Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

Searchable Course Catalog

header image

JAPN0310B-F24

Variation & Change in Japanese

Variation and Change in Japanese (In English)
What can linguistic change tell us about human cognition and behavior? How does the notion of “politeness” vary across communities? How do speakers of Japanese perform gender and other social identities? In this course we will address linguistic diversity and dynamism by examining the Japanese language. Topics include workplace discourse and change in honorific systems. Employing classic works in linguistics and addressing contemporary cultural materials such as manga and J-drama we will apply theoretical frameworks from (socio-)pragmatics, historical linguistics and linguistic typology to gain a deeper understanding of how and why Japanese has developed to its present forms and uses. Students with an interest in linguistics, or in teaching and learning language, or science in general, may also enjoy the analytical approach. (No prerequisites. JAPN0103 above or equivalent recommended). Heritage speakers are also welcome. 3 hrs. sem.
Course Reference Number (CRN):
92732
Subject Code:
JAPN
Course Number:
0310
Section Identifier:
B

Course

JAPN 0310

All Sections in Fall 2024

Fall 2024

JAPN0310A-F24 Lecture (Abe)
JAPN0310B-F24 Lecture (Abe)