Humanities Area / Linguistics Program
Program Overview
Linguistics is the academic field that scientifically studies the "language" that people use every day. It seeks answers to questions such as why people use language and how people become able to use language. In this program, in addition to learning the overall picture of linguistics, you will learn about the structure and historical changes of individual languages such as English, Chinese, and Japanese, as well as methods for analyzing them, and you will acquire the ability to critically consider various phenomena related to language.
Class Featured
Language data analysis
This course approaches the world of language not through "intuition" but through "data." Using a database (corpus) of vast amounts of text, we analyze the characteristics of modern spoken and written Japanese. The appeal lies in being able to uncover expressive tendencies that we usually don't consciously notice, using computers. The course consists of lectures, practical exercises, and presentations. No prior knowledge of corpora is required; basic computer skills are sufficient. You'll experience the joy of deciphering the "invisible rules" of language.
Specialized Seminar I, II (Aigase Seminar)
In the spring semester, we will examine the process of change in the Japanese language, including its phonology, grammar, and word meanings and usage, using documents created by Christian missionaries who came to Japan in the 16th century for the purpose of learning Japanese, and acquire methods for analyzing and researching the Japanese language.
In the fall semester, students will write seminar papers based on their individual interests. Topics range widely, including changes in word usage, the distinction between synonyms, the linguistic landscape of university campuses, young people's awareness of honorifics, and sound symbolism found in game character names.
Other classes and subjects
Introduction to Linguistics (LA Fundamentals) / Structure of Language / Language Policy / Phonetics / Semantics / Discourse Analysis / Sociolinguistics / Second Language Acquisition Methods / Language Data Analysis / (Common Subjects) / Introduction to English Linguistics / English Grammar / English Phonetics / English Meaning / English Structure / History of English / Applied Linguistics / Japanese-English Contrastive Linguistics / (English Linguistics) / Introduction to Chinese / Chinese Grammar / Chinese Phonetics / Chinese Linguistics Research / Japanese-Chinese Translation Techniques / Japanese-Chinese Interpretation Techniques / Chinese Expression Techniques / Chinese Communication Techniques (Chinese Linguistics) / Introduction to Japanese Linguistics / Japanese Phonetics / Japanese Expression / Japanese Characters and Orthography / History of the Japanese Language / Multicultural Coexistence and Easy Japanese / Kanji Culture Research / Calligraphy Research (Japanese) etc.
How seniors learned
Linguistics & Media and Journalism
Bringing the joy of language learning to your future career.
Yuya Hasegawa
I believe that considering language, which is so familiar to us and underlies all our thoughts, is extremely useful in studying humanity, society, and culture. This was the underlying reason why I chose linguistics as my major. On the other hand, in today's information society, I chose media and journalism as my minor because a strong interest in language and knowledge of social conditions are necessary to cultivate the spirit of learning to serve others. In the future, I hope to work in publishing, but I am also interested in a wide range of industries such as broadcasting and translation. Thinking about language adds new strength to my past experiences and makes learning enjoyable all over again, so I encourage everyone to dive into the world of language!
Characteristics of the academic group
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Content of learning
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Career paths, qualifications, and achievements