مطالب

Since comics comprise images and texts, the relations between them should be a major concern of comics studies. However, few studies have focused on the intersemiotic interaction between images and texts in the meaning construction of Chinese classic comics. This study applies Martinec and Salway’s system to Tsai Chih-Chung's English comic version of The Analects of Confucius (The Analects), attempting to explore the image-text relations in Chinese classic comics. It is found that the image-text relations in Tsai Chih-Chung's English comic version of The Analects can be summarized as unequal-status and logico-semantics combined. Quantitative analysis shows that the images are always subordinate to the texts, and in terms of logico-semantic relations, all of subsystems but “image more general” are included. Besides, the distribution of the logico-semantic relations of image and text indicates that two different subsystems, namely expansion and projection, integrate and work together to create meanings in this version. Qualitative analysis shows that the tactful deployment of the combinations of image-text relation in The Analects makes it visually-verbally coherent. The intersemiotic interaction between images and texts also contributes a lot to the discourse meaning construction of Tsai Chih-Chung's English comic version. However, in The Analects, the image-text relation relies too much on the extension of the image by the text as well as the projection of locution. This study provides a case reference for the analysis of Chinese classic comic as multimodal discourse, and also contributes to promoting the overseas dissemination of traditional Chinese culture.

The purpose of the present study is to explore the two concepts of time and space in postmodern lyric poetry of the two poets of the 1950s through the lens of the Heideggerian existential theory of time and space, which regards time as a horizon for understanding Being and distinguishes three different types of space: (1) world-space, (2) regions , and (3) Dasein's spatiality. To fulfill this objective, some selected poems of the two poets, including Allen Ginsberg and Ted Hughes, were analyzed temporally and spatially. The findings suggested that the two poets tend to treat time and space existentially and reject eternality. It was revealed that they are existential poets whose existence is manifested in their quest for identity within the immediate world or the global world as well as their concerns for their homeland and ideals. In their poems, time and space are intermingled with Being and reflect each individual’s relationship with the world. The result of the analysis of poems showed that their poetry is not just the language of imagination and perception, but also the language of existence. The world is regarded as an existential space-time continuum and being-in-the-world is the fundamental ontological situation for Dasein. Accordingly, the world, like poetry, is a disclosure of things in nearness or distance, which matters to human beings

The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and its growing societal importance are reshaping decision-making processes and policy analysis roles. This study examines the readiness of manufacturing companies in Malaysia to embrace AI technology, considering its potential to enhance decision-making, productivity, quality control, job automation, and data analysis. Focusing on the Technology, Organization, and Environment (T-O-E) readiness framework, the research investigates the relationship between these dimensions and AI adoption readiness among manufacturing companies in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. AI adoption readiness serves as the dependent variable, while technological, organizational, and environmental readiness dimensions act as independent variables. The study applies the T-O-E framework to AI readiness and proposes a framework for assessing AI readiness at the manufacturing level. It identifies factors influencing readiness within the technological, organizational, and environmental dimensions, including relative advantage, compatibility, resources, competitive pressure, top management support, and government regulations. Through rigorous analysis, patterns, trends, and correlations are revealed, highlighting a significant link between the T-O-E readiness dimensions and AI adoption readiness. Notably, organizational readiness emerges as a key driver of AI adoption in Malaysian manufacturing companies. The results of this investigation have broad implications, offering suggestions to improve organizational preparedness and unlock AI’s potential benefits for businesses in the industrial sector. Additionally, the research lays the groundwork for further studies on AI readiness across various industries and international contexts. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into manufacturing processes, adaptive businesses gain competitive advantages on a global scale. These advantages include increased productivity, informed decision-making, streamlined quality control, improved customer satisfaction, and potential contributions to economic growth. The study concludes by recommending strategies to reinforce organizational readiness and emphasizes the need for future research to deepen understanding of AI adoption readiness in the manufacturing industry. The integration of AI technology offers benefits such as enhanced productivity, decision-making, quality control, and customer satisfaction, granting businesses a competitive edge in the digital landscape and increasing stakeholder interest.

Online review sites and social media platforms have become crucial sources of information for consumers, greatly influencing their purchasing behavior and decision-making, especially in the food and beverage industry. However, not many studies have been carried out to understand how social media influences customers’ purchase intentions at fast-food restaurants. This paper examines the growing influence of social media attributes on purchase intentions, with a focus on the Malaysian context. Previous studies highlight the increasing importance of social media platforms as marketing tools and their impact on customers’ purchase intentions. The research explores the relationship between habit and informativeness and their influence on purchase intentions among young adults in fast-food restaurants. A purposive sampling method was utilized to gather data from 142 fast-food customers through a cross-sectional online survey. The research hypotheses were analyzed using the partial least square structural equation modeling. Key findings found that habit and informativeness have a significant positive impact on customers’ intentions to purchase at fast-food restaurants. The study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the growing influence of social media on consumer behavior in the context of fast-food restaurants. It adds to our understanding of how social media platforms serve as effective marketing tools, particularly among young adults, and how they can influence purchase intentions. By understanding the interplay of habit, informativeness, and purchase intentions, businesses can develop more effective marketing strategies and foster stronger relationships with their customers.