Language, Culture, and Society in Contemporary Korea

Catalog description

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of cultural diversity and linguistic variation within Korea. However, this phenomenon is far from new, as the Korean language has historically acted as both a mediator and a product of societal shifts and influences, including colonization, modernization, and globalization. This course offers a critical examination of the conventional notion of monolingual and homogenous Korea, inviting students to delve into the nuanced realities of language, culture, and society in modern-day Korea. Through a combination of readings, lectures, and discussions, this course will explore a broad range of topics, including language policy, language education, the Korean diaspora, gender and language dynamics, and honorifics. Guided by the central question of how language mediates social perceptions and categorizations, students will consider the complex interplay between language, cultural identities, and sociopolitical issues in Korea. By the end of the course, students will have gained a robust and holistic understanding of the multicultural and multilingual dynamics that characterize contemporary Korea and its position in the world, informed by the view of Korean as an embodied translingual practice. Students interested in sociolinguistics, cultural studies, or international affairs are encouraged to join.