/library/oar/handle/123456789/7740 2025-12-24T20:35:31Z 2025-12-24T20:35:31Z Zammit, Abigail R. /library/oar/handle/123456789/142451 2025-12-24T09:18:46Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: [Book review] Frendo, Anthony J. - How to read ancient texts : with a focus on select Phoenician inscriptions from Malta Authors: Zammit, Abigail R. Abstract: How does one read ancient texts responsibly? Anthony J. Frendo’s book is a welcome interdisciplinary work for scholars of Northwest Semitic epigraphy (especially Phoenician) and the Hebrew Bible, classical scholars, and archaeologists specialising in the ancient Mediterranean and the Levant (pp.xxi). The book explores two main areas: “the principles of interpretation involved in reading and understanding texts from the ancient Mediterranean world”; and, “[the application of ] the results gained in discussing such principles to three Phoenician inscriptions retrieved from the Maltese archipelago”, namely, the ‘twin’ stelae CIS I, 123 and 123bis, and the Tal-Virtù Papyrus. All three artefacts were discovered in Rabat, Malta.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Gatt, Kurstin Stock, Kristina /library/oar/handle/123456789/141691 2025-11-27T14:26:16Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Words of influence : strategies in contemporary Arabic political speeches Authors: Gatt, Kurstin; Stock, Kristina Abstract: Words of Influence: Strategies in Contemporary Arabic Political Speeches examines how language and rhetoric shape political discourse across the Arab world. By focusing on speeches from figures such as Nouri al-Maliki, Bashar al-Assad, and Hassan Nasrallah, this book explores how classical Arabic oratory and cultural references are intertwined with modern techniques to assert authority, influence audiences, and navigate political landscapes. Drawing on both historical and contemporary contexts, it reveals the enduring power of language in political strategy, highlighting the tools leaders use to construct group identities, evoke national pride, and mobilise support. Through case studies and analysis, the book provides insights into the cultural dimensions of rhetoric and its role in shaping public communication across different Arab societies, making it an essential resource for those seeking to understand the complexities of Middle Eastern political dynamics.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Gatt, Kurstin /library/oar/handle/123456789/140796 2025-11-03T10:52:27Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The social anatomy of Islam [Book review] Authors: Gatt, Kurstin Abstract: In The Social Anatomy of Islam, Róbert Simon offers an ambitious and conceptually rich account of Islamic civilisation as a historically continuous and normatively integrated formation. Originally published in Hungarian and translated by Bernard Adams, the book spans from the emergence of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula to the rise of twenty-first-century Islamic fundamentalism. Simon seeks not only to trace the historical development of Islam but to account for the repeated failure of modern reform efforts, which he attributes to a persistent ideological dependence on foundational paradigms. This review outlines Simon’s core theoretical framework, focusing on his concept of repristination and its role in shaping Islamic civilisation as a normatively closed system. It then explores key conceptual distinctions that underpin Simon’s analysis, including his views on cyclical time, Islamic law, and social stratification. The next section evaluates both the strengths and the limitations of Simon’s sociological approach, especially his treatment of Islamic fundamentalism, the integration of legal and theological structures, and the implications of his “inverted utopia” thesis. Finally, the review highlights areas where the book could have engaged more deeply with internal diversity, reformist thought, and global Islamic experiences, offering a critical appraisal of Simon’s methodological choices and the scope of his theoretical claims.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Chen, Wei /library/oar/handle/123456789/140281 2025-10-17T13:49:45Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The earliest extant English translation of the women’s analects Authors: Chen, Wei Abstract: 本文聚焦於《女論語》這部女性道德教化書的英譯版本，該譯文刊載於《中國教務雜誌》（The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal）第七卷（1876年），題為《中國婦女與女子之教誨》（Instruction for Chinese Women and Girls）。這是目前所知最早的《女論語》英文譯本，譯者為埃絲特·E·鮑德溫（Esther E. Baldwin）。儘管該書經常被誤歸為班昭所作，實則為唐代宋氏姐妹所撰。本文釐清了該誤歸情況，分析了鮑德溫的翻譯方法，並探討了其翻譯動機——即透過展現中國傳統女性的道德教化內容，以對抗西方對中國女性的負面印象。

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z