Speech and Gender in Japanese Society
S06
Ikuko Yoshida
Jiro Akagawa is one of Japan’s most well-known mystery authors. Students will read short stories by this popular author, analyzing the development of male and female characters and how male speech differs from female speech. In addition to gender analysis, students will closely analyze texts in order to solve mysteries. Through reading mysteries, students continue to develop their linguistic skills in Japanese and to become more familiar with male and female speech. They will also examine male and female roles in modern Japanese society as depicted in the short story. As a final project, students will perform their own short story, and write an analysis of gender roles in Japanese society. Intermediate level.