Synergy

2

Authors: Roxana Marinescu

This issue of Synergy includes a variety of articles in the areas of language education and learning, applied linguistics, literature and cultural studies. We are, thus, inviting you to read the articles in this issue of Synergy, think about their topics and involve in a written dialogue with their authors.

3

Authors: Anca-Teodora ŞERBAN-OPRESCU

Upon first thought, the idea of disease, of pestilence, of plague, of exposed contaminated flesh or tissue, may provoke repulsion and ontological fear, or trigger questioning the author’s reasons for tackling such a topic. However, upon closer look and reading of the first pages in Florian Andrei Vlad’s book, one quickly understands and becomes an adept of the author’s endeavor.

13

Authors: Florian Andrei VLAD

Toni Morrison’s Beloved, although based on a terrible antebellum episode that shook America, is not a historical novel, despite some notable claims to that effect. To come up with a gripping narrative of imaginative engagement with the past, an author like Morrison has to leave out most of the apparently objective facts of history. These facts, far from removing the vividness and pathos of Beloved, provide a framework and a substance in contrast to which a work of fiction is more likely to be appreciated in its ‘biased’ approach to human experience. What follows focuses on the significance of the Railroad Underground in the shaping of the abolitionist ethos in antebellum America, at the time of Margaret Garner’s trial.

16

Authors: Antonia ENACHE

The present article looks into the way in which former US President Barack Obama capitalizes on the emotional resources of the rhetoric of hope, making use of promises in the State of the Union Addresses in order to win over the audience or, as the case may be, to reinforce his legitimacy and enhance the credibility of his political persona. The research sheds light on the role promises play in political communication, on the way in which they have become an inherent part of a politician’s permanent campaigning, that is, campaigning that goes beyond electoral purposes and aims to put forward and consolidate a specific, long-lasting public image. The corpus consists of the State of the Union Addresses Obama delivered throughout his two terms of office, and our main goal is to identify how the speaker resorts to making promises both for electoral purposes, and to adequately respond to the public’s expectations. Thus, promises not only help lay out the prospect of a brighter future, they also contribute to shaping a political agenda in line with the requirements of the audience.

17

Authors: Bashar FARRAN, Ildikó HORTOBÁGYI

The study investigates whether the Linguistic Landscape (LL) in the main street of Ramallah, Palestine should be considered a situational variable of the English language in the country or a treat-like variable and exclusive to this city. The analysed data include over 519 pictures of signage so as to determine the number of languages used on the signs, the signs genre, their taxonomies, and the number of languages. Findings evince that there are significant differences between language policies and the street reality. The linguistic landscape in the street is not abided by the official language policy regarding the state language (Arabic) nor does it employ any minority language. The results of the study may contribute to ameliorating the situation through the policymakers to rectify the state language status. Further studies are expected to arrive upon other factors that influenced the status quo.

21

Authors: Noha F. ABDELMOTAGALLY

One of the preconditions for personal growth is self-awarenessș that is because real change comes from the heart. If people become aware of their behaviour and their communication patterns, they will be able to modify their lives in a positive direction. When they recognize their problems that need correction and resolve them, they will be able to achieve harmony between the self and the Other. Guided by Eric Berne’s theory of Translational Analysis, this article examines how Leila Abouzeid’s The Last Chapter and Laila Halaby’s West of the Jordan pinpoint the social ills of Arab societies in an attempt to effect a measure of healing.