Literature, language & translation

Head: Carol Hayes

The teaching and research activities of the members of the Literature, Language and Translation Unit of the School of Culture, History and Language focus on the spoken and/or written use of Burmese, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese, modern and classical), Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese (modern and classical), Javanese, Korean, Sanskrit, Tetum, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese and related aspects of the cultural, literary, artistic and material expression of these languages. The disciplinary affiliations of the members of the Unit are diverse and include: the theory and practice of language teaching, linguistics, literary Studies, history, intellectual history, lexicography, interpreting, translation and translation studies.

Informing the range of teaching and research activity (both individual and collective) engaged in by the members of the Unit is a shared perception of language as a vital component of intercultural communication and understanding, and a common belief that such increased knowledge serves to encourage dialogue both within and between peoples and cultures. Above all, we believe, such dialogue serves to highlight the historical, social, cultural and geographic relativity of concepts of meaning and of knowledge. We believe, further, that language study, and training in the processes of translation between languages, serves to develop the analytical and communication skills (both oral and written) that are crucial to creative and critical thinking and which are vital to Australia's future in an ever more interconnected world.

For teaching and research purposes, members of the Unit are encouraged to maintain a range of collaborative relationships with fellow teachers and researchers working in cognate areas both within the School and The Australian National University generally and elsewhere, especially with scholars working in the various countries the languages and literature of which are the focus of the School's concerns.