Topics in Japanese Studies
Course Number: 82-473
This repeatable course explores target cultures through a thematic or conceptual focus. Students critically analyze authentic documents through, for example, cultural, social, historical, biographical, filmic, artistic, literary, musical, linguistic, and theoretical perspectives, while improving and expanding their language skills.
Fall 2026: Japanese Linguistics
This course introduces students to key topics in Japanese linguistics through exploration of sound, structure, meaning, and use in the Japanese language. Building on proficiency skills from Advanced Japanese language courses (prerequisite: 82-371 or 82-372), students will examine how Japanese grammar, phonetics, writing systems, and pragmatics function both descriptively and socially. The course highlights how language reflects and shapes identity, politeness, and interaction in Japanese society. Students will gain analytical tools to better understand ideology and variations, preparing them to be more culturally informed and reflective language users. Instruction and readings will be in Japanese.
Degree: Undergraduate
Concentration: Japanese Studies
Semester(s): Fall
Units: 9
Prerequisite(s): 82-372