Literacy and script reform in occupation Japan : reading between the lines / J. Marshall Unger

Unger, J. Marshall

ISBN 10: 0195101669 / ISBN 13: 9780195101669

Published by New York : Oxford University Press, 1996

About this Item

Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust-wrapper, now mylar-sleeved. Particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description: 176 pages; 21cm : illustrations.Notes: Description based upon print version of record.Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents: Contents; Transcription and Use of Japanese Words; 1. Introduction: Dreamers or Realists?; 2. Literacy in Japan up to 1945; 3. Script Reform from Within; 4. SCAP Steps In; 5. The Romaji Education Experiment; 6. Conclusion: The Most Literate Nation on Earth?; Appendix A: Halpern's Overview of the Romanization Issue; Appendix B: Trainor's Account of the Romaji Education Experiment; Appendix C: Calhoun's Key Memoranda on the Experiment's Results; Appendix D: Remarks on Archival Sources; Glossary of Japanese Terms; Notes; References; Index. Subjects: Japanese language Reform.Japanese language Orthography and spelling.Japanese language Writing. Japanese language Reform.Japanese language Orthography and spelling.Japanese language Writing. Japonais (Langue) Réforme. Japonais (Langue) Orthographe.Japonais (Langue) Écriture.FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY Japanese. Japanese language Orthography and spelling.Japanese language Reform. Japanese language Writing. Japanese language Writing Japanese language Orthography and spelling. Japanese language Orthography and spelling. Japanese language Reform Japanese language WritingJapanese Language.Reform. Spelling.Orthography. Japanese language Writing systems 1 Kg.

Seller Inventory # 391158

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Literacy and script reform in occupation Japan : reading between the lines / J. Marshall Unger
• Publisher: New York : Oxford University Press
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195101669
• ISBN 13: 9780195101669
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Weight: 1 kilogram

About this title

Synopsis

This book challenges the widespread belief that overzealous Americans forced unnecessary script reforms on an unprepared, unenthusiastic, but helpless Japan during the Occupation. Unger presents neglected historical evidence showing that the reforms implemented from 1946 to 1959 were both necessary and moderate. Although the United States Education Mission of 1946 recommended that the Japanese give serious consideration to the introduction of alphabetic writing, key American officials in the Civil Information and Education Section of GHQ/SCAP delayed and effectively killed action on this recommendation. Japanese advocates of romanization nevertheless managed to obtain CI&E approval for an experiment in elementary schools to test the hypothesis that schoolchildren could make faster progress if spared the necessity of studying Chinese characters as part of non-language courses such as arithmetic. Though not conclusive, the experiment's results supported the hypothesis and suggested the need for more and better testing. Yet work was brought to a halt a year ahead of schedule; the Ministry of Education was ordered to prepare a report that misrepresented the goal of the experiment and claimed it proved nothing. The whole episode dropped from official and scholarly view--until the publication of this book.

About the Author

J. Marshall Unger has chaired departments at the University of Hawaii and University of Maryland.