Aspects of Interculturality and Transculturality: Four Key Expressions from German-language Scholarship and their Possible Implications for Foreign Language Teaching in Japan

DOI IR Web Site Open Access

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 「間文化性」と「異文化性」の様相 : ドイツ語の学術書から得られた4つの鍵となる概念とそれらが日本の外国語教育に与えうる示唆

Search this article

Abstract

Much recent research into intercultural communication has been conducted by German-speaking scholars and written in German. Yet, since German is not a widely spoken language in Japan, foreign language teachers in the country – both Japanese and non-Japanese – are probably not familiar with such writings. This article therefore summarizes recent German-language writings about aspects of interculturality and transculturality with the aim of introducing ideas to foreign language teachers in Japan which may be unfamiliar to them. The article draws on an essay by Britta Viebrock, developing its themes by discussing two new expressions and speculating on pedagogical implications for Japan. Four expressions are introduced: regional and cultural studies, narrative understanding, fictions of migration, and discourse awareness. These concepts are explicated using extensive quotations from the original German texts translated into English by the author. The author concludes the article by speculating on some possible implications for foreign language teaching in Japan. Drawing attention to the traditionally conservative approach to interculturality in Japan, the author suggests that, while the concepts of transculturality may have little traction at the present time, they may help mitigate nationalist excesses and offer beneficial insights as Japan changes over time. It is also suggested that a greater use of narrative fiction may be beneficial for intercultural teaching.

Journal

  • 広島外国語教育研究

    広島外国語教育研究 27 17-28, 2024-03-01

    Institute for Foreign Language Research and Education, Hiroshima University

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top