Sekaikan: How understanding worldview helps make sense of a complicated maze of Japanese customs, culture and language

This event has ended.

The fifth event in the Cardiff-Japanese Lecture Series, this time with Ms Anne Crescini (University of Kitakyushu).

Abstract
Learners of Japanese as a second language often find themselves overwhelmed by a confusing web of polite language, vagueness and set phrases, none of which are prevalent in the English language. However, this confusion can be mitigated by grasping the key cultural concepts and the underlying worldview from which these language patterns are born. In this lecture, we will address the importance of not only studying the Japanese language, but also the culture, values, and worldview of the people. Personal stories and episodes from the speakers’ life will be used to show how finally grasping the Japanese worldview transformed their language study, my work, and entire life. 

Japanese cannot be studied in a vacuum, and it is impossible to completely understand it without seeking to understand the values and concepts that shape the people who use it. Join a journey through the seemingly confusing maze of language, values, customs, culture and worldview—a journey that is exceedingly difficult and long, but one that will take you to a deeper understanding of the Japanese heart.

Biography
Anne Crescini is Associate Professor at the University of Kitakyushu Faculty of Environmental Engineering in Japan, where she teaches language and intercultural communication. Her research interests include loanwords in Japanese, Japanese English and second language acquisition. She has lived in Japan for 21 years and is actively engaged in a variety of activities within TV, radio, newspapers, and other mass media in Japan. She has also been appointed as Ambassador to Munakata-city in Fukuoka prefecture in Japan. She has published books and articles on loanwords in Japan, Japanese English from various Japanese major publishing companies.

Event format & recording
The event will take place online as a Zoom webinar and will be recorded for publication after the event.

Simultaneous Translation
The event will be delivered in the medium of English. You are welcome to ask questions in the medium of Welsh during the Q&A session. If you intend to do this, please contact mlang-events@cardiff.ac.uk by Wednesday 27 October to request simultaneous translation. Please note that 10% or more of those planning to attend will need to request this provision in order for it to be sourced and will be subject to resource availability.

Registration
We apologise that the entire registration page is not available in the medium of Welsh.  Unfortunately, the platform we use does not offer this service.

Data protection notice
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