Files
Document Type
Open Educational Resource
Publication Date
2026
Disciplines
Asian Studies | Chinese Studies | East Asian Languages and Societies | Japanese Studies | Linguistics
Keywords
sociolinguistics, language standardization, colonialism, minority language, open educational resource, undergraduate
Description
In Winter 2026, the Bates College Asian Studies course “Making Sense of East Asian Languages” launched this open collection of supplementary readings. This collection helps students of Chinese and Japanese explore the histories behind the languages they study. Often, language courses focus on mastering a "standard" version without looking at its context. These readings bridge that gap.
Each entry investigates how certain language varieties became the national standard and what happened to other varieties and languages that were left out. By looking at these historical and colonial contexts, the collection helps students understand the power dynamics that shape language today. By sharing these as open materials, we hope to make these complex topics easier to access.
This is Version 1.0 of a living document that will be expanded by future generations of students at Bates College.
Department
Asian Studies
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Konoeda, Keiko; Hoang, Linh; Mahai, Geizuo; Phon, Nary; Green, Georgia; Grieve, Ana; and Soifer, James, "Making Sense of East Asian Languages" (2026). Open Educational Resources. 5.
https://scarab.bates.edu/oer/5
Included in
Asian Studies Commons, Chinese Studies Commons, Japanese Studies Commons, Linguistics Commons