Click here to return to the Colleges of Arts & Sciences Contents page.

East Asian Languages and Literatures

College of Languages, Linguistics and Literature
Moore 382
1890 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8940
Fax: (808) 956-9515
Web: www2.hawaii.edu/eall

Faculty

* Graduate Faculty

• *Y. C. Li, PhD(Chair)--Chinese syntax and semantics, language acquisition, comparative dialects, classical Chinese, sociolinguistics, language planning, second language acquisition
• *D. E. Ashworth, PhD--Japanese and Asian language pedagogy; telecommunications and language learning; translation pedagogy
• *R. L. Cheng, PhD--Mandarin and Taiwanese lexicon, phonology and syntax, comparison of Chinese and Japanese (writing and phonology), computer-assisted research on language contacts
• *J. R. Cohn, PhD--Japanese literature, especially comedy and modern fiction; and bibliography
• *H. M. Cook, PhD--Japanese linguistics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis and pragmatics; second language acquisition
• S. A. Curry, MA--Japanese language teaching
• *J. H. Haig, PhD--Japanese linguistics, syntax, and semantics, functional syntax, linguistic theory
• *K. Hijirida, EdD--Japanese language pedagogy; language for special purposes; curriculum design, development and assessment
• S. H. Hirate, MA--Japanese language teaching
• C. I. Hitosugi, MA--Japanese language teaching
• *H. I. Hsieh, PhD--Chinese language and linguistics; Chinese literature and culture; mathematical linguistics; semantics; cognitive grammar
• *R. N. Huey, PhD--classical Japanese literature (especially waka)
• T. Iwai, MA--Japanese language teaching
• S. Jiang, MA--Chinese language teaching
• *K. Kanno, PhD--Japanese linguistics, syntax, second language acquisition
• *Y-H. Kim, PhD--modern Korean women writers; Korean culture, East Asian women writers and society
• K. S. Kitsutani, MEd--Japanese language teaching
• T. D. Klafehn, MA--Japanese language teaching
• K. Kondo, EdD--Japanese language pedagogy; curriculum design, development and assessment; Japanese as a second/heritage language
• J. Kwan, MA--Chinese language teaching
• M. Lachmann, MA--Japanese language teaching
• J. R. Landers, PhD--Chinese language and culture
• *D. J. Lee, PhD--Korean language and linguistics, language acquisition
• *L. B. Lower, PhD--Japanese language and literature, comparative literature
• J-Y. Lu-Chen, PhD--Chinese language teaching, translation and interpretation
• K. A. Masunaga, MA--Japanese language teaching
• *D. R. McCraw, PhD--Chinese classical literature, especially poetry, particularly Tang shi, Song shi and ci, and Qing ci
• H. Nagahara, PhD--Japanese linguistics: phonology and syntax/semantics
• G. E. Nakahara, PhD--Japanese language teaching
• *N. M. Ochner, PhD--modern Japanese literature, comparative literature of Japan and the West
• M. Ogasawara, MA--Japanese language teaching
• D. T. Ogawa, MA--Japanese language teaching
• J. K. Omura, MA--Japanese language teaching
• K. J. Ota, PhD--Japanese language teaching
• G. E. Ray, MA--Japanese language teaching
• *K. A. Reynolds, PhD--Japanese socio-historical linguistics, and sociolinguistics (gender and class)
• *L. A. Serafim, PhD--Japonic linguistics: Japanese and Ryukyuan language history and dialectology
• K. Shoji, MA--Japanese language teaching
• *H. M. Sohn, PhD--Korean language and linguistics, Korean-Japanese comparative syntax, general linguistics
• M. Steverson, MA--Japanese language teaching
• *M. M. Tahara, PhD--Japanese: Heian poetry and prose, modern literature
• Y. Tateyama, MA--Japanese language teaching
• *A. H. Thornhill, PhD--medieval Japanese literature and religion
• *V. H. Viglielmo, PhD--Japanese: modern literature with emphasis on Meiji-Taisho fiction: modern Japanese philosophy
• *G. Vitiello, PhD--traditional Chinese fiction
• *A. V. Vovin, PhD--history of the Japanese and Korean languages, comparative Altaic linguistics, the Ainu language
• Y. Wada, MA--Japanese language teaching
• C-K. P. Woo, MA--Japanese language teaching
• *T-C. Yao, PhD--Chinese language pedagogy, computer-assisted language instruction in Chinese
• *D. R. Yoshimi, PhD--Japanese sociolinguistics and discourse analysis, second language acquisition and pedagogy
• *M-B. Yue, PhD--modern Chinese literature, literary history and theory, feminism, cultural studies, film theory
• S. M. Zeng, PhD--Chinese language teaching, translation and interpretation

Cooperating Graduate Faculty

• G. Kasper, PhD--second-language discourse analysis, pragmatics, learning strategies, qualitative research methods

Degrees and Certificates Offered: Certificate in Chinese, Certificate in Japanese, Certificate in Korean, BA in Chinese, BA in Japanese, BA in Korean, MA in East Asian languages and literatures, PhD in East Asian languages and literatures

The Academic Program

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures (EALL) is the largest department of its kind in the country and offers a curriculum unparalleled in its breadth, depth, and variety of courses in Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Taiwanese), Japanese, and Korean.

At the undergraduate level, language skill courses are aimed at developing a high level of proficiency in both the spoken and written aspects of the languages. Cultural awareness as well as language proficiency are promoted through extra-curricular activities such as student clubs, video/film showings, lectures, and study abroad programs. The department currently offers though the Study Abroad Center programs in Hainan, China and Kobe, Japan. Other courses provide both introductory and advanced coverage of the literatures of East Asia and the analysis and description of the languages themselves. The graduate program is primarily designed to provide students with advanced professional training in language history, structure, pedagogy, and sociolinguistics, as well as literary history and criticism.

While most students enroll in language courses to fulfill the General Education Core requirement for foreign languages, there are many who plan to use Chinese, Japanese, or Korean in research or graduate studies. Those who plan to enter the work force immediately upon completing their undergraduate studies find that their language proficiency opens doors to employment in the local travel industry and other internationally oriented businesses.

Undergraduate Study

BA in Chinese

Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 34 credit hours, including the following upper division courses:

• CHN 301, 302, 401, and 402
• CHN 451 or 452
• EALL 361 or 362
• One of CHN 470 or EALL 363B, 363C
• 9 credit hours of approved courses in Chinese language and literature

BA in Japanese

Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours, including:

• JPN 350, 370, 401, 402, and 407E
• JPN 407B, 407C, or 407D
• EALL 271 and 272
• 12 credit hours in approved courses

BA in Korean

Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours, including:

• n KOR 301, 302, 401, 402, 451, and 452
• n EALL 281 and 282
• n 12 credit hours in approved courses

Certificate

Certificates in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are offered to eligible students. A minimum of 15 credit hours from 301 or above in the language of choice must be earned with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Graduate Study

Complete details on the graduate programs are available from the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures.

Graduates of the programs have obtained jobs as instructors in private schools, two- and four-year colleges and universities; as translators; and in various capacities in private firms and government service.

The MA and PhD are recognized Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) regional graduate programs. Residents of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming are eligible, upon admission, to enroll at Hawai'i-resident tuition rates. See the "Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid" section of this Catalog for more information on WICHE programs.

The MA degree is offered in the fields of Chinese language, Chinese literature, Japanese language, Japanese literature, Korean language, and Korean literature. The PhD degree is offered with concentrations in the same fields. All applicants for the MA or PhD program must have a BA in the language of their concentration or equivalent preparation and must submit three letters of recommendation and GRE General Test scores; sample scholarly writing in English is required of PhD applicants. Admission to the PhD program also requires evidence of the MA earned with distinction or its equivalent. Normally, all students are required to pass a qualifying exam before advancement to candidacy.

The MA candidate may select either the Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis) program; Plan A must have the approval of the graduate chair.

Master's Degree

Requirements
For Plan A, students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours, including at least 18 credit hours in the major field and 6 credit hours of thesis research. A minimum of 12 credit hours in the major field must be earned in courses numbered 600 or higher, including a 700-level seminar and excluding 699V.

For Plan B, students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours, including at least 21 credit hours in the major field. A minimum of 18 credit hours in the major field must be earned in courses numbered 600 or higher, including a 700-level seminar and excluding 699V.

Doctoral Degree

Requirements
PhD candidates are expected to master four fields, at least one of which will be outside the students' areas of specialization. They must pass a comprehensive examination covering the four fields, complete an original dissertation, and pass a final oral examination in defense of the dissertation. Apart from having a command of English and their concentration language, candidates must have knowledge of a second East Asian language equivalent to two years of study; in some cases a third East Asian language or an additional European language may be required.

NEXT: Economics >>
Click here to return to the Colleges of Arts & Sciences Contents page.