Languages, cultures and interaction in Asia

The unit brings four major Asian languages (Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese and Korean) together in one classroom to explore and understand them through comparative perspectives. This unit provides an introduction to the diversity of Asian languages including how they operate in context, how they relate to linguistic theories and concepts, how interactional strategies vary and how socio-cultural and communicative challenges are negotiated. You will extend existing language skills and broaden knowledge of similarities and differences in language structures, use and institutional frameworks. Drawing on transdisciplinary approaches, this unit comparatively explores topics such as language and nationalism, language and gender, politeness, and conversational structures to illuminate the rich languages, cultures and interactions in Asia.