Diversity in Japanese Culture and Language
Diversity in Japanese Culture and Language

Author: John C. Maher

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2012-11-12

Total Pages: 332

ISBN-13: 1136160167

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This is the first in-depth study of the "other" Japan - the diverse and complex culture that belies the conventional portrayal of Japan as a homogenous entity. Moving, fascinating and surprising, this book sets out the largely untold story of the cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity found in Japan today, where members of marginal societal groups are ignored by the mainstream on the grounds of physical, ethnic, religious or other differences. Among them are the Ainu, Koreans, "Buraku", women, returnees and the deaf, for all of whom this work serves as a forum to give eloquent voice to their history and present situation. This unique study describes the existing plurality in Japan in order to start balancing the perspectives which currently exist in the non-Japanese literature about Japan; to challenge the myth of Japanese uniqueness by focusing on very common experiences that Japanese people share with peoples in other parts of the world; and above all, to counteract the common tendency to see complexity as a threat by illustrating the value to society as a whole of diversity and cultural plurality.

Diversity in Japanese Culture and Language
Diversity in Japanese Culture and Language

Author: John C. Maher

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2012-11-12

Total Pages: 331

ISBN-13: 1136160094

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This is the first in-depth study of the "other" Japan - the diverse and complex culture that belies the conventional portrayal of Japan as a homogenous entity. Moving, fascinating and surprising, this book sets out the largely untold story of the cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity found in Japan today, where members of marginal societal groups are ignored by the mainstream on the grounds of physical, ethnic, religious or other differences. Among them are the Ainu, Koreans, "Buraku", women, returnees and the deaf, for all of whom this work serves as a forum to give eloquent voice to their history and present situation. This unique study describes the existing plurality in Japan in order to start balancing the perspectives which currently exist in the non-Japanese literature about Japan; to challenge the myth of Japanese uniqueness by focusing on very common experiences that Japanese people share with peoples in other parts of the world; and above all, to counteract the common tendency to see complexity as a threat by illustrating the value to society as a whole of diversity and cultural plurality.

Readings on Diversity Issues: From hate speech to identity and privilege in Japan
Readings on Diversity Issues: From hate speech to identity and privilege in Japan

Author: Lisa Rogers

Publisher: Lulu.com

Published: 2016-10-30

Total Pages: 208

ISBN-13: 1365456196

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Japanese society is now in the midst of a dramatic transformation. An extremely low birth rate and rapidly aging society is resulting in a declining Japanese labor force, fueling a need for non-Japanese laborers and others to maintain economic growth. However, despite a sense of impending crises, Japan continues to be ill equipped to accept non-Japanese workers and add to the diversity already existing within its borders. Currently, many of the benefits of inclusive societies, which lead to a more innovative and fulfilling society, are being curtailed by a pervading notion that Japan is monocultural and that diversity leads to too many problems. Readings on diversity issues: From hate speech to identity and privilege in Japan examines the state of diversity in past and present-day Japan and how Japanese people and the government navigate JapanÕs multicultural society, as well as the way cultural minorities negotiate their lives in a country which still has difficulty accepting diversity.

Language and Society in Japan
Language and Society in Japan

Author: Nanette Gottlieb

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2005-02-03

Total Pages: 188

ISBN-13: 9780521532846

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Language and Society in Japan deals with issues important to an understanding of language in Japan today, among them multilingualism, language and nationalism, and literacy and reading habits. It is organised around the theme of language and identity, in particular how language is used to construct national, international and personal identities. Contrary to popular stereotypes, Japanese is far from the only language used in Japan, and does not function in a vacuum, but comes with its own particular cultural implications. Language has played an important role in Japan's cultural and foreign policies, and language issues are intimately connected both with technological advance and with minority group experiences. Nanette Gottlieb is a leading authority in this field. Her book builds on and develops her previous work, and promises to be essential reading for students, scholars, and all those wishing to understand the role played by language in Japanese society.

Diversity in Japanese Education
Diversity in Japanese Education

Author: Naoko Araki

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-06-09

Total Pages: 151

ISBN-13: 9463510591

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No one is born fully-formed: it is through self-experience in the world that we become what we are. – Paulo Freire Diversity in Japanese Education explores ‘self-experience’ of individual learners and educators in Japan. The word ‘diversity’ is not limited to one’s ethnic background. Here, diversity refers to one’s pedagogical experiences and life experiences; to the norms, beliefs and values that impact such relations. These experiences and relations are fluid as they are shaped and reshaped in global and glocal settings. They are also reflected in praxis of English language learning and teaching in Japan. The authors’ educational backgrounds vary but they all share the common ground of being educators in Japan. Through being involved in learning and/or teaching English language in Japan, they have witnessed and experienced ‘diversity’ in their own pedagogical context. The book focuses on shifting critical and reflexive eyes on qualitative studies of pedagogical experiences rather than presenting one ‘fixed’ view of Japanese education.

Languages and Identities in a Transitional Japan
Languages and Identities in a Transitional Japan

Author: Ikuko Nakane

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2015-08-20

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 1317961889

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This book explores the transition from the era of internationalization into the era of globalization of Japan by focusing on language and identity as its central themes. By taking an interdisciplinary approach covering education, cultural studies, linguistics and policy-making, the chapters in this book raise certain questions of what constitutes contemporary Japanese culture, Japanese identity and multilingualism and what they mean to local people, including those who do not reside in Japan but are engaged with Japan in some way within the global community. Topics include the role of technology in the spread of Japanese language and culture, hybrid language use in an urban context, the Japanese language as a lingua franca in China, and the identity construction of heritage Japanese language speakers in Australia. The authors do not limit themselves to examining only the Japanese language or the Japanese national/cultural identity, but also explore multilingual practices and multiple/fluid identities in "a transitional Japan." Overall, the book responds to the basic need for better accounts of language and identity of Japan, particularly in the context of increased migration and mobility.

The Social Life of the Japanese Language
The Social Life of the Japanese Language

Author: Shigeko Okamoto

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2016-08-04

Total Pages: 353

ISBN-13: 1107072263

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This book focuses on the historical construction of language norms and its relationship to actual language use in contemporary Japan.

Japanese Language, Gender, and Ideology
Japanese Language, Gender, and Ideology

Author: Shigeko Okamoto

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2004-10-28

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 0190290269

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Japanese Language, Gender and Ideology is a collection of previously unpublished articles by established as well as promising young scholars in Japanese language and gender studies. The contributors to this edited volume argue that traditional views of language in Japan are cultural constructs created by policy makers and linguists, and that Japanese society in general, and language use in particular, are much more diverse and heterogeneous than previously understood. This volume brings together studies that substantially advance our understanding of the relationship between Japanese language and gender, with particular focus on examining local linguistic practices in relation to dominant ideologies. Topics studies include gender and politeness, the history of language policy, language and Japanese romance novels and fashion magazines, bar talk, dictionary definitions, and the use of first-person pronouns. The volume will substantially advance the agenda of this field, and will be of interest to sociolinguists, anthropologists, sociologists, and scholars of Japan and Japanese.

Living Japanese
Living Japanese

Author: Karen Colligan-Taylor

Publisher:

Published: 2016-02-26

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780300222661

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Living Japanese: Diversity in Language and Lifestyles (Ikita Nihongo: samazama na kotoba, samazama na seikatsu) draws students into the lives of thirty-three Japanese from ages seven to seventy-five. As students listen to diverse viewpoints on cultural and social issues, they will develop an extensive vocabulary and become accustomed to natural speech and linguistic differences. The workbook contains a transcription of all interviews, a cultural introduction to each topic, a complete vocabulary list, and grammar explanations. Furigana are provided in the transcriptions and notes to facilitate reading. Discussion questions encourage students to research the topics further, to think about and discuss recurrent themes, to speak or write about the topic in terms of their own culture or experience, and to seek out the views of native speakers. The online media and workbook will facilitate development of the five major skill areas delineated in the National Standards for Japanese Language Learning. Spontaneous interviews exploring twenty topics are available for online viewing, including: · Family, living environment, household crafts, architecture · Farming for health, eating habits in a fast-paced society · Issues faced by children, working women, and the elderly · Student life; views of marriage among young people · Anime, manga, revival of traditional arts · Ways of viewing and valuing nature, environmental education · Buddhist thought on the interrelatedness of all things · Japanese songs and their context · Childhood memories, including school life during World War II · Linguistic differences, Japanese Sign Language

Language Life in Japan
Language Life in Japan

Author: Patrick Heinrich

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2010-09-13

Total Pages: 271

ISBN-13: 1136935940

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This book analyses how linguistic diversity in Japan, and indeed recognition of this phenomenon, presents a wide range of sociolinguistic challenges and opportunities in fundamental institutions such as schools, in cultural patterns and in social behaviours and attitudes.