Department of Language and Culture

Courses of the Department of Language and Culture

At the Department of Language and Culture, education is conducted under two courses according mainly to which region students’ interests in words and culture are associated.

・Japanese and Asian Literature Course

　On the Japanese and Asian Literature Course, students learn from a wide perspective about language and culture in Japan, China, and the whole of East Asia. Looked at from the multiple approaches of region, era, genre, school, author, etc., the special characteristics of these subjects are clarified specifically trough the work of “reading.” The material for thinking about the culture of Japan and Asia from the perspective of language in action is all encompassed in our research.

・European and American Literature Course

　On the European and American Literature Course, students analyze and research language and culture from diverse perspectives, covering classical literature to contemporary culture in the British and American English, German and French -speaking world. The fields available include English language, linguistics, British literature, American literature, German literature and French literature. Research ranges from research exploring the mechanisms of language in terms of human cognition or its relationship with society and culture, research widely considering language and culture from a gender perspective, to a deep understanding of human culture through the interpretation of texts.

Message from the Department：The World is Made of Languages!—Learn Language, Fully Utilize Language. Learn from Language, Create Language.

　What is language? What cultures have humans built through language? How are the many languages of the world structured, and how do they function? Why is it that works of literature—which are works of art created with words—are able to convey ideas and emotions to us? Those are the questions that start our research. Focusing on “language” and “literature” in Japan, China, America, Britain, Germany, and France as well as regions where the cultures of these countries have permeated, the course also undertakes studies and research from the perspective of cultural phenomena overall.

　Regardless of whether the work is in Japanese or another language, the foundation for the study of language and culture is a sophisticated sensitivity to and advanced proficiency in languages. The course aims to nurture women with an outstanding sense of “language” and deep literary and cultural cultivation who are capable of playing an active role on the global stage as a citizen of the world.

Curriculum Features

　Our curriculum enables students to deeply examine a single language and culture, or to more broadly study two or more languages and cultures. Students can choose for themselves which path to take.

　Our extensive faculty covers various methodologies, regions, eras, and genres. We offer detailed individual guidance according to the topics students choose.

　Foreign language instruction is meticulous—so much so that students transferring from foreign language universities are startled by the strictness. For “Communication Subjects” (English/German/French) in particular, students are expected to participate in high-level discussions with native-speaker instructors and to make presentations and write papers in the foreign language they are studying. Students majoring in English language and literature are required to write their graduation thesis in English.

　Every year, several students study abroad at various overseas universities (with which Nara Women’s University has agreements), and we have built up an abundance of expertise for facilitating successful study abroad experiences. Every year, several students study at various overseas universities with cooperative agreements with Nara Women’s University, and we have built up an abundance of expertise for facilitating successful study abroad experiences.　

Distinctive Activities

　In collaboration with various international exchange organizations in Nara Prefecture, Osaka, and Kyoto, the Department of Language and Culture jointly holds various events and hosts special lectures every year, inviting university professors and persons of culture from China, Europe, and America as guest speakers.

　In addition to holding TOEIC-ITP examinations on-campus, we also provide the Nara Prefecture venues for the Test of Chinese Proficiency, Diplom Deutsch in Japan (the test of German proficiency), and Diplôme d’Aptitude Pratique au Français (the test of French proficiency).

　In cooperation with the university library, we are also involved in creating databases and making available to the general public valuable ancient writings and pictures such as “Historical Resources of the Nara Region”, early modern period travel writings, and the Tales of Ise.

Gender and Literary Studies Subject

　This project provides forums for new methods of literary and linguistic analysis, using the perspective of (social/cultural/historical) gender. For details, please refer to the website from here.