Language, Culture and Communication

Language connects people and gives rise to culture. The culture of a language is cultivated through the communication of connecting people. When we look at the world from the perspective of language, culture and communication, what kind of policies will come into view?
Since the founding of Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus in 1990, we have practiced, in education and research, with the firm belief that multilingualism, and the possibilities it opens up, contribute to advances in learning and society. This belief remains unwavering. However, circumstances surrounding language change from time to time. As circumstances change, new issues arise. On the other hand, there are also perpetual issues that remain unchanged. What are the current issues in language, culture and communication regarding policy management? Only by first understanding the issues can we then move on to formulating and implementing policies. Moreover, if we aim to better and develop the current state of the world through designing and carrying out policies, we must have a broad and accurate understanding of the issues pertaining to the language, culture and communication that connects people with one another.
Language, culture and communication influence policy, and policy influences language, culture and communication. By generating and using these interactions, we aim to improve situations through practice. We are able to do this by going across disciplines to enter the interdisciplinary realm, an approach that is the essence of policy management studies. With the aim of bringing about such interaction, this book focuses on three areas: 1) Language itself and its relation to our understanding of the world and culture (Part 1 "Learning and Thinking about Language"), 2) Language policy and language education (Part 2 "Creating Spaces and Teaching Language), and 3) Language communication in politics and society (Part 3 "Moving Politics and Changing Society"). When one takes a bird's-eye view of the issues in each of these areas, the entirety of this book will serve as a guidepost for the future of policy management in language, culture and communication.

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(Keio University Press)

Editors

Exploring New Horizons
in Policy Management: 30 Words