Mapping Genres, Mapping Culture

de Elizabeth A. Thomson, Motoki Sano, Helen de Silva Joyce

The purpose of this book is to contribute to our understanding of genre and genre variation in the Japanese language, in order to bring to consciousness the nature of Japanese culture and the presuppositions, norms and values found within Japanese society. This type of knowledge enables interventions and agency, as knowing how language works within a culture makes it possible to consciously accept it or to influence and shape it into the future. The various chapters seek to explore social contexts and the norms, values and practices of Japanese culture through the language choices in analysed texts in literature, education, the workplace and in print-based media. These genres collectively form part of the cultural fabric of Japan.