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Hannan Afzal, National University of Modern Languages,
Islamabad, Pakistan Faculty of English E-mail: hannan0304@yahoo.com
Zafar Iqbal,
National University of Modern Languages,
Islamabad, Pakistan E-mail: zafar3596iqbal@gmail.com
REPRESENTATION OF PAKISTAN'S INTERNATIONAL ISSUES THROUGH NEWSPAPER CARTOONS: A SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS
Abstract: The article highlights the Pakistan's international issues through a semiotic analysis of cartoons in Pakistani newspapers. Henceforth, the issue of Kashmir and Corruption issue are emphasized as international issues through semiotic analyses of two cartoons.
Keywords: semiotic analysis, cartoons, issues of Pakistan.
1. Introduction
Semiotics means the study of visible language i.e. signs, photos, cartoons etc. Often scholars seem confused due to the traditional theory of Saussure-an which is called semiology but its only the subset of the semiotics. Semiotics discourse includes the study of semiosis (study of the sign process), indication, symbolism, analogy, allegory, designation, metaphor, likeness, metonymy, signification and communication [1, P. 3].
2. Literature Review
According to Saussure (1991) the sign is signifier and meaning of sign is signification [2]. Furthermore, he argues that meaning can be derived heteroge-neously from a single homogenous language. Hence, he argues that sign language plays an important role between two or more people having distinctive language to communicate with each other [2]. Bozkort and Uzun (2015) argue that the semiotic discourse is a branch oflinguistic analysis and it increases writing skills of the students [3]. Culler (2002) states that the words semiotics is derived from the Greek word 'semions' which means 'sign or mark' [4]. Hence, we can say that the study of semiotics is not a contem-
porary branch of the language, yet, it is as old as the language is. According to Parsa and Parsa (2004), semiotics is the study of sign process and sign keeps two-fold meaning; signify and significant [5]. Semiotic analysis would be a tool through which sign and symbol could be interpreted.
Beveniste (1995) describes that language is a physical phenomenon which could be understood through sounds and concepts, for instance, the word 'bear' would keep different meanings according to different situations and conditions in which the sound of bear occur [6]. For example, Nargis is a stage performer and only performs on the stage, so that, the word 'stage' would give meaning according to the situation in which it is used. Marayama (1983) argues that the sign language could be understood as; a signifier and signify [7]. But according to Saussure (1993) a word has only one signifier [2] but Marayama gives an example of French word sens. "It is significant as a /sa: s/ an signify senses is velour as potential which is realize and significations for corresponding to Japanese word meaning senses and direction. Its depending on context where it is used" [7]. Moreover, he points out that "son violin
is meme son (French sentence)" [7]. Its means his violin has the same sound. In the above-mentioned sentence, the word son is used two times having distinctive meanings; first 'son' means 'his' and second 'son' means 'sound'. Hence, we can say that one word of sign has more than one signifies and signifier.
3. Analysis
In the (Figure 1), it can be easily understood that Indian government is holding election in the Kashmir and ballet box is in the hand of Modi (a prime minister of India) and Modi has a knife behind his back. A knife is wet with the blood. And there are also some chairs behind the PM of India which are empty and not a single person is sitting on these chairs. There are also three statements written on the Figure 1. First statement is "Modi Sarkar" then "Kashmir Election" and lastly "Killing the people
of Kashmir". All the statements show that Indian government holds elections in Kashmir to show the world that they are called democratic, hence in actual, they kill people in Kashmir. Print media portrays the cartoons as a tool of communication and the readers would understand it through the semiotics discourse. The issue of Kashmir causes many battles between Pakistan and India and media of Pakistan often highlights it at both domestic and international levels. And due to this act of print media of Pakistan, UNO also accepts that Indian government is ruling over Kashmir through military force without the consent of the Kashmir's people. And it is also against the rules of UNO. Hence, Pakistan is facing a lot of problems due to the issue of Kashmir, yet the peace of subcontinent only could be possible when this issue will resolve properly.
Figure 1. URL: https://e.jang.com.
In the (Figure 2), we can easily realize that decreasing the value of Pakistani rupees & increasing the value of dollar is another huge problem that Pakistan faces at domestic and international level. Increasing value of dollar also causes increasing in the debt which Pakistan takes from IMF. Such problem would harmful for the Pakistan. In the Figure 2, there are two cartoons; one is on the top of the mountain and second and second is falling from that mountain due to the push of
pk/06-28-2018/lahore/page15.asp
first cartoon. First cartoon marked with the dollar sign and second is marked with the Rs (Pakistani Rupee Sign). Dollar represents the world bank because it practices the dollar for its business. First cartoon guises healthy & strong which shows that IMF is in strong position and second cartoon guises in week position which shows the weakness of the Pakistan in contrast with the IMF. Hence, Pakistan should have to pay a serious attention towards this issue.
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Figure 2. URL: https://www.dailyparliamenttimes.com/20-07-2018
In (Figure 3), we can analyze through the semiotic discourse that corruption is another problem for Pakistan which creates lots of crises at domestic and international level. For instance, debt of Pakistan increasing day by day, and due the corruption, Pakistan fails to pay the debt. Politicians of Pakistan saving/sending their money in foreign countries which they earn through corruption and they are also immigrating with their families in foreign
counties as well. The (Figure 3), there are three cartoons; one is of the Hussain Nawaz (left) and second is of the Hassan Nawaz (middle) and last is of the Ishaq Dar (right). They all left the country and shifted their asserts in England. All three above mentioned persons are wanted criminals in Pakistan due to the corruption cases. Although, NAB follows them and tries to catch them to bring back to Pakistan through Interpol.
Figure 3. URL: https://www.dawn.com/news/1416544
References:
1. Leeuwen T. Introducing Social Semiotics - 2005.- P. 1-4). New York. Routledge.
2. Saussure F. de. Troisieme Cours de Linguistique Général - 1910-1911 d'après les cahiers d'Emile Constantin, Saussure's Third Course ofLectures on General Linguistics (1910-1911) From the note-books of Emile Constantin, French text edited by Eisuke Komatsu, English translation by Roy Harris. Pergamon Press.
3. Bozkurt U., & Uzun N. E. Turkcenin egitimi-ogretimine iliskin bir alanyazini degerlendirmesi: Uluslara-rasi bilimsel toplantilarda egilimler/yonelimler [A review of literature on Turkish language education: Trends in international conferences] - 2015. Dil Egitimi ve Arastirmalari Dergisi, 1(2),- P. 1-15.
4. Culler J. The pursuit of signs: semiotics, literature, deconstruction - 2002. Cornell University Press.
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