Basra studies journal

This Research examines language correction methodologies in Iraq from a linguistic perspective that balances the requirements of prescriptive norms aimed at preserving the Arabic language in institutional discourse with the principles of linguistic description that analyze language phenomena as they appear in actual usage without undermining the vitality of the language. The study is based on the hypothesis that many commonly practiced correction methods tend toward a traditional pedagogical model that excessively broadens the concept of “error,” to the extent that it may confuse structural errors with stylistic or pragmatic variation. This, in turn,
affects the quality of texts produced within educational, administrative, and media institutions.

This Research seeks to uncover local representation in the novel *Swiss Summer* by the Iraqi novelist Anam Kachachi, through observing and analyzing local forms of expression incorporated into the narrative, such as proverbs, songs, and colloquial sayings. The research begins by invoking Iraqi colloquialisms and exploring the contexts that prompted their presence. Therefore, the research emphasizes that the incorporation of Iraqi colloquialisms is not merely a response to narrative necessities or the realism of the setting, but rather an act of resistance that seeks to produce a narrative language resistant to erasure, one that reinforces a memory that a Swiss pharmaceutical company seeks to dismantle.

This study aims at exploring the various techniques of self-revelation in Iraqi narrative, through the fabric of philosophy, which occupies a significant space in the ‘irfāni (gnostic) novel. Philosophy is employed in multiple forms, grounded in the scientific field that contributes to shaping the complete image of narrative construction. The novel presents itself as a stage for philosophical expression through narrative techniques such as dialogue—both pure and monologic—using two key devices: genre blending and intertextuality. These tools help articulate the ideology of the intended self within this philosophical structure, which in turn evokes the reader’s mind to easily identify a specific form of the lost self: the scientific self. This self emerges with greater collective reassurance and a smoother reliance on the Islamic philosophical heritage.

This Research examines Basra during the Sasanian period as a zone of cultural and political interaction between the Sasanian Empire and the Arab tribes. The Sasanians relied on garrisons and frontier outposts to secure their dominance over Al-Ubulla and the Shatt al-Arab, yet their control remained fragile due to persistent Arab raids and shifting alliances based on mutual interests. At the same time, the Arabs were not merely a rebellious force; they also engaged in trade and social exchange, creating a state of forced coexistence. The study demonstrates that the relationship between the Sasanians and the Arabs was a complex dialectic of conflict and coexistence, which gradually weakened Sasanian authority, fostered a sense of Arab independence, and paved the way for the Muslim conquest. Thus, Islamic Basra did not emerge in isolation but represented a continuation and qualitative transformation of a cumulative legacy of both conflict and coexistence.

The Economic situation in the city of Basra developed after the establishment of the Arab Islamic conquests in it, which led to attracting a large number of people to it, due to the important and vital geographical location of the city, as it overlooks the head of the Arabian Gulf, which made it a link between the Far East (India and China) and East Africa on one side and the Arabian Peninsula on the other. The city of Basra is one of the important places in Iraq throughout history, due to the great importance it has formed in all economic aspects of agriculture, industry, and trade . Basra is one of the most prominent cities in Iraq, possessing the elements of economic development throughout history. The writings of Arab geographers and travelers are often relied upon to fill gaps in any subject of historical studies, in addition to travelogues which are a rich source of information for historical writing.

Al-Hartha and Al-Deir districts have been chosen for an analytical population study in light of the changes observed in the population census of 1997 and population estimates for 2023.The study aims to provide insights into the demographic composition of Al-Hartha and Al-Deir districts and to compare them over the time period of 1997-2023. It reveals an increase in population size in 2023 for both districts ,as well as an increase in the sex ratio and a rise in the percentage of young people , indicating a youthful population.
Regarding indicators of qualitative and age composition, the overall dependency ratio has increase , and the median age s higher among females than males .The aging ratio is small due to the high youth population. The study relied on the 1997 general population census for Al-Hartha and Al- Deir , as well as the population estimates for 2023 .All steps of the study were conducted according to a descriptive analytical and illustrative representations that were included.

This Research analyzes the current state and future prospects of religious tourism in Diyala Province in Iraq for focusing on the geographical distribution of religious shrines and their socio-economic impact. Diyala hosts over 50 religious sites across six districts—such as the Shrine of Imam Abu Idris in Baqubah and the therapeutic Shrine of Al-Haj Yousif—positioning it as a key destination for local and international visitors. Despite significant potential (e.g., strategic location between Iran and Baghdad, demographic diversity), the province faces critical challenges, including inadequate infrastructure (roads, electricity, lodging), security deficits, and lack of integrated tourism planning. Findings indicate that addressing these issues could increase visitor numbers and boost economic revenues (globally estimated at $5 billion annually). Practical recommendations include establishing a dedicated tourism authority, upgrading infrastructure, and promoting international marketing partnerships with neighboring Islamic countries.

The study aims at studying the impact of climate change on the temperatures of the winter solstice and perihelion in Iraq for the period 1957-2023. Both days witness the occurrence of two important astronomical phenomena: the first is the astronomical onset of winter in the northern hemisphere, and the second is the approach of the Earth in its orbit to the sun, coinciding with the coldest months of the year in the northern hemisphere. By analyzing the trend of daily time series of temperatures (minimum, maximum, and average), it was found that there is a general trend of rising temperatures as a result of climate change, and that the change in the values of minimum temperatures was the highest compared to maximum temperatures. The rates are a result of the imbalance of radiation in the atmosphere caused by the heat accumulation during the night hours, which raises the minimum temperature values. The Rutba station recorded the highest percentage of change in the minimum temperature for the winter solstice, which amounted to 1.57%, while the highest percentage of change in the minimum temperature for the perihelion was recorded in the Mosul station, which amounted to 1.24%. and the highest rate of change in rates was recorded at Khanaqin station on the day of the solstice, at 0.44%. There is a difference between the stations in the study area due to their locational conditions and the nature of the weather influences during the cold season of the year. Therefore, both days have been affected by climate change, with their temperatures rising to higher values than those recorded in previous years.

Visual pollution is one of the major obstacles that affect the process of urban development. This study addressed one of the environmental pollutants that humans feel and live with and has become part of their daily lives. In 2003, this research aims to identify the manifestations of visual pollution and its causes and effective solutions to reduce them. for the city dwellers. One of the most common causes of visual pollution in the city of Al-Dura (Abu Dashir) is the spread of waste and garbage due to the lack of environmental awareness, and the abundance of billboards and the difference in the colors of building covers and their design, which means the marginalization of the additional environmental aspect. for the course city as well as the absence of urban aesthetic vision. Therefore, the researcher believes that the activation of the laws on urban and architectural planning, including the obligation of residents, designers and engineers to implement buildings according to an architectural model of similar shape, size and color, and apply when issuing a building permit, to eliminate the randomness and disorder in the building It improves the aesthetic appearance of the city and helps to limit this phenomenon.

This paper examines the western basins of Al-Muthanna desert as one of the important dry basins in the southern Iraqi desert. The study of the topographical characteristics of these basins reflects the interrelationships between erosion factors and processes, in combination with the associated and resulting geological phenomena. This analysis relies on data obtained from contour maps and satellite imagery. The field study of the region and digital elevation data (DEM) were used to create a geographic database of the region's basins, due to the importance of the valley basins and the possibility of rehabilitating them. The study also aimed to provide results and proposals based on the results of the geomorphological characteristics of the basins of the western Al-Muthanna desert, which cover an area of (42,382) km2, and are located in the north eastern part of the south western desert of Iraq within the administrative boundaries.
Al-Muthanna Governorate is considered a dry basin for most of the year, with water flowing only during the rainy season. The features of its valleys and river network were shaped under rainy conditions dating back to the Pleistocene era. Analysis of the basin's surface characteristics and their impact on geomorphological processes reveals increased activity in slope retreat and landslide processes in the region has contributed to the development of erosive activity in the basins and variations in surface characteristics.

The study aims at analyzing the traffic movement of freight vehicles at the main northern and western entrances of Shatt Al-Arab District by monitoring the passage of freight vehicles during peak hours (morning peak, afternoon peak, and evening peak). The research relied on field surveys and statistical data analysis. The results showed that the (Khalid Bin Al-Walid Bridge) entrance recorded the highest traffic density for passing freight vehicles, reaching (37%) or 352 vehicles per hour during the morning peak on a working day. Meanwhile, the (Al-Tanouma Bridge) entrance of Shatt Al-Arab – Basra ranked last in freight vehicle traffic density, recording (27%) or 133 vehicles per hour during the evening peak on a working day, out of a total of 489 vehicles. On a holiday, the (Al-Deir Bridge) entrance of Shatt Al-Arab – Al-Deir recorded the highest percentage of freight vehicle traffic during the morning peak at (43%), then dropped to the last rank during the evening peak of the same day at (26%) compared to the other entrances.

This paper aims at exploring the level of psychological adaptation and learning desire among fifth-grade literary students in geography classes, in addition to studying the relationship between these two variables. The researchers employed a descriptive approach using survey and correlational study methods. The research community consisted of 80 students, representing all students in the fifth literary grade in geography, who were selected entirely as a sample for the study. The researchers applied the psychological adaptation and learning desire scales to this sample and used appropriate statistical treatments to analyze and discuss the results. The findings showed a positive relationship between psychological adaptation and learning desire, indicating that an increase in psychological adaptation is associated with a heightened desire to learn among students. Based on these results, the researchers recommended the following:
1-Applying the psychological adaptation and learning desire scales as a means to measure these traits among students in other educational stages.
2-Encouraging students on the importance of daily reading and avoiding the accumulation of study materials before exams to reduce feelings of fear and anxiety.
3-Motivating participation in various activities such as festivals, literary exhibitions, and training courses.
4-Measuring other psychological traits that may affect students\' practical and theoretical performance.
These recommendations may contribute to enhancing psychological adaptation and increasing the desire to learn, which positively reflects on academic achievement.

This critical review provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of studies that have addressed the phenomenon of code-switching between Arabic and English in Arabic digital discourse (from social media platforms and online comments to blogs, instant messages and internet forums) during the period from 2005 to 2024. The review incorporates the analysis of 60 peer-reviewed studies selected according to the PRISMA protocol from global academic databases, and addresses four main themes: the theoretical frameworks employed in the study of digital code-switching, the Structural and functional patterns documented-- in Arabic-English digital discourse, the identity and ideological dimensions associated with the switch in cyberspace, and finally the research methods used and their suitability to the specificities of the digital environment. The review concludes that Arabic digital discourse offers an exceptionally rich field for –trans-languaging, surpassing in its complexity and specificity the traditional theoretical frameworks derived from face-to-face spoken discourse. There is a pressing need to develop analytical approaches tailored to the digital environment, taking into account the unique characteristics of multi-system digital writing and the nature of real-time and near-real-time electronic interaction.

The Research explores the transformations of poetic taste in the poetry of naqa'id (poetic duels), through an analytical reading of the naqa'id between Jarir and Al-Farazdaq, based on Reception Theory, which places the audience at the center of the literary process as an active partner in the production of meaning. The study traces how the satirical structure of naqa'id shaped the audience's horizon of expectation during the Umayyad era, and how these poems responded to the expectations of recipients who were not merely consumers of the text, but partners in its reproduction through tribal, social, and rhetorical interaction.
The Research also highlights the dialectical nature of naqa'id as an open poetic debate subject to contextual transformations, reflecting a conflict over identity between the two poets' tribes. The poems were not produced in a vacuum, but within a space charged with political and social tensions, making reception a vital moment that reveals the sensitivity and transformations of popular taste.
The study includes both theoretical and applied sections, namely: concepts of taste and the semantic evolution of the critical term, the horizon of reception, poetic taste and the horizon of expectation and its transformations in the poetry of naqa'id, and an analysis of a selected example from the naqa'id of Jarir and Al-Farazdaq. It demonstrates how public taste was shaped and transformed between appreciation of linguistic skill and rhetorical ingenuity, and allegiance to tribal identity and belonging.

This study examines spatial variation in e-shopping across Kirkuk City and its impact on urban retail activity using field surveys and composite indices. The findings reveal clear differences between neighborhoods and strong sectoral variation. Clothing and electronics were the most affected sectors. Retailers reported sales decreases of 62% in clothing and 58% in electronics. while Groceries remained relatively stable, with 24% reporting decreased sales and 56% reporting stable sales. Service activities also remained stable, with 61% reporting stability and 21% reporting increases. Restaurants showed a shift from in-store sales to delivery. About 57% of restaurant owners reported increased delivery orders. In contrast, 49% reported a decline in in-store sales. Overall, the impact of e-shopping is spatially and sector-ally selected for highlighting the need to strengthen hybrid retail and digital adaptation.

In Ismail Fahd Ismail's novel The Sky Was Blue, the relation between man and place is one of the most important things that build up the story and its thematic levels. The narration deals with how people are rooted in their environment and how places, in turn, influence the lives, decisions, and psychological states of the characters. The novel delves into the psychological and emotional consequences of a changing landscape on the identity and worldview of the protagonist. Using personal history intermixed with the larger socio-political environment, Ismail examines in exemplary fashion the way place functions as both a literal and metaphorical background to the characters' experiences. This novel slowly reveals how the relation of the characters to their environment mirrors bigger themes of memory, belonging, and loss—offering deep comments on the role that place plays in shaping human life.

Aspecific Refered Journal Published by the center of Basra Studies &Arab Gulf Basrah University