Tag - language

 
 

LANGUAGE

Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Dec 15, 2013
The war on katakana starts at school
Eliminating katakana's use as a pronunciation aide would benefit Japanese students' ability to communicate, but that clearly can't be achieved overnight. However, it's still worth putting up a 'faito.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 15, 2013
December: A last tango with soba
Some men go out to buy that flaming red sportscar. Others embark on a messy but absorbing divorce process. Then there is of course, nirvana: the gorufujō (ゴルフ場, golf course). But in Japan, when men hit a certain age they have another option to turn to. The authentic mark of a honmono (本物,...
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 15, 2013
Linguists, like, totally clue us in on 'Valley Girl talk'?
Amanda Ritchart is a native speaker of Southern Californian English, the dialect also known as "Valley Girl talk" — you know, the one that's, like, totally full of the word "like."
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 1, 2013
With the JLPT now over, get ahead in studying for next year
The latest round of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) was held yesterday — congratulations to the test takers! A couple of readers wrote to us about the exam after last week's Community Page published an article by Jun Hongo titled "Is the JLPT really worth it?"
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 22, 2013
Honda makes English official language for global talks
Honda Motor Co. made English the official language for global meetings as the carmaker shifts decision-making power to regional units.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 8, 2013
Costly challenge of globalizing Japan's labor force
Japan is way behind in the race to foster professionals who can operate across national, cultural and linguistic barriers. Solutions are not cheap, but the cost of not doing anything is higher.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Nov 6, 2013
English teacher suffering with cancer and HIV completes 'Yamathon' Tokyo walk
Neil Grainger and a group of supporters completed an epic walk around Tokyo's famous Yamanote Line on Sunday to raise money for his treatment and cancer charities.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Oct 21, 2013
Medical bills mount for 'fired' Tokyo English teacher fighting cancer and HIV
A British language school teacher in Tokyo is struggling to pay for his chemotherapy and cancer surgery after his Waseda University-linked former employer failed to renew his contract, citing his nonattendance due to illness.
EDITORIALS
Oct 5, 2013
Japanese language diplomacy
An expert panel has proposed increasing the number of Japanese teachers sent abroad to teach the Japanese language as a way of improving relations with Southeast Asian nations.
JAPAN
Oct 1, 2013
More Japanese teachers needed in ASEAN, Abe is told
An expert panel to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has proposed bolstering support for Japanese-language education in ASEAN countries by increasing the number of teachers, as more people in the region are learning Japanese.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 18, 2013
This glorious English language that is open to all
The multinational Man Booker shortlist shows 'outsiders' are the new normal. It's time to celebrate the unruly English tongue.
WORLD / Society
Sep 7, 2013
A 'he or she' may actually prefer to be called 'ze'
As Nicholas Gumas settles into his third year at George Washington University in the U.S. capital, he won't just ask incoming students for names, majors and hometowns. If the situation calls for it, he will ask for preferred gender pronouns (PGPs).
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 3, 2013
JET alumni advocates for Japan
Clifton Strickler never thought of coming to Japan until he met his boss at the University of Texas while engaged in an undergraduate work-study. His boss lived in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, teaching English with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 25, 2013
When does one's native language stop being native?
A 71-year-old man in Gifu Prefecture made headlines recently when he attempted to initiate a lawsuit against broadcaster NHK. Through its excessive use of foreign derived words, the man claimed, NHK had caused him 精神的苦痛 (seishinteki kutsū, psychological pain). He demanded ¥1.41 million...

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan