Symposium: `European Languages and Asian Nations

[Harold F. Schiffman]

European Languages and Asian Nations
Short Title: 5th Nitobe Symposium

Date: 02-Aug-2007 - 03-Aug-2007
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Contact: Goro Kimura
Contact Email: nitobe2007 at gmail.com
Meeting URL: http://www.info.sophia.ac.jp/g-areas/nitobe2007.htm


Meeting Description:

The symposium will explore the historical and contemporary role and future
perspectives of European languages in Asia. It will also raise the
question of whether it is possible to formulate an international language
policy that is uniquely Asian, given the firm establishment of European
languages, or whether each Asian country should simply go its own way. As
far as language policy is concerned, are the words "Western" and "global"
mere synonyms, or do the Asian languages have a role in international
language policy and does globalization have its uniquely Asian aspects?

European languages have played a key role in the modernization process in
Asia.  While European languages have served as an instrument of
colonialist rule, they have also been welcomed as tools for the
introduction of modern technologies and ideas from the West. Now, several
centuries after the process began, a number of European languages have
taken root in Asian countries, while other languages have largely lost
their former leading positions. European languages have thus become part
of Asian history and an integral part of the Asian present.

The symposium will explore the historical and contemporary role and future
perspectives of European languages in Asia. It will also raise the
question of whether it is possible to formulate an international language
policy that is uniquely Asian, given the firm establishment of European
languages, or whether each Asian country should simply go its own way. As
far as language policy is concerned, are the words ''Western'' and
''global'' mere synonyms, or do the Asian languages have a role in
international language policy and does globalization have its uniquely
Asian aspects?

Questions to be addressed include the following:

- How have European languages influenced, and how do they continue to
	influence, communication in Asia? What aspects of life are most dependent on them;
	what aspects make most use of Asian languages?
- What are the consequences for Asians and Asian societies of the present
	language system, in which European and Asian languages divide between them
	various functions (communication, culture, identity, policy)?
- Do European languages contribute only to globalization, or also to
	development
	of national and regional identities? How do they influence cultural
	development?
- Who are the owners of these European languages? To what extent have the
	peoples of Asia made these languages their own?
- Can one point to an increase in the international (regional or
	worldwide) significance of any Asian languages?
- What is the future of the English language in Asia? What role does it
	play in the various individual countries? What factors will influence its further
	expansion and integration?
- What other European languages have a significant role in Asia?
- What principles should guide realistic national or international
	language policy in Asia?
- What place should European and Asian languages occupy in the education
	system?
- Are language-policy models elsewhere in the world applicable to Asia -
	for example European multilingualism, Swiss plurilingualism, Canadian
	bilingualism?


Program. The program will consist of lectures by invited lecturers,
presentation of formal papers by other invitees, and general debate and discussion.
Sub-topics.

1. Introductory lectures
2. Problems and challenges of the worldwide language regime.
3. An English-only Asia? The role of English in Asia.
4. Languages of European origin in Asia, e.g. French, German, Portuguese,
Esperanto.

Application. Please request an invitation to the symposium before 30. May 2007.

http://linguistlist.org/issues/18/18-930.html

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