East Asian Languages and Societies Commons^™

The Causes And Consequences Of Migration: The Case Of Chinese Women, Janet L. Warren

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to determine the causes and consequences of migration. Specifically, it focuses on Chinese women. Using 1988 survey data collected from Chinese respondents in Hubei, a province located in central China, questions about migration status, reasons for migration and contraceptive use were utilized. Analyses reveal that Chinese females migrate for non-economic reasons. This study also revealed that migrants want fewer children than non-migrants, migrants use contraceptives more than non-migrants, and migrants use different methods of contraception than non-migrants. This research also suggests that age, education, and parity makes a difference in the respondents' want for …

Japanese Economic Exploitation Of Central Pacific Seabird Populations, 1898–1915, Dirk H. R Spennemann

Pacific Studies

At the turn of the century, Japanese feather and plumage hunters visited most of the isolated, uninhabited atolls of the central Pacific Ocean. The seabird populations of these atolls were decimated to supply exotic feathers for the millinery market to meet an increasing demand created by the European fashion industry. Drawing on scattered archival records, this article reviews the history and dimensions of the feather trade in the Central Pacific and describes the responses of the affected nations.

The Future Relationships Between Mainland China And Taiwan, Tian Li

Masters Theses

This thesis is a study of the possible future developments of the Taiwan issue and the relationships between Mainland China and the island of Taiwan. After examining all the alternative scenarios, the author predicts that in the foreseeable future political and economic cooperation between Mainland China and the island of Taiwan will gradually increase, with avoidance of military confrontation, but complete reunification between Taiwan will not occur, nor will Taiwan become a legal state.

The author will examine evidence, including both domestic factors in the two parts of China and external factors, which may either reinforce the above prediction or …

Korean-American Elders In Independent Living Arrangements, Shinok Lee

Dissertations and Theses

Many Korean-American elders in America are new immigrants who are faced with cultural change and adjustment problems. In recent years, these Korean-American elders have been undergoing a change in their living situation by moving away from their adult children into independent living arrangements. This study draws on a sample of 50 Korean-American elders in subsidized housing who are over the age of sixty and live in the Portland, Oregon Metropolitan area to investigate factors involved in their choice of and their well-being in independent living arrangements. Through interviews, the study specifically gives attention to why the elders moved, whether they …

A Lay Theory Of Relational Satisfaction With Best Friends In Japan, Eriko Maeda

Dissertations and Theses

Using a total of 529 Japanese college students (275 females, 254 males) living in Japan, the present study employed five sequential stages. First, it explored Japanese people's beliefs about relational satisfaction with best friends and the organization of these beliefs. In order to explore these beliefs and their organization, this study replicated Cole and Bradac's (1994) study of a lay theory of relational satisfaction with best friends, which focused on people from the United States. The study then examined similarities and differences of Japanese beliefs and organization of the beliefs with those of the U.S. Lastly, the study investigated Japanese …

Potential Technology Application In English Instruction In The People's Republic Of China, Ping Gao

Graduate Research Papers

The primary purpose of this paper is to present a vision of potential technology application as an effective teaching aid for English instruction in the People's Republic of China (hereafter referred to as China). In order to provide a clear picture of why technology should be applied in English teaching situations in China, major factors influencing the current English teaching methodologies – grammar translation and audiolingual method – have been analyzed. A theoretical analysis of modern Western teaching pedagogy, the communicative approach, has been explored to offer an in-depth understanding of foreign language learning and teaching processes. The close relationship …

Genealogical Resources On Chinese Names: An Annotated Bibliography, Sheau-Yueh J. Chao

Publications and Research

This annotated bibliography provides coverage of materials from the period between 1980 and 1995 and also includes important works of historical value published before 1980. The Wade-Giles system is used for the transliteration of Chinese materials. English publications that include Chinese characters transliterated by the author have those transliterations retained in the bibliographical annotations.Certain materials may have been omitted because the author is unaware of their existence or availability here in the United States.A great portion of the Chinese-language publications was found in the collection of Columbia University's C V Starr East Asian Library.

Japanese Students' Perception Of Their Language Learning Strategies, Michiyo Ozawa

Dissertations and Theses

Students' use of language learning strategies (LLSs) is affected by their educational backgrounds and academic requirements, and so are their attitudes toward language learning. This study investigates Japanese students' perception of their English LLSs in different language environments: Japan and the United States.

A group of 43 Japanese students from Otemae College participated in a cultural study program at Portland State University. The group consisted of 28 students who studied for two terms (ST Group) and 15 students who studied for three terms (LT Group).

In this study, a combination of a self-assessment questionnaire, dialogue journals, and a card-ranking activity …

Women And Politics In Japan: Flowers Of The Home To Flowers Of Politics, Sarah Ann Langer

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

The study of women and politics in Japan provided many insights into women's activism as well as the changes women have brought in Japanese politics. Facing considerable odds when seeking positions within contemporary politics, women candidates often faced a variety of disadvantages as well. A man was assumed to inherit politics, but a woman was not. However, if a woman could conquer or ignore such societal pressures, she could then enter the world of politics. Women's positions will change as individual pioneers (such as the four I examined i.e. Tsuda Ume, Ichikawa Fusae, Yosano Akiko, Tanaka Makiko) work their way …

香港流行文化與流行歌詞縱橫談, Minghui Liao

Dissertations from all years

本地文化與流行歌詞的關係

文化，就是指人類慣有的生活模式。它會因時代、地域、歷史、民族性等差異而有所不同。香港開埠已歷百餘載，但真正建立屬於"香港人"的文化，還只是近數十年的事。舊日歷史遺留的問題，令香港被視為無根的土地：加上其特殊的地理位置，香港自然成為東西方不同文化的交流點。香港的本土文化，就在強大的外來文化壓力下建立起來。

流行歌曲是流行文化的一個組成部分，亦能反映出時代變化。所謂 "流行" 是指一段時期內，大部分人熱衷於某種生活模式；時間一久，人們又轉而追求新一種生活模式。這種潮來潮去、乘時盛衰的表現，正是通俗文化發展的特點。值得注意的是，香港的流行歌詞或多或少沾有商業味道，而香港流行歌曲之所以發展蓬勃，亦有賴於 "經濟掛帥"；故此，仔細研究本地的流行歌詞，就像把弄著鏡子，不難照出香港獨特文化的真面目。

例如七十年代中期，香港經濟起飛，"大香港文化" 一時成為主流，許冠傑的通俗淺白的粵語歌曲大行其道；八九年六四前後，香港洋溢著一片愛國氣氛，遂於當時湧現了一批支持學運的歌曲。

由此可見，本地文化與流行歌詞的關係相當密切，歌詞反映的是六百萬香港人多年來的眾生相。本文以近三十年來粵語流行歌詞的演變作藍本，逐一細析香港這一時代的歌詞，並兼論三位具代表性的填詞人，探索他們的詞風在潮流漲退之下，如何產生變化。

The Role Of The Chinese News Media In The 1989 Pro-Democracy Movement, Mei Liao

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the role of the Chinese news media in the 1989 pro-democracy movement. The three functions of this thesis are: 1) to provide evidence of changes in the pro-democracy movement; 2) to identify corresponding changes in the press coverage of the movement; 3) to examine what relationship exists between changes in the movement and changes in the press coverage of the movement.

Japan Looks At An Uncertain China: The Role Of Japan's Aid To China, Yixin Yang

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

This thesis discusses the role the Japanese aid has played in accommodating the structural change of Sino-Japanese economic relations and in dealing with the economic and political crisis that has jeopardized their bilateral relations and Japan's own national interest. Japan's early resumption of economic aid to China after Tiananmen reflects how aid philosophy differs from that of most of the other Western aid donors. The conclusions are that Japan's large loan to China has played a vital role in maintaining and strengthening Sino-Japanese economic relations, that the aid has made the interdependent relations between the two countries an asymmetric one, …

Buddhist Commons In Asia, Roger A. Lohmann

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Although nothing precisely like the modern nonprofit organization, voluntary association or foundation existed in Asia prior to the 20th century, there can be little doubt that some types of similar indigenous activities are found deep in the history of the many cultures of Asia. Buddhism, for example, has a long record of organized activity, beliefs about giving, and other evidences of what might be termed Buddhist philanthropy.

In The Shadow Of Oriental Culture: A Study Of The Impact Of Confucianism On Japan's Economic Development After World War Ii, Xuedong Xu

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Japan's fast economic growth after World War II can be ascribed to different factors. This study seeks to determine whether the cultural factor, more specifically Confucianism in Japanese version, has constituted the dynamism behind the success stories of Japan. The study approaches the problem by examining the Confucian doctrine and original works of important Japanese philosophers concerning the Confucian ethics and values, which are recrystallized into new organizational patterns in industrial corporation. While the period after World War II is the focus of the study, the unique features of Japanese industry like "Life-time Employment" and "Groupism" are reviewed to determine …

Greg Gubler's Review Of Mark R. Peattie's Nan’Yo: The Rise And Fall Of The Japanese In Micronesia, 1885-1945, Greg Gubler

Pacific Studies

No abstract provided.

Intercultural Communication Competence And Intercultural Adjustment Of Japanese Business Sojourners And Their Spouses, Muneo Hotta

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the relationship among intercultural communication competence, attitudes toward the U.S. culture, and linguistic skills in English for Japanese business sojourners and their spouses living in the United States.

The Effect Of Age Misreporting In China On The Calculation Of Mortality Rates At Very High Ages, Ansley J. Coale, Shaomin Li

Management Faculty Publications

When mortality rates by age are calculated from recorded deaths and enumerated populations, rates at higher ages are typically in error because of misstated ages. Mortality rates for China in 1981 have been calculated from the number of deaths in 1981 in each household recorded in the 1982 census, and from the census population back-projected one year. Because age was determined from date of birth, and because persons of the Chinese culture have very precise knowledge of date of birth, the mortality rates even at high ages should be unusually accurate. This expectation is fulfilled for most of China, but …

The Spatial Patterning Of Residential Differentiation In Metropolitan Community : The Case Of Kaohsiung City In Taiwan, 1982, Chih-Jen Chen

Dissertations and Theses

The urban growth process produces a complex socio-geographic division of labor among the component parts of the urban community. During this process, each subarea of the community differentiates from the other parts in its physical and demographic characteristics, becomes specialized functionally and structurally. The spatial patterning of the urban community is the result of this differentiation process.

Cross-Cultural Differences In Written Discourse Patterns : A Study Of Acceptability Of Japanese Expository Compositions In American Universities, Hiroko Kitano

Dissertations and Theses

Since Kaplan started the study of contrastive rhetoric, researchers have investigated Japanese and English compositions and have found some differences between them. However, few studies have investigated how these differences are perceived by native English readers when the different rhetorical patterns are transferred to English writing.

Drawing from Hinds' study, this research focuses on the following: how the Japanese style of writing is evaluated by Japanese and American readers, especially in academic situations, how Japanese rhetorical patterns are perceived by American readers, and how a change of organization affects the evaluation by American readers.

Social Dependency And Chinese Political Economic Reform, Jiang Li

Masters Theses

This study of Chinese politics, economics, society and culture is intended to contribute to better understanding of the contemporary reforms in China. This task was not easy due to the facts that China has not been open to direct observation, and its policies were influenced by unpredicted changes.

This thesis is concerned with the reforms and changes that occurred during the years starting 1978 up to the present time. In 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Communist Party of the Chinese Central Committee in Beijing, marked the beginning of the reforms in China. The Chinese leaders made efforts …

Occupational Patterns Of Three Generations Of Taishan Chinese : A Reconsideration Of Middleman Minority Theory, Wei Wei Lou

Dissertations and Theses

Middleman minority theory explains why certain minorities in America have made impressive socioeconomic achievements. It is found that their occupational patterns play an important role in their socioeconomic success. Middleman minorities usually concentrate in certain occupations and dominate these occupations. The term "middleman" indicates that such ethnic minorities are functioning as middleman between lower and upper class, customer and producer in the host society.

The three preconditions through which middleman minorities get into these occupations are cultural, contextual and situational variables.

The cultural variables concern mainly the homeland of the minorities, the value system of their native culture, and the …

The Expression Of Politeness In Japan: Intercultural Implications For Americans, Emiko Tajikara Nelson

Dissertations and Theses

This descriptive study focuses on expressions of politeness in the Japanese language and their relevance to social structure and intercultural communication. The study is designed to help students of the Japanese language learn rules of politeness which fall outside the domain of grammatical rules.

Modification Of The Western Approach To Intercultural Communication For The Japanese Context, Eiko Tai

Dissertations and Theses

The field of intercultural communication has recently been introduced to Japan from the United States. The theories and concepts of this field have been developed based on Western social sciences, and they are likely to be culture-bound. This thesis investigates the possibility that modifying Western ideas in the field of intercultural communication would make the study of this subject more effective for Japanese learners.

Hungry Sharks: Japanese Economic Activity In Melanesia, 1960-1980, James A. Boutilier

Pacific Studies

No abstract provided.

The Japanese/American Interface: A Crosscultural Study On The Approach To Discourse, Hitomi Tamura

Dissertations and Theses

This study attempted to explore one aspect of the communicative styles of Japanese and Americans: their approach to discourse. In a literature review, four distinctive characteristics were surveyed: linear/nonlinear presentation, inductive/ deductive reasoning, explicit/implicit communication, and analytical/emotional statements. The American style of argument was characterized by:

1) a linear presentation as evidenced by its preference for a sequential paragraph development, its reliance on logic, and its direct introduction of the subject.

2) either inductive or deductive reasoning.

3) explicit communication as shown by its emphasis on the use of concrete language, definite qualifiers, clearly stated conclusions and a wider perspective. …

The Degree Of Acculturation And Success Patterns In Three Generations Of The Japanese Americans In The Portland Area, Toshimasa Fujii

Dissertations and Theses

Past research shows that Japanese Americans have been successful occupationally, financially and educationally. This thesis examines factors leading to this success. It is generally argued that the greater the congruence between minority and majority value systems, the less likely conflict would be generated in the minority group's acculturation. There appear to be two opposed aspects in the acculturation of the Japanese Americans, relinquishment or retention of traditional Japanese values. Also important is the degree to which Japanese Americans identify themselves as American, or Japanese, or some mixture. This thesis focuses on the following questions: What types of values have been …

A Comparative Study Of Communication Style In Japan And The United States As Revealed Through Content Analysis Of Television Commercials, Noriko Huruse

Dissertations and Theses

This study is an empirical analysis of communication styles in Japan and the United States. In particular, the study deals with communication styles in Japanese and American television commercials as a reflection of human communication styles in the two countries.

The History Of Mutual Support Organizations Among The Chinese In Portland, Oregon, Scott Manchester

Dissertations and Theses

The thesis is an examination of the history of the Chinese community in Portland, Oregon, with special emphasis on the mutual support organizations developed by this community.

The study is primarily descriptive in nature. It includes background information on social, economic, and political conditions in China in the nineteenth century; an account of the history of the Chinese and Chinese organizations in Portland, and an examination of the issues involved in providing social services to Asian communities.

Sources of data include scholarly research, historical records and manuscripts, newspaper articles, and interviews with nineteen members of the Chinese community.

The thesis …

The Japanese Translation Of The Book Of Mormon: A Study In The Theory And Practice Of Translation, Jiro Numano

Theses and Dissertations

English and Japanese are very different from each other in tems of their structures. And consequently no one would call the present translation of the Japanese Book of Mormon a low rank-bound translation.

However, a substantial amount of grammatical categories of English such as number, redundant subject for Japanese, pronominal expression, and the passive voice which is not used so often in Japanese as in English, are introduced in the translation. The improper placement of subject, verb and object also serves as a cause of foreign tones. Thus the present translation has more factors of Formal-Equivalence translation than those of …

A Q-Sort Comparison Between Cultural Expectations Of Chinese And Cultural Perceptions Of Returned Latter-Day Saint Missionaries From The United States Who Had Been Assigned To Chinese Missions, Gary G. Y. Chu

Theses and Dissertations

This project was designed to generate information relative to a specific intercultural communication situation, especially directed toward diversity between cultural expectation and performance in the following areas: first, Chinese expectation of American Latter-day Saint missionaries' performance in Chinese contexts; and second, performance of the missionaries, as reflected by their knowledge of proper conduct in Chinese contexts at the end of their missions.

Using Q-card sorting procedures and t-test analysis, an analytically developed instrument consisting of seventy statements grouped in six behavior categories was applied in the specific areas. Twenty-nine of the seventy statements showed significant diversity. Four of the hypothesized …