|
 |
- | ||
Share with:
| ||
 Language Learning Forum : Lessons in Polyglottery |  | |
| Alkeides Senior Member Bhutan Joined 5936 days ago 636 posts - 644 votes  | Message 9 of 10 26 May 2009 at 8:20am | IP Logged | ||
|
If your interest is mainly in Meiji-era Japan, English is no doubt the main Western language for primary source material. The Dutch influence during the bakufu period came mainly in the form of translated scientific manuals, primary source material in Dutch, AFAIK, is very minimal; Chinese would actually be another good primary source material for the study of the influence of Western science during the bakufu, since the laws restricting any reference to Christianity did not apply for translations in Chinese. This book shown on wikipedia is in Chinese with kanbun markings. Besides their native language, the Portuguese missionaries published stuff in Latin as well like this grammar.
Nevertheless, the main languages for primary sources should still be the language of the culture in question. For secondary academic sources, I'm sorry but I do not know which language would be most useful. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Anekantavada Newbie United States Joined 5522 days ago 11 posts - 18 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Spanish, French | Message 10 of 10 27 May 2009 at 12:13am | IP Logged | ||
Unfortunately I cannot point you to any particular source as it is merely something I have read in and heard from several places while researching my own future prospects. It also seems sort of intuitive that more specialized departments such as Asian Studies or Near Eastern Studies would generally receive less funding than, say, Political Science or History. This may not matter as much at elite universities such as Harvard, Yale or U Chicago, but I imagine it is still problematic. Regarding my last comment, given the recent trend of less tenured professorships and the oversaturation of PhDs, especially in the humanities, you have to outwork everyone and have a good deal of luck/connexions along the way. Where you earn your degree is obviously equally important in predicting future success: In recent years, ninety percent of those who received their doctorate from the Religious Studies department at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, for instance, have secured tenure-track positions in a highly limited job market. My advice is to do undergraduate research and intimately acquaint yourself with several professors in your perspective field. Academia is not for the faint-hearted, but hopefully we will both find success (as I too plan on entering the ivory tower). Edited by Anekantavada on 27 May 2009 at 12:14am 1 person has voted this message useful |
If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login. If you are not already registered you must first register
|  | 
Printable version
|
| Copyright 2024 FX Micheloud - All rights reserved No part of this website may be copied by any means without my written authorization. |
