The Meaning of Gengobunka and Its Relevance for International Business Majors

概要

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This paper is devoted to an exploration of the origins and the applicability of the concept of Gengobunka (Language-Culture) as a new paradigm for language learning, particularly in the case of students majoring in the study of International Business. The introduction offers a sketch of various recent approaches to the study of language, against which the distinctive features of the Gengobunka paradigm may be set. The first section deals with the background to the concept, as it arose in the context of the teaching of Japanese as a foreign language, and in the field of Simultaneous Interpretation (同時通訳) and Conference Interpreting, particularly since the end the of Pacific War. Some examples are presented of the kind of difficulties which made instructors and researchers aware of the need to supplement traditional teaching with additional material. Various issues such as the manner in which language conceals meaning in translation are raised. Examples are taken from a range of different areas of society and culture. The closing section applies these points to the world of International Business, offering again illustrations of how translation conceals, often, very important differences. These differences, it is contended, are not confined to gaps in thinking between Japan and the West, but also have serious application within the Asia-Pacific region.