Languages College Discusses a Master’s Thesis on Interpreting English Drug‑Related Memes
The Department of English at the College of Languages, University of Baghdad, discussed the master’s thesis submitted by Omar Rabee Mohammed Dahham, titled: “A Pragmatic‑Network Analysis of Extended Imagery in English Drug‑Related Memes and Their Interpretation by Iraqi EFL Learners.”
The thesis aimed to analyze the structure of English memes related to drugs and addiction from a pragmatic‑network perspective, examining their textual and visual components and exploring the role of culture in interpreting them. It also sought to assess the ability of English‑language students at the College of Languages to understand these memes, identify linguistic and cultural barriers that hinder comprehension of their implicit meanings, and indirectly raise students’ awareness of the dangers of addiction and how memes may oversimplify or downplay the seriousness of the issue.
The study adopted a mixed‑methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative analysis. Twenty memes addressing drugs and addiction were analyzed, followed by a quantitative analysis of responses from fifty Iraqi EFL learners. The results indicated the dominance of cognitive‑frame‑based incongruity and the central role of imagery in constructing and interpreting meaning. After extensive discussion, the committee recommended accepting the thesis after making the required revisions within one month.
The examination committee consisted of:
- Prof. Mahdi Inayah Kareem – Chair
- Asst. Prof. Dr. Thulfiqar Hussein Muhyi – Member
- Asst. Prof. Nawar Hussein Radhewi – Member
- Asst. Prof. Dr. Rasha Abdul‑Ridha Saeed – Supervisor
