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Journal : Journal of English Language and Education

Does AI Know Things? An Epistemological Perspective on Artificial Intelligence Simbolon, Lasyuli; Manugeren, M; Barus, Efendi
Journal of English Language and Education Vol 10, No 5 (2025)
Publisher : Universitas Pahlawan Tuanku Tambusai

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.31004/jele.v10i5.1592

Abstract

This paper investigates the provocative question: can artificial intelligence (AI) know things? through an epistemological lens. Drawing upon a systematic literature review (SLR) of works published 2010–2020, the study maps how scholars have applied classical and contemporary epistemic criteria—such as belief‑likeness, truth, justification, reliability, interpretability, and epistemic agency—to AI systems. In doing so, it examines competing theoretical frameworks (internalism, externalism, virtue epistemology, Bayesian approaches) and identifies areas of convergence and contention. The review reveals that while many AI systems satisfy externalist criteria of reliability and truth‑tracking under controlled conditions, they often fall short of internalist demands for justificatory transparency or reflective access. Opacity and “black‑box” architectures remain central obstacles to attributing knowledge in the classical sense. Furthermore, the influence of AI on human belief formation and the shift in epistemic environments suggest that even absent true knowledge, AI plays a significant role in mediating knowledge practices. Ethical and normative considerations (e.g. fairness, accountability, epistemic justice) also emerge as inseparable from epistemological assessments, prompting calls for a “glass‑box epistemology” that integrates design, interpretability, and value sensitivity. In concluding, the paper argues that AI may function as a contributor to human knowledge workflows rather than as autonomous knowers. It sets out a nuanced perspective: acknowledging AI’s epistemic potential while remaining critical of overextensions. Finally, it suggests future paths: refining epistemic thresholds, embedding interpretability in AI design, and expanding the discourse across cultural and disciplinary contexts.
Epistemic Verbs and the Expression of Knowledge in English and Mandarin Alindra, Devi Alvionita; Manugeren, M; Barus, Efendi
Journal of English Language and Education Vol 10, No 5 (2025)
Publisher : Universitas Pahlawan Tuanku Tambusai

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.31004/jele.v10i5.1596

Abstract

Language and knowledge are fundamentally intertwined, shaping how individuals perceive, interpret, and express reality. This study investigates epistemic verbs as linguistic indicators of knowledge and belief within two distinct epistemological and cultural frameworks: English and Mandarin Chinese. By adopting a qualitative descriptive–comparative approach, grounded in functional linguistics and epistemic discourse analysis, this research explores how epistemic verbs reflect the ways speakers conceptualize truth, certainty, and cognition. The data were collected from authentic corpora—including dialogues, news articles, academic essays, and conversational transcripts—and analyzed through semantic, pragmatic, and cultural dimensions using triangulated methods. Findings reveal that English epistemic verbs (e.g., know, believe, think, guess) form a hierarchical and explicit epistemic system, emphasizing rational certainty, empirical evidence, and individual cognition, consistent with Western philosophical traditions. In contrast, Mandarin epistemic verbs (e.g., 知道 zhīdào, 认为 rènwéi, 觉得 juéde, 相信 xiāngxìn) display contextual, relational, and affective orientations, integrating emotion and social harmony in the expression of knowledge, reflecting an Eastern holistic worldview. Comparative analysis demonstrates that English expresses epistemic stance vertically, based on degrees of certainty, while Mandarin expresses it horizontally, emphasizing social context and relational appropriateness. These contrasts highlight deeper philosophical divides between Western rationalism and Eastern relational holism, suggesting that linguistic forms mirror epistemological ideologies. The study concludes that epistemic verbs are not mere grammatical categories but cognitive-cultural constructs that embody each society’s way of “knowing” and “believing.” Understanding these differences is vital for intercultural communication, as epistemic misalignment often leads to pragmatic misunderstanding between English and Mandarin speakers. This research contributes to the emerging field of cross-cultural epistemic linguistics, offering insights into how language, cognition, and culture collectively shape the human expression of knowledge.
Female Agency in Popular Music: Desire and Self-control in Selena Gomez’s Song “Can’t Keep My Hands to Myself” Syarifah, Syarifah; Manugeren, M.; Barus, Efendi
Journal of English Language and Education Vol 10, No 6 (2025)
Publisher : Universitas Pahlawan Tuanku Tambusai

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.31004/jele.v10i6.1654

Abstract

Popular music stands as a cultural space where emotion, identity, and power intertwine. Within this realm, female voices often perform the delicate balance between desire and restraint. Yet, few studies have examined how mainstream pop songs articulate female desire beyond objectification, particularly in the work of Selena Gomez, whose music navigates intimacy and autonomy with subtle complexity. This study examines Selena Gomez’s “Can’t Keep My Hands to Myself” to explore how female agency emerges through the negotiation of longing and self-control. Employing a feminist literary lens and Freud’s psychoanalytic framework of the id, ego, and superego, the analysis reveals how sensual impulse and conscious regulation coexist in lyrical expression. In dialogue with Cann (2021) and Jansson (2021), the study interprets the song as a declaration of embodied autonomy, where sensuality becomes self-possession rather than submission. Through qualitative content analysis, the findings affirm that pop music offers a stage for reimagining female identity—where emotion, restraint, and power converge in a harmony of self-aware desire.
The Concept of Collective Knowledge in President AS 'Speeches (2000-2025): A Social Epistemological Perspective Sembiring, Elita Modesta Br; Manugeren, M; Barus, Efendi
Journal of English Language and Education Vol 10, No 6 (2025)
Publisher : Universitas Pahlawan Tuanku Tambusai

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.31004/jele.v10i6.1842

Abstract

This study examines the concept of collective knowledge in President A.S.’s speeches through the lens of social epistemology, focusing on the period from 2015 to 2020 within the broader temporal frame of 2000–2025. Departing from traditional individualistic accounts of knowledge, the research treats political discourse as a site where knowledge is socially constructed, authorized, and normatively deployed. Presidential speeches are approached not merely as rhetorical instruments but as epistemic practices that shape shared understanding and collective identity. Adopting a qualitative, philosophy-oriented methodology informed by a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and conceptual discourse analysis, the study analyzes official speeches to identify how collective knowledge is linguistically and philosophically framed. The findings reveal that collective knowledge is articulated through multiple forms, including experiential knowledge grounded in shared social experience, historical knowledge rooted in national memory, and institutional or expert-based knowledge that confers epistemic authority. These forms are strategically mobilized to legitimize political decisions, unify the audience, and guide collective action. From a social epistemological perspective, the study highlights significant tensions between epistemic authority and democratic inclusion. While appeals to collective knowledge foster cohesion and legitimacy, they also risk suppressing epistemic plurality and marginalizing dissenting perspectives. By situating presidential discourse within debates on collective intentionality, epistemic authority, and power, this research contributes to philosophical discussions on the ethical and political dimensions of collective knowing. It demonstrates the relevance of social epistemology for understanding how knowledge functions in contemporary political life.
Enhancing Vocabulary Through Simpler Digital Applications: An Epistemological Approach to Language Learning Baihaqi, Baihaqi; Manugeren, M. Manugeren; Barus, Efendi
Journal of English Language and Education Vol 10, No 6 (2025)
Publisher : Universitas Pahlawan Tuanku Tambusai

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.31004/jele.v10i6.1634

Abstract

This study aimed to enhance of vocabulary mastery at junior high school students level through simpler digital application. Vocabulary is a fundamental aspect of English learning, yet many junior high school students struggle to acquire sufficient vocabulary, which hinders their ability to develop other language skills. To address this issue, the simpler application was introduced as a digital learning medium that provides simple, interactive, and accessible vocabulary practice. This research argues that digital applications can serve as epistemic mediators, allowing learners to build vocabulary through meaningful interaction and autonomous learning. Quantitative approach used with a pre-experimental design, specifically a one group pre-test and post-test model. The participants consisted of 23 students selected through purposive sampling. A vocabulary test was administered before and after five sessions of treatment using the Simpler application. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including a paired sample t-test. The results showed that the students’ post-test mean score was significantly higher than the pre-test mean score. The obtained t-value (6.247) exceeded the critical value of the t-table (2.074) at the 5% significance level, confirming that the improvement was statistically significant. These findings indicate that the simpler application is enhance in improving students’ vocabulary mastery with epistemological principles of meaningful learning.