specific terms in his own time. At the conclusion of the study, a number of findings are presented, reached by the grace of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Bountiful.
A Reading of the Analysis of Syntactic Structures and Their Artistic Dimensions in Selected Poetic Models
This study investigates the impact of syntactic structures on the formation of literary texts. Grammatical tense in the poetry of Qasim Haddad emerges as a fundamental element in constructing the artistic significance of the text, as verbal and nominal sentences contribute to achieving rhythmic balance, while fronting and postponement play a role in highlighting temporal shifts and diverse expressive contexts. The study also examines the semantic value of qad in the poetry of al-Mutanabbi, where its functions vary among affirmation, intensification, irony, and sarcasm, thereby reinforcing the rhetorical structure of the poetry and adding multiple semantic layers. It further addresses the linguistic construction of the poem Wa Harrā Qalbah, in which the importance of verbal and nominal structures becomes evident in conveying meaning and establishing significance. In addition, fronting and postponement endow the poetic discourse with a distinctive artistic effect, while ellipsis and reconstruction achieve concision without compromising semantic clarity. This reflects al-Mutanabbi’s mastery in employing syntactic techniques in the service of his poetry.
Assistant Prof. Dr. Hadi Khalaf Al-Qarnawi
Sentence Conditions in the Poetry Collection of Mohammad Al- Harzi : " Deletion and Mention as a Model "
This research aims to address the topic of omission and mention within the context of nominal and verbal sentences—one of the most significant stylistic strategies employed by Al-Harzi in his poetry collection. The poet resorts to omission to achieve brevity and density of meaning, opting for fewer words to convey much more. In addition to the suggestiveness and ambiguity that omission introduces, it also allows the poet to expand the meaning through multiple interpretive possibilities, enriching the text with semantic plurality and involving the reader in the process of constructing meaning. Moreover, omission may serve as a means for the poet to guide the reader's mind toward the most important meaning, highlighting and emphasizing it. As for mention, it is the foundation and starting point of speech and may be employed to draw attention or provide emphasis.
Ziyārat al-Nāḥiya al-Muqaddasa : A Stylistic Study
This study adopts Ziyārat al-Nāḥiyah al-Muqaddasah as an analytical stylistic investigation. It aims to deconstruct the text and analyze its distinctive stylistic phenomena by examining all of its linguistic and stylistic levels: phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic, drawing on the mechanisms of the analytical stylistic approach to identify the linguistic and aesthetic features of the text. The study seeks to answer a fundamental question: what is the significance behind the selection of these prominent features in the text, and how have they affected the recipient? The importance of this study lies in shedding light on enduring religious and literary discourses, with the intellectual and cognitive implications they carry and that merit reflection and analysis, foremost among them the texts of supplications and visitation formulas associated with the rightly guiding Imams (peace be upon them). It also arises from a desire to connect contemporary stylistic approaches with the Husseini cause, as a universal human and religious cause that remains ever present and is not confined to one group or a particular sect.
Professor. Dr. Saad Waheed Issa Al-Fartousi
Excess in Multiplying Grammatical Interpretations: Qur’anic Examples
It is generally acknowledged that the multiplicity of grammatical interpretations is an indication of the flexibility of language and a source of its richness. However, this study addresses the excess involved in proposing additional grammatical interpretations beyond those that are commonly accepted and deemed valid. Although such additional interpretations may be formally sound and consistent with grammatical rules, they are considered weak because they distance the text from its intended meaning in accordance with the Qur’anic context in which it appears. The study examines texts for which eight grammatical interpretations have been proposed, as well as texts for which more than eight interpretations have been suggested, beginning with those widely accepted as valid and moving toward those that may involve exaggeration and impose upon the text meanings beyond its intended purport. Although some of these interpretations have been described by scholars as remote, contrived, erroneous, or questionable, and other similar terms have likewise been used in their regard, those scholars still considered them admissible, and they continue to be recorded in their works. Among the findings of the study is the reliance on estimation, ellipsis, and implied elements in grammatical explanation and interpretation, as well as recourse to semantic inclusion in verbs and particles, even when this comes at the expense of established grammatical rules. The study also concludes that the abundance of Qur’anic readings and the اختلاف in their grammatical explanation between nominative, accusative, and genitive forms are among the most important reasons that led to excess in multiplying grammatical interpretations
The Impact of Educational Leadership on Developing Teachers’ Skills through Digital Transformation Programs in Government Schools in the Sultanate of Oman
This study aimed to determine the degree of impact of educational leadership on the development of teachers’ skills through digital transformation programs in government schools in the Sultanate of Oman. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researchers adopted the descriptive-analytical approach. A questionnaire was developed as the study instrument and administered to male and female teachers in government schools across all governorates of the Sultanate, totaling eleven governorates. The sample consisted of 545 teachers, representing 89.6% of the original study population. The findings revealed a strong correlation (0.820) between the dimensions of educational leadership and digital transformation programs, with a significance level of (0.000), indicating a statistically significant effect. The results also showed that communication, guidance, and support had a substantial impact on digital transformation programs, with probability values of (0.000) for each. Although the dimension of leadership effectiveness did not show a statistically significant effect (0.131), all other dimensions of educational leadership had a statistically significant impact on teachers’ skills, with probability values of less than (0.05). The results further indicated that 67% of the variation in digital transformation programs is attributable to the dimensions of educational leadership, while 55.8% of the variation in teachers’ skills is explained by these dimensions. When digital transformation programs were introduced as a mediating variable, a decrease was observed in the direct effect of educational leadership on teachers’ skills; however, the effect through digital transformation programs remained strong, indicating the effective mediating role of these programs in enhancing teachers’ skills. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening the dimensions of educational leadership, such as communication, guidance, and support, in order to support digital transformation programs and thereby improve teachers’ skills in government schools. The study concluded with a set of recommendations, the most important of which are that government schools in the Sultanate of Oman should enhance communication and guidance skills between educational leaders and teachers through workshops and training courses, and that the Ministry of Education should allocate larger budgets to digital transformation programs in order to provide the resources necessary for teacher training and infrastructure improvement.
Principal Researcher : Dr. Radhiya Sulaiman Nasser Al-Habsi
Assistant Researcher: Louza Thani Hamad Al-Hadhrami
The Spatial Distribution of Certain Natural Minerals in the Soils of Basrah Governorate and the Potential for Their Investment
Natural minerals constitute one of the fundamental pillars of development when they are properly utilized and invested, as they provide hard currency that revitalizes the national economy and contribute to progress and balance in consumption. From this standpoint, the study aimed to identify certain types of natural minerals and their spatial variation in order to invest in them for the revitalization of the local economy and to avoid dependence on a single mineral resource. The distribution of natural minerals varied across the districts of Basrah Governorate; however, some districts ranked higher than others in terms of concentration and spread. Al-Qurnah, Shatt al-Arab, and Al-Faw ranked first in gold concentration; Al-Qurnah, Al-Zubair, and Shatt al-Arab in silver concentration; and platinum recorded its highest concentration in Al-Qurnah, Al-Zubair, and Al-Faw. Rhodium was most widely distributed in Safwan, Shatt al-Arab, and Al-Faw, while aluminum recorded its highest concentration in Al-Faw, Shatt al-Arab, and Al-Qurnah. Thorium was recorded equally in Al-Qurnah and Shatt al-Arab, followed by Al-Faw and Safwan, whereas strontium reached its highest concentration in Al-Zubair, Safwan, and Basrah. The study also showed that Al-Faw, Shatt al-Arab, and Al-Qurnah had the widest distribution of copper and nickel, while lead was concentrated in Shatt al-Arab, Al-Qurnah, and Al-Zubair. Iron was widely distributed in Al-Faw, Shatt al-Arab, and Al-Qurnah. Uranium, by contrast, was distributed across Basrah Governorate as a whole with equal concentration, while cesium showed a broad distribution in Shatt al-Arab, Al-Qurnah, and Al-Faw. Mercury was most widely distributed in Al-Qurnah, Shatt al-Arab, Safwan, and Basrah.
Prof. Dr. Ali Nasser Abdullah Al-Sarayfi
The Impact of Climate Change on Changes in the Duration of Shallow and Deep Trough and Ridge Patterns over Iraq during the Rainy Season
This study aims to examine the impact of climate change on the patterns of occurrence of atmospheric troughs and ridges over Iraq during the rainy season. Three minor climatic cycles were identified, each extending over eleven rainy seasons: 1954–1964, 1984–1994, and 2014–2024. The number of days of persistence for the four patterns of troughs and ridges, in both their deep and shallow forms, was determined. The results revealed a trend toward a decline in the number of days associated with the persistence of deep polar trough patterns, accompanied by an increase in their shallow cases, while both the deep and shallow cases of tropical ridges showed an increase over Iraq. The weakening of deep polar trough activity during Iraq’s rainy season reduces the activity of surface depressions, transforming them into shallow, short-lived systems, and weakens atmospheric instability associated with the activity of the accompanying air fronts. This, in turn, affects rainfall amounts, which have been declining in recent years. In contrast, the growing dominance of tropical ridges and the lengthening of their duration of persistence result from the displacement of the Hadley Cell toward the middle latitudes during the rainy season, which increases the occurrence of atmospheric stability and activates surface high-pressure systems that function as pressure barriers, preventing the advance of depressions and contributing to the predominance of drought conditions.
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Jassim Mohammed Al-Hassan
The Impact of Climate Change on Tomato Cultivation in Al-Zubair District
The study examined the impact of climate change on tomato crop productivity in Al-Zubair District. It focused on a highly significant issue facing the agricultural sector, namely climatic changes, which constitute the most important factor influencing agricultural production. The worsening of this phenomenon has contributed to shortening the crop’s growth period and reducing its productivity, because variation and fluctuation in the rates and totals of climatic elements disrupt the crop’s physiological processes, increase evapotranspiration rates, and consequently halt productive processes. Thereafter, plant seedlings begin to wither, leading ultimately to their gradual and rapid death. The study found that the tomato crop is affected by climatic elements, particularly temperature, which exerts both direct and indirect effects. Temperature has numerous adverse effects on the crop, depending on the type of climatic phenomenon, its intensity, the duration of exposure, and the stage of plant growth. The study also demonstrated the extent of variation in climatic characteristics across the climatic cycles (1990–2000), (2001–2011), and (2012–2022), which affected agricultural production through increased rates that greatly exceeded the requirements needed by the tomato crop for growth. Moreover, an inverse relationship was identified with most climatic elements, such as temperature, relative humidity, high temperatures, low precipitation, as well as winds and dust storms. The effects of these factors are reflected in both the reduction and intensification of their impact on the components of the natural environment, and consequently on tomato crop production.
The Military Character and the Techniques of Its Theatrical Performance
This study examines the military character, given the distinctive traits and presence it embodies within society. However, its theatrical representation entails artistic challenges, particularly in light of some actors’ lack of the techniques required for its performance, or their portrayal of it through a stereotypical mode of acting that does not accord with its realistic and emotional nature. This often results in a superficial presentation that is inconsistent with its heroic history. In view of its growing importance in the modern era, the theatre has shown considerable interest in how an actor’s internal and external techniques may be employed, since the actor constitutes a crucial element in the processes of communication and psychological influence involved in embodying the military character and bringing out its physical and psychological features on stage. This, in turn, contributes to deepening the audience’s understanding of this character and its symbolic dimensions. The study also discusses the role of theatre directors in emphasizing the importance of performance techniques and the multiple challenges involved in fully inhabiting this character. On this basis, the researcher divided the topic of the study, The Military Character and the Techniques of Its Theatrical Performance, into four chapters. The first chapter presents the methodological framework, the research problem and the need for the study, the objective of the study, its limits, and the definition and specification of terms. The researcher formulated the problem of the study through the following question: To what extent do theatrical performance techniques affect the embodiment of the military character? The significance of the study lies in highlighting the artistic dimension of embodying the military character and in developing the tools of the stage actor by shedding light on the importance of both internal and external techniques, proceeding from the objective of the study, which is to explain how theatrical performance techniques may be employed in presenting the military character convincingly. The researcher relied on operational definitions of the terms character and military. In the theoretical framework, the researcher addressed two sections: the first concerns the concept of the military character historically, and the second addresses theatrical performance techniques. The third chapter presents the research population, the research instrument, the research methodology, and the model for analyzing the research sample in light of the findings of the theoretical framework. The fourth chapter presents the results reached by the researcher, followed by the conclusions, proposals, and recommendations. The study concludes with a list of sources and a summary of the research in Arabic.
Assistant Professor Dr. Hassanein Abdel Wahab
Variation and Difference in the Actor’s Discourse between Street Theatre and Proscenium Theatre
The present study examines variation and difference in the actor’s discourse between street theatre and proscenium theatre, in view of the evident importance of this issue in constructing the character and the mechanisms through which it is presented to the audience. The researcher seeks to address the most significant axes that may support the process of theatrical performance and the interactive participation imposed by productions in these two theatrical forms, in addition to resolving the overlap and ambiguity between them. On this basis, the study is organized as follows: Chapter One, the methodological framework, presents the research problem through the following question: Has the actor in Iraqi theatre been able to distinguish between performance styles in street theatre and proscenium theatre? The chapter then addresses the significance of the study, the need for it, its objective, and its limits (temporal, spatial, and thematic), followed by a specification of terms and their operational definitions at the end of the chapter. Chapter Two, the theoretical framework and previous studies, comprises two sections as follows: The first section: Street theatre and proscenium theatre: concept and development. The second section: The actor’s discourse in street theatre and proscenium theatre in international experiences. Chapter Two also includes the most important indicators yielded by the theoretical framework, followed by the previous studies. Chapter Three is devoted to the research procedures, methodology, and research sample. Chapter Four presents the results and conclusions reached by the researcher through the analysis of the sample in relation to the objectives of the study and their discussion, in addition to recommendations and proposals, followed by the list of sources and references.
Researcher: Karam Abdulkarim Abdulrazzaq
Assistant Professor Dr. Haider Salih Dashir
Cognitive perspective on the novel of Passion (Al-Tashahī ) by Alia Mamdouh
The research examines conceptual metaphor cognitive structures in Alia Mamdouh's Arabic novel Al-Tashahī (2007) to understand how metaphorical saturation works as a method of epistemological resistance, rather than simply helping people understand concepts better. The research applies Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), force dynamics, and scalar semantics to study 59 metaphors, which were extracted through systematic methods, for the quantitative and qualitative assessment of three research questions about metaphor saturation, body involvement, and power dynamics. The research shows three main results, which include: (1) high Domain Diversity Ratios that show systematic schematic incompatibility between different target domains; (2) the hydro-liminal cognitive system uses fluid metaphors to represent states approaching phase-transition thresholds; and (3) the study detected major changes in agency distribution through non-standard force-dynamic arrangements. The research extends CMT through its discovery of scalar liminality as a fundamental mental-processing system, which it combines with empirical evidence to support Cognitive Poetics in analyzing how metaphor density impacts meaning resistance. The research shows that modern Arabic literary studies can contribute to broader cognitive-linguistic theory by analyzing contemporary Arabic narrative.
Spatial Symbolism and Atmosphere in Short Fiction: A Comparative Reading of Hemingway's Cat in the Rain, Wilde's The Happy Prince and Saki's The Open Window
This article builds on the theoretical assumptions in Bachelard’s Poetics of space, Tuan's Space and place, Foucault's idea of Heterotopia (Space/Place) exploring how space and place bring meaning into creation with particular reference to three typical short stories: Hemingway's "Cat in the Rain" (1925), Wilde’s The Happy Prince (1888,) and Saki The Open Window (1914). Through careful interpretive and comparative study of these selected short stories, we look at the intersection/interaction value of space, place being in the creation of meaning in these stories. The study shows that the idea of place is used by writers as a humanized space, center with active movement and interaction. In the prose of these three authors there was some variation in representational style when they introduced their characters via places: at times place was a metaphor Beyond representing spatial worlds for these characters, it also served as a sort of atmospheric poetry. The study argues that in the light of the interrelation between characters' space, place, memory, history, action, emotionthose China characters whose current demands cannot be met by an understanding reader's guide or someone who is only frequently physically viewing them means include their psychological states and individuality, etc. are their own space/places: this was set up stylistically by the author.
Dr. Lecturer Sameer abd alhussein hassan
The Effect of Cultural Schematic Information on English Language Students Performance in Reading Comprehension Class
This study investigates the influence of cultural schema and text content on EFL reading comprehension of English as a Foreign Language among undergraduate students. The research is applied to 120 second year students from the Departments of English, Colleges of Arts and Education, at the University of Basrah. The participants were equally distributed by institution and gender. That is, 60 students per college; 30 males and 30 females per group by using a quasi-experimental designed test combined with a descriptive questionnaire. The experimental test involved two reading comprehension tasks that concentrated on the theme of elections; the first of which is embedded in an Iraqi cultural context, whereas the other in an American cultural context. Each text was followed by an assessment of 15 items in order to measure the depth of comprehension. The statistical analysis showed that the learners’ preexisting cultural schema and background knowledge are significantly influence their reading performance. Additionally, the results indicated that independent variables, namely the place of residence, gender, and the period of internet and the consumption of television, had a serious part in shaping the students' access to the target culture knowledge. These results, moreover, suggest that the additional exposure and demographic factors are, specifically, instrumental in developing the cognitive schema which is necessary for effective second language reading comprehension.