THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures : Asian Studies

Undergraduate Course: Kanji: A linguistic and cultural introduction (ASST08065)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Literatures, Languages and Cultures CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course provides students with a detailed introduction to the linguistic and the socio-cultural aspects of kanji in Japanese. Bi-weekly synchronous (live) seminars will involve students in linguistic-based hands-on activities. The course also looks at some key issues in kanji research as a discussion topic.
Course description This course provides students with a detailed introduction to the linguistic and the socio-cultural aspects of kanji in Japanese, covering the Japanese writing system, Origin and structure of kanji, Decoding kanji, Technology and kanji, Kanji and education, Kanji in social context, Japanese visual culture. Bi-weekly synchronous (live) seminars will involve students participating in linguistic and cultural based hands-on activities. The course also looks at some key issues in kanji research, as a discussion topic.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Japanese Language Beginner (ASST08059)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Pre-Requisites (home students): You should either completed Japanese Language Beginner (ASST08059) or holding JLPT N5 or equivalent.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students from kanji background (e.g. Japan/China) cannot take this course.
You should either completed Japanese Language Beginner (ASST08059) or holding JLPT N5 or equivalent.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand aspects of Japan's visual culture and its aesthetic concept of writing
  2. Acquire critical visual recognition skills to identify unfamiliar kanji words
  3. Accurately describe and analyze primary data
  4. Be able to evaluate and use a wide range of real-life materials in a given social context
  5. Conduct autonomous research and communicate arguments effectively in written form
Reading List
Essential:
DeFrancis, J. (1984). The Chinese language: Fact and fantasy. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Gottlieb, N. (2000). Word-processing technology in Japan: Kanji and the keyboard. Richmond: Curzon.
Miyake, K. (2007). How Young Japanese Express Their Emotions Visually in Mobile Phone Messages: A Sociolinguistic Analysis. Japanese Ideologies of Literacy: Observations from Japanese Keitai Novels Studies, 27(1), 53-72.
Mori, Y. (2012). Five Myths about 'Kanji' and 'Kanji' Learning. Japanese Language and Literature: The Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese, 46(1), 143-169.
Nakata, Y. (1973). The art of Japanese calligraphy. New York: Weatherhill.
Rogers, H. (2004). Writing systems: A linguistic approach. Blackwell textbooks in linguistics; 18. Malden, Mass.; Oxford: Blackwell.
Seeley, C. (1991). A history of writing in Japan. Leiden: Brill 1991.
Shirakawa, S., Thwaits, A., & Sakatani, A. (2016). The origin of Chinese characters: Japanese and English. Tokyo: Heibonsha.

Recommended:
Gottlieb, N., & McLelland, M. (2003). Japanese cybercultures. London: Routledge.
Gottlieb, N. (2005). Language and society in Japan. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Haas, William (1970) Phono-graphic translation. Manchester University Press.
Kess, J., & Miyamoto, T. (1999). The Japanese Mental Lexicon: Psycholinguistic Studies of Kana and Kanji Processing. Benjamins.
Matsumoto-Sturt, Y. (2007). An Intercultural and Multimodal Discourse Analysis of Untranslated Japanese Orthography in Spirited Away'. Language Ideologies and Media Discourse: Texts, Practices, Policies. [online]
Nishimura, Y. (2009). Ideologies of Literacy: Observations from Japanese Keitai Novels. Toyo Gakuen University Bulletin, 20, 165-180, 2012-03-15
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Critical thinking, analytical skills, information technology, group work, aesthetic understanding
Special Arrangements Pre-Requisites (home students): You should either completed Japanese Language Beginner (ASST08059) or holding JLPT N5 or equivalent.
KeywordsKanji (Chinese characters),visual awareness,Japanese orthography,writing media,technology
Contacts
Course organiserDr Yoko Sturt
Tel: (0131 6)50 4228
Email: y.m.sturt@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Vivien MacNish Porter
Tel: (0131 6)50 3528
Email: vivien.macnish-porter@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information