Background and Purpose: Coronavirus has posed an unfamiliar threat to the world. Despite such circumstances, Malaysians continue to stay optimistic by keeping abreast with updates and mostly by seeking refuge in hopeful and consoling messages shared by fellow citizens. This study identified Facebook postings with positive messages, posted by Malaysians during the Movement Control Order (MCO) implemented by the Malaysian government as a form of prosocial behaviour. Methodology: Through an analytic framework consisting of Positive Discourse Analysis and Critical Discourse Analysis, 15 Facebook postings related to COVID-19 were selected and identified as positive discourse, which were coded and categorised using a thematic analysis. Further analysis was also conducted on the linguistic features identified in the narratives of the postings showing the construction of positive discourse in the Facebook postings. Findings: The findings demonstrate an extensive utilisation of expressions of solidarity primarily through collective pronouns like “we” and “us”, which suggest solidarity and empowerment among Malaysians in dealing with COVID-19. Further analysis reveals the forms and contextual functions of the linguistic strategies as carrying pragmatic devices (e.g. speech acts and figurative language), which contributes to the power enactment in the Facebook postings in creating an overall positive reaction. Contributions: This critical discourse study does not only promote positive discourse for its own sake, but also serves as a pragmatic approach to materialise utilitarian goals. It is therefore hoped to contribute not only to linguistics, but also social, psychological as well as arts and humanities studies through further examinations of the pivotal roles that communication and language play, especially in rising against dire situations. Keywords: COVID-19, Critical Discourse Analysis, media discourse, Positive Discourse Analysis, power and solidarity. Cite as: Azizan, M., Ismail, H. H., & Qaiwer, S. N. (2020). Power and solidarity in positive Facebook postings amidst COVID-19 in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 5(2), 329-364. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol5iss2pp329-364
The effect of the tensor term in the Skyrme interaction has been estimated in calculating the static and dynamic nuclear properties in sd and fp-shell model spaces nuclei. The nuclear shell gaps have been studied with different Skyrme parameterizations; Skxta and Skxtb with tensor interaction, SkX, SkM, and SLy4 without tensor interaction, and Skxcsb with consideration of the effect of charge symmetry breaking. We have examined the stability of N = 28 for 42Si and 48Ca. The results showed that the disappearance of the magicity occurs in the shell closure of 42Si. Furthermore, excitation energy, quadrupole deformation, neutron separation energy, pairing energy, and density profile have also been calculated. Quadrupole deformation indicates a
... Show MoreThe study highlights the critical need to focus on the physical, motor, and technical abilities of female fencing players by developing and testing modern, scientifically-based training methodologies tailored to the specific demands of the sport. The study's objective was to assess the effectiveness of targeted three-dimensional training in enhancing the participants' motor skills and technical performance. Utilizing an experimental design, the study involved forming both experimental and control groups. The sample comprised 16 female fencers from the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences for Girls. After excluding two players during the exploratory phase, the remaining 14 were evenly divided into experimental and contro
... Show MoreBackground: The association between periodontal diseases incidence and development and the metabolic diseases as Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity are recently have attract great deal of researchers attention and investigation. The periodontal health proved to reduce the systemic inflammatory reactions and positively improve the glycemic control of diabetes Type2 patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of oral hygiene control on the glycemic control of obese and normal weight moderately controlled Diabetic Type 2 patients, in addition to study the association of obesity with the gingival inflammation. Materials and Methods: Cross sectional study of three months duration. Included 30 moderately controlled diabetic type2 p
... Show MoreCopper oxide thin films were deposited on glass substrate using Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method at room temperature. The thickness of the thin films was around 0.43?m.Copper oxide thin films were annealed in air at (200, 300 and 400°C for 45min.The film structure properties were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD patterns indicated the presence of polycrystalline CuO. The average grain size is calculated from the X-rays pattern, it is found that the grain size increased with increasing annealing temperature. Optical transmitter microscope (OTM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) was also used. Direct band gap values of 2.2 eV for an annealed sample and (2, 1.5, 1.4) eV at 200, 300,400oC respect
... Show MoreIn this study, the activity concentrations of indoor radon, thoron
and their progeny have been measured in air for 61 different
locations of Al-Maddan city using twin cup dosimeter. Furthermore,
some useful parameters concerning the health hazards have been
estimated; working level month (WLM), annual effective dose (Eff),
and excess lung cancer per million person per year (ELC).The results
show that the values of radon gas levels in the investigated districts
varied from 56.28 to 194.43Bq/m3with an overall average value
132.96Bq/m3, while 0.313 to 1.085 for WLM with an overall average
0.740, respectively. The value of Eff and ELC have been found to
vary from 1.420 to 4.918 mSv/y with an overall average valu
A simulation study is used to examine the robustness of some estimators on a multiple linear regression model with problems of multicollinearity and non-normal errors, the Ordinary least Squares (LS) ,Ridge Regression, Ridge Least Absolute Value (RLAV), Weighted Ridge (WRID), MM and a robust ridge regression estimator MM estimator, which denoted as RMM this is the modification of the Ridge regression by incorporating robust MM estimator . finialy, we show that RMM is the best among the other estimators
Thin films Tin sulfide SnS pure and doped with different ratios of Cu (X=0, 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05) were prepared using thermal evaporation with a vacuum of 4*10-6mbar on two types of substrates n-type Si and glass with (500) nm thickness for solar cell application. X-ray diffraction and AFM analysis were carried out to explain the influence of Cu ratio dopant on structural and morphological properties respectively. SnS phase appeared forming orthorhombic structure with preferred orientation (111), increase the crystallinity degree and surface roughness with increase Cu ratio. UV/Visible measurement revealed the decrease in energy gap from 1.9eV for pure SnS to 1.5 for SnS: Cu (0.05) making these samples suitable f
... Show MoreCurrent research included preparation, characterization of some new chitosan- hydroxy benzaldehyde-Schiff bases with maleic anhydride. The present study aimed to the synthesis and characterization of novel chitosan Schiff base compounds using para- hydroxy benzaldeh and maleic anhydride. The derivative of the schiff-chitosan base, which is associated with different drugs, has been replaced with different amino and hydroxy drugs. The derivative is characterized by different analytical techniques. The results of FT-IR studies clearly indicate construction of the chief amine group in chitosan and the emergence of new bands that correspond to the association of maleic anhydride with the chitosan base. TGA, 1
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