Course: Introduction to taiwanese language and culture

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Course title Introduction to taiwanese language and culture
Course code ASH/ITL
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction English
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Course availability The course is available to visiting students
Lecturer(s)
  • Janda Petr, Mgr. Ph.D.
  • Jandová chen Yixuan, M.A.
Course content
W1 Geography, Peoples, and Modern Historical Trajectories W2 Generational Language Divides and Historical Footprints W3 Modern Industry and Technoculture: Silicon Shield to Green Kuai Kuai W4 Youth Realities: Cram Schools, Wages, and Island Pilgrimages W5 The Pragmatics of Politeness: The "B? H?oy?si" Phenomenon W6 Culinary Culture I W7 Culinary Culture II W8 Living Faith and The Pantheon: Syncretism and Sea Goddess Mazu W9 Everyday Superstitions and Social Taboos W10 The Ritual Calendar: Han Cycles and Indigenous Festivals W11 Politics of Identity: Layers of Taiwanese Self-Identification W12 Final Oral Presentation

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture, Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Group work
Learning outcomes
The course adopts an interdisciplinary analytical framework, aiming to guide students toward understanding Taiwan's social, cultural, and linguistic structures through in-depth cross-cultural comparison. Students will explore the island's unique identity shaped by geography, history, multilingual reality, religious syncretism, and modern social values. Particular emphasis is placed on everyday communication pragmatics, culinary habits, and generational shifts in contemporary society. Ultimately, students will be able to contrast Taiwanese cultural patterns with their own European background and develop a critical understanding of modern Taiwanese society.

Prerequisites
No previous knowledge of Chinese is required.

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam, Dialog, Visitation

Participation in classes, attendance and final oral presentation
Recommended literature
  • Farzad Sharifian. Cultural Linguistics.
  • JOURDAN, CH.; TUITE, K. Language, culture and society: key topics in linguistic anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006..
  • Ronald Wardhaugh and Janet M. Fuller. An introduction to sociolinguistics.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Chinese Studies (2023_24) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Chinese Studies (2023) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Chinese Studies (2019) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Chinese Studies (2019) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Chinese Studies (2023) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Chinese Studies (2023) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Chinese Studies (2023) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Chinese Studies (2019) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Chinese Studies (2019) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -