Florian Coulmas

This book introduces identity, one of the most iconic concepts of our time, which is used ubiquitously but rarely explained. It discusses the various uses of 'identity' separately for different fields of study - philosophy, psychology, sociology, gender studies, and linguistics. This book also compares Western concepts and theories of identity with similar concepts in other parts of the world. It explains how contemporary trends in marketization and globalization have made identity increasingly important to us in the last 50 years. This book also outlines the historical background to the concept of identity.

A Very Short Introduction

Identity

Der Japanologe Coulmas beschreibt die Zerstörung Hiroshimas und Nagasakis durch amerikanische Atombomben und die Motive dafür. Er widmet sich dem Gedenken und Erinnern daran in Japan, den USA und Deutschland, damals wie heute.

Geschichte und Nachgeschichte

Hiroshima

Tradition und Moderne

Die Kultur Japans

This textbook introduces the major writing systems of the world - from cuneiform to English spelling.

An Introduction to Their Linguistic Analysis

Writing Systems

Matthias Koch

Claus Harmer

This glossary is an up-to-date research tool for the study of population. Based on the technical literature in the three languages listed, it comprises more than 7500 technical terms accessible in three directions: English-Japanese -German, Japanese-English-German and German-Japanese-English.

Englisch-Japanesch-Deutsch, Japanesch-Englisch-Deutsch, Deutsch-Japanesch-Englisch

三か国語対照人口学用語集

Why do we speak the way we do? What are the social factors that influence our choices of expression? This best-selling introduction to the study of language and society encourages students to think about these fundamental questions, asking how and why we select from the vast range of different words, accents, varieties and languages available to us. In this new and updated edition, students are taken step-by-step through the analysis of linguistic expressions, speech varieties and languages in complex settings. Enriched with recent findings from different languages and speech communities around the world, this comprehensive textbook equips students with knowledge of the main concepts and gives them a coherent view of the complex interaction of language and society. • 'Questions for Discussion' help students understand how speakers' choices are conditioned by the society in which they live • New to this edition is a rich repertoire of online resources and further reading, enabling students to investigate more deeply and advance their learning • Includes a topical new chapter on research ethics, guiding students on the ethical questions involved in sociolinguistic research.

The Study of Speakers' Choices

Sociolinguistics

Authenticity and Linguistic Heritage in the Age of Globalization

How does writing relate to speech? What impact does it have on social organisation and development? How do unwritten languages differ from those that have a written form and tradition? This book is a general account of the place of writing in society. Drawing on contemporary and historical examples, from clay tablets to touchscreen displays, the book explores the functions of writing and written language, analysing its consequences for language, society, economy and politics. It examines the social causes of illiteracy, demonstrating that institutions of central importance to modern society are built upon writing and written texts, and are characterised by specific forms of communication. It explores the social dimensions of spelling and writing reform, as well as of digital literacy, a new mode of expression and communication posing novel challenges to the student of language in society.

An Introduction

Writing and Society

This book presents a comprehensive analysis of one of the most pressing challenges facing Japan today: population decline and ageing. It argues that social ageing is a phenomenon that follows in the wake of industrialization, urbanization and social modernization, bringing about changes in values, institutions, social structures, economic activity, technology and culture, and posing many challenges for the countries affected. Focusing on the experience of Japan, the author explores: how Japan has recognized the emerging problems relatively early because during the past half century population ageing has been more rapid in Japan than in any other country how all of Japanese society is affected by social ageing, not just certain substructures and institutions, and explains its complex causes, describes the resulting challenges and analyses the solutions under consideration to deal with it the nature of Japan’s population dynamics since 1920, and argues that Japan is rapidly moving in the direction of a ‘hyperaged society’ in which those sixty-five or older account for twenty-five per cent of the total population the implications for family structures and other social networks, gender roles and employment patterns, health care and welfare provision, pension systems, immigration policy, consumer and voting behaviour and the cultural reactions and ramifications of social ageing.

Population Decline and Ageing in Japan - The Social Consequences

Ralph Lützeler

Japan and Germany are at the vanguard of a new population dynamics in developed countries: population decline in the absence of war, famine and pandemics. This book presents an in-depth overview of the social and economic implications of this development.

A Comparison

Imploding Populations in Japan and Germany

Judith Stalpers

Wie alt ist das japanische Kaiserhaus? Ist ein Samurai so etwas wie ein Ritter? Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Tempel und einem Schrein? Woher kommt Japans Badekultur? Was macht Cool Japan so cool? Was essen die Japaner außer Sushi? Wer trägt Kimonos und was trägt man sonst? Japan wirft viele Fragen auf: wegen seines fulminanten Aufstiegs von einem in sich gekehrten kleinen Inselreich zu einer industriellen Großmacht, wegen der Vielfalt seiner Religionen und ihrem friedlichen Nebeneinander und aufgrund seiner faszinierenden und zugleich fremden Kultur. In 101 Antworten lassen Florian Coulmas und Judith Stalpers ihren Lesern Vergangenheit und Gegenwart Japans verständlich werden.

Die 101 wichtigsten Fragen: Japan

Annette Schad-Seifert

This handbook explores the challenges demographic change pose twenty-first century Japan. The first part gives the fundamental data involved, and the subsequent parts address the social, cultural, political, economic and social security aspects of Japan's demographic change.

A Handbook About Japan

The Demographic Challenge

A Festschrift for Native Speaker

Konrad Ehlich

Senior Professor In-East Institute Florian Coulmas

The series publishes state-of-the-art work on core areas of linguistics across theoretical frameworks as well as studies that provide new insights by building bridges to neighbouring fields such as neuroscience and cognitive science. The series considers itself a forum for cutting-edge research based on solid empirical data on language in its various manifestations, including sign languages. It regards linguistic variation in its synchronic and diachronic dimensions as well as in its social contexts as important sources of insight for a better understanding of the design of linguistic systems and the ecology and evolution of language.

Writing in Focus

Identity has become one of the most widely used terms today, appearing in many different contexts. Anything and everything has an identity, and identity crises have become almost equally pervasive. Yet 'identity' is extremely versatile, meaning different things to different people and in different scientific disciplines. To many its meaning seems self-evident, since its various uses share common features, so often the term is used without a definition of what, exactly, is meant by it. This provokes the core question: What exactly is identity? In this Very Short Introduction Florian Coulmas provides a survey of the many faces of the concept of identity, and discusses its significance and varied meanings in the fields of philosophy, sociology, and psychology, as well as politics and law. Tracing our concern with identity to its deep roots in Europe's intellectual history, individualism, and the felt need to draw borderlines, Coulmas identifies the most important features used to mark off individual and collective identities, and demonstrates why they are deemed important. He concludes with a glimpse at the many ways in which literature has engaged with problems of identity throughout history. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Identity: A Very Short Introduction

Ausgehend von der doppelten Frage, was an der japanischen Kultur genuin japanisch und was kulturell bedingt ist, zeigt Florian Coulmas, was die heutige japanische Kultur von anderen unterscheidet, und verdeutlicht, was unter Kultur zu verstehen ist. Er zeigt zum Beispiel das Verhalten im Alltag und die sozialen Beziehungen (Umgangsformen, Verwandtschaft usw.); Werte und Überzeugungen (vor allem religiöser Art); Institutionen wie den Jahreszyklus, die Schule oder die Firma; schließlich Formen materieller Kultur (u.a. Kleidung und Mode, Behausung und Architektur, Essen und Ästhetik). Das Augenmerk richtet sich dabei hauptsächlich auf solche Eigenheiten der japanischen Kultur, die sich als relativ beständig erwiesen haben und in verschiedenen Epochen in Erscheinung treten. Die Analyse des geistigen Hintergrunds kultureller Traditionen ermöglicht es somit, Verhaltensweisen, Wertvorstellungen und Formen der ästhetischen Gestaltung zu verstehen, die auch dem hypermodernen Japan von heute einen ganz eigenen, unverwechselbaren Platz in der zunehmend globalisierten Welt erhalten haben.

TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS is a series of books that open new perspectives in our understanding of language. The series publishes state-of-the-art work on core areas of linguistics across theoretical frameworks as well as studies that provide new insights by building bridges to neighbouring fields such as neuroscience and cognitive science. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS considers itself a forum for cutting-edge research based on solid empirical data on language in its various manifestations, including sign languages. It regards linguistic variation in its synchronic and diachronic dimensions as well as in its social contexts as important sources of insight for a better understanding of the design of linguistic systems and the ecology and evolution of language. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS publishes monographs and outstanding dissertations as well as edited volumes, which provide the opportunity to address controversial topics from different empirical and theoretical viewpoints. High quality standards are ensured through anonymous reviewing.

35 Millionen Menschen leben im Großraum Tokio – eine der größten Agglomerationen, die jemals existierten. Die große Stadt verkörpert die Stärken und die Macht des Menschen. Sie ist der Ort, an dem die Naturgewalten am weitesten zurückgedrängt wurden, wo sich der Mensch nicht nur beugt, sondern gestaltet. Sie bietet der Bevölkerung viel, verlangt ihr aber auch viel ab. Florian Coulmas hat zwanzig Jahre in Tokio gelebt und seine Vorzüge schätzen gelernt. So wie man einem Besucher die eigene Stadt nahebringt, nimmt er den Leser mit auf eine Tour durch die japanische Hauptstadt, zeigt ihre äußeren Schönheiten, beschreibt die Lebensweise ihrer Bewohner und erläutert die Funktionsweise ihres Maschinenraums. Nirgendwo, so zeigt dieses Buch, wird den Problemen moderner Großstädte so zukunftsweisend begegnet wie hier.

Florian Coulmas

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