Materials include literary texts, general readings, and films. Special attention will be given to similarities and differences in Chinese and Japanese culture. Beginning Japanese for students who have had little or no Japanese language study. This course introduces some basic but useful conversational expressions, the two sets of syllabic symbols, some 30 pictograph-kanji, and most fundamental grammatical rules. Mastery of basic grammar and ability to read and write Hiragana and Katakana.
Course emphasizes development of conversational skills.
This course introduces some important theories in linguistics. Classes and examinations are conducted in Japanese, and students are required to write a research paper in Japanese. The course will survey the relation of government to the other forces that have influenced economic development and growth in China, Japan and the small East Asian countries. Within the context of larger processes of socioeconomic and cultural change, this course examines the development of characteristic institutions and thought in traditional China and revolutionary transformation in the modern era. The student will be able to acquire a basic understandingof state, society, and culture in China, and the major themes of Chinese history.