Suchergebnisse

"This book examines two important issues in language policy in Japan today: first, and most prominently, increasing migration-induced multilingualism which has ramifications both for providing Japanese-language learning opportunities for migrants and for the use and teaching of languages other than Japanese and English; and second, the influence of electronic technologies such as computers and cell phones on the way in which Japanese is written. These two developments, of course, have occurred in many other countries beside Japan. What makes the Japanese case particularly interesting is that Japan does not yet consider itself to be a country of immigration and hence has only recently shown signs of an awareness of the importance of providing both language teaching and multilingual services for non-Japanese workers, so that what policy development does exist in this area is ad hoc and fragmented rather than centrally planned and coordinated at national level. It also has in place a set of longstanding policies pertaining to the officially sanctioned use of the writing system, policies which were arrived at after a great deal of division and debate, that shape the way in which Japanese and non-Japanese children alike learn to read and write in Japanese schools. In both these cases, official and individual views are strongly informed by language ideologies of various kinds"--

Over the last thirty years, two social developments have occurred that have led to a need for change in language policy in Japan. One is the increase in the number of migrants needing opportunities to learn Japanese as a second language, the other is the influence of electronic technologies on the way Japanese is written. This book looks at the impact of these developments on linguistic behaviour and language management and policy, and at the role of language ideology in the way they have been addressed. Immigration-induced demographic changes confront long cherished notions of national monolingualism and technological advances in electronic text production have led to textual practices with ramifications for script use and for literacy in general. The book will be welcomed by researchers and professionals in language policy and management and by those working in Japanese Studies

Cover; Half-title; Title; Copyright; Contents; Figures; Preface; Acknowledgments; 1 The Japanese language; 2 Language diversity in Japan; 3 Language and national identity: evolving views; 4 Language and identity: the policy approach; 5 Writing and reading in Japan; 6 Representation and identity: discriminatory language; 7 Shifting electronic identities; 8 Conclusion; Notes; References; List of useful websites and journals; Index.

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. This 2005 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

Abstract
In Japan, translation of important information for foreign residents into community languages has occurred for many years mainly at the local government level rather than the national, largely because the national government has been slow to acknowledge Japan's increasing diversity given the enduring national belief in ethnolinguistic homogeneity. In recent years, however, this has begun to change: although the bulk of the translation activity for foreign residents still occurs at grassroots level through the agency of local government and private organizations, the national government has begun to view such residents as seikatsusha 'people making their lives in Japan' rather than as visitors passing through. This article examines the provision of translated multilingual information to newcomer foreign residents in Japanese communities by both local and national government in order to examine this change.