Japan Border Review, No. Summary
11 (2021)

Summary
Language Mixing as a Strategy of Interlingual Communication:
Evidence from the German-Polish Border Region
Kimura Goro ChristophThis paper focuses on language mixing as a strategy of interlingual communication to crosslanguage borders. Although language mixing is a frequent phenomenon in language contact
situations, it is not fully integrated into discussions of interlingual strategies. This may reflect theideology of homogeneous languages. This ideology also results in the absence of language mixing
in formal settings.
This paper analyzes the use of language mixing in the German-Polish border region as a test
case to examine the potential of this strategy in intercultural contexts. This border, drawn afterWorld War II, had no prior tradition of “border bilingualism,” and thus the emergence of language
mixing in the region can give valuable insights into the significance of this strategy for establishingnew cross-border contacts. The data evaluated in this paper, based on previous studies by Barbara
A. Jańczak and on fieldwork by the author, is analyzed from the perspectives of form, the level ofcommunication and the social function of mixing. The article offers several examples of language
mixing, including spontaneous encounters on the street and in border markets. Additionally, it
examines language use in a number of cross-border initiatives, including a youth orchestra, a twincities cooperation center, and a social art project called “Nowa Amerika” which seeks to develop acommon regional identity across the border.
The results show that, besides ideological reasons, variability and instability may hinder the useof this strategy in formal situations. On the other hand, language mixing is not restricted to basic,
practical communication, but can be used in high-level discussions, and has immense symbolic value
for creating a sense of community across language borders. The findings of this study suggest thatlanguage mixing should be recognized as a valid interlingual strategy on par with other strategies. It
may serve as a complement to other strategies, themselves characterized by different strengths andweaknesses.

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Borderlands between the Ocean and the Land in Hawai‘i :Analysis through Issues of Natural Environment, Surfing,and Homelessness in Waikīkī
Mizutani Yuka

This article aims to analyze issues regarding environment, surfing, and homelessness that appear
in the surf zone (po‘ina nalu) and beach in Hawai‘i, specifically at Waikīkī in Honolulu. These areanalyzed in the context of border studies.
First, the article discusses environmental issues. Waikīkī beach and its surrounding area isan important site for Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawai‘ians). However, due to colonization anddevelopment, the beach was extended and sea bottom modified. As a result, the water quality ofthe ocean worsened. Yet the natural environment at Waikīkī resists, and the reappearance of the‘Āpuakēhau stream symbolizes such resistance.
Second, the article reflects on surfing. Surfing originates from Hawai‘i and other Pacific Islands,
and is a cultural and ritual activity, in addition to being a sport. Although Waikīkī changed muchafter the arrival of settlers, Kānaka Maoli resisted and preserved the surf zone as their geographicaldomain. From the 1960s, Kānaka Maoli and non-Kānaka Maoli surfers collaborated to conserve thesurf zone, while broadening their activities to fight for the public beach access rights of local people.
Third, the article focuses on homelessness visible at the beach. While luxurious hotels line theshore, many homeless people end up living near or on the beach in Waikīkī. Economic inequality
and the high cost of housing are the main reasons for homelessness. Although immigrants from thePacific Islands face severe poverty, many Kānaka Maoli people also struggle financially.
These three issues show how Kānaka Maoli people, their culture, and the natural environment
have been neglected. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected Waikīkī. While the exclusion ofhomeless people from the beach continued, the natural environment recovered, and the local surfers
returned to Waikīkī Beach. Theories and perspectives developed in border studies would help toanalyze post-pandemic events in the surf zone and on the beach in Hawai‘i. Also, studies over land
and the ocean of Hawai‘i would enrich academic discussions in the field of border studies.

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Designing a Study Tour to Kinmen for Students as a Method ofOutreach Activities in Taiwan StudiesYamazaki Naoya
This article discusses two issues. The first is how Taiwan Studies has developed in Japan sincethe 1990s, and the second considers the educational effects that school field trips to the Islands ofKinmen (Quemoy) may have.
Taiwan’s democratization process and its search for a new “national” identity stimulated
academic interest among scholars. The Japan Association of Taiwan Studies (JATS) was establishedin 1998, and promoted studies on Taiwan. Initially, Japanese scholars in the field paid little attention
to sharing their knowledge with society. However, younger researchers entering the field after theestablishment of the association have been publishing introductory textbooks that serve a wide rangeof readers, and currently an increasing number of scholars are considering how they can make gooduse of their specialized knowledge.
There are several ways through which scholars can contribute to society. In an attempt to promote
community outreach, the author and interested members of the JATS set up a scholars’ network to
support high schools that conduct school trips in Taiwan, which have also increased in popularity.
However, learning resources that can enable high school students to learn more about Taiwan arequite limited. To make these trips more meaningful, scholars provide materials, including a series ofYouTube lectures and an informative website.
A study tour guided by a specialist would be an effective educational tool for both high school
and college students. The author conducted a study tour to the Island of Kinmen (Quemoy), andstudents who participated in the tour were able to learn a lot about the island thanks to support fromNational Quemoy University. The author believes that a well-designed study tour to Kinmen would
be a good means for students to study topics such as Hokkien (Minnan) culture, the history of theoverseas Chinese, and cross-strait relations between China and Taiwan. It would also help themreevaluate the debate on Taiwan’s national identity and find their own answer to this question.

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