Immigration, technology and literacy: key challenges for language policy in a changing Japan. Australia needs a sophisticated understanding of social and cultural dynamics in a regional partner with whom we have substantial economic, political and cultural relations. This project will problematise current language policy in Japan to take account of important recent areas of social transformation and associated key cultural beliefs about language. It will produce a body of significant individual ....Immigration, technology and literacy: key challenges for language policy in a changing Japan. Australia needs a sophisticated understanding of social and cultural dynamics in a regional partner with whom we have substantial economic, political and cultural relations. This project will problematise current language policy in Japan to take account of important recent areas of social transformation and associated key cultural beliefs about language. It will produce a body of significant individual research and policy recommendations; will bring together high profile international researchers and Japanese policy makers and educators in two collaborative exercises which will strengthen links between the two countries at both academic and government levels; and will launch the research career of a postgraduate student. Read moreRead less
Chinese imprint on Tasmania and consequent connnections with China. The project identifies and analyses Chinese cultural heritage in Tasmania and consequent connections with China. It will establish the veracity of life and work of Chinese settlers in Tasmania and of their descendants in China as a result. It will analyse Chinese traditional cultural values that underlined migrant motivation and behaviour patterns. Finally it will analyse how their connections with Tasmania influenced life of th ....Chinese imprint on Tasmania and consequent connnections with China. The project identifies and analyses Chinese cultural heritage in Tasmania and consequent connections with China. It will establish the veracity of life and work of Chinese settlers in Tasmania and of their descendants in China as a result. It will analyse Chinese traditional cultural values that underlined migrant motivation and behaviour patterns. Finally it will analyse how their connections with Tasmania influenced life of their descendants. The project will provide intellectual content for local community to establish Chinese aspect of cultural heritage and find a niche tourist market for affluent Chinese from where their ancestors came to Tasmania.Read moreRead less
The Old Zhuang Script: a Vernacular Character Script from Southern China. The Zhuang are a Tai-speaking people and the most populous of China's minority peoples. Traditionally they used a modified version of the Chinese character script. The aim of this project is to provide the wherewithal for a decipherment of the old Zhuang character script, to present evidence for the age of the script, and to describe the social and political conditions that gave it birth and influenced its development.
Quality and the Culture of Hierarchy, Governance and Socialization in Contemporary China. China is a key country for Australia in terms of economic, military, and cultural exchange, and mutual cooperation on regional issues. By contributing to understandings of the social and cultural bases of Chinese governance, this project will enhance the abilities of Australians involved in Chinese affairs in all fields. Understanding the dynamics of social hierarchy and local governance in China will als ....Quality and the Culture of Hierarchy, Governance and Socialization in Contemporary China. China is a key country for Australia in terms of economic, military, and cultural exchange, and mutual cooperation on regional issues. By contributing to understandings of the social and cultural bases of Chinese governance, this project will enhance the abilities of Australians involved in Chinese affairs in all fields. Understanding the dynamics of social hierarchy and local governance in China will also contribute to the project of imagining more equitable forms of governance in Australia. Finally, the project involves the training of two Australian postgraduate students in the severely under-represented sub-discipline of the anthropology of China.Read moreRead less
The Baining languages: a window on the history of Island Melanesia. Papua New Guinea is Australia's nearest neighbour. The province of East New Britain is one of Papua New Guinea's most economically important regions due to its significant natural resources. However, it is also home to long-standing ethnic tensions over the distribution of land and resources. This project will increase Australia's understanding of the languages, cultures, history and politics of the province, and strengthen Aust ....The Baining languages: a window on the history of Island Melanesia. Papua New Guinea is Australia's nearest neighbour. The province of East New Britain is one of Papua New Guinea's most economically important regions due to its significant natural resources. However, it is also home to long-standing ethnic tensions over the distribution of land and resources. This project will increase Australia's understanding of the languages, cultures, history and politics of the province, and strengthen Australia's ability to make informed economic and political decisions in the area. The project will reinforce Australia's leadership in the field of Melanesian Studies, train postgraduate students, and strengthen strategic ties in the region.Read moreRead less
LANGUAGES OF SECURITY IN THE ASIAN REGION AND AUSTRALIA. Recognising that the challenge of 'safeguarding Australia' must take account of Australia's regional environment, the project will explore the different vocabulary, concepts, axioms and norms relating to security issues in Asian societies and Australia. It will consider the way different security understandings can help to explain divergent state and non-state action in approaches to defence matters as well as terrorism and transnational ....LANGUAGES OF SECURITY IN THE ASIAN REGION AND AUSTRALIA. Recognising that the challenge of 'safeguarding Australia' must take account of Australia's regional environment, the project will explore the different vocabulary, concepts, axioms and norms relating to security issues in Asian societies and Australia. It will consider the way different security understandings can help to explain divergent state and non-state action in approaches to defence matters as well as terrorism and transnational crime. Collaboration with the Industry Partner will assist the Project to be developed (e.g. in the identification of key concepts) and communicated in a way that will be of maximum use to Australian government and its agencies.Read moreRead less
Pop Cultures in Indonesia: a New Asian Politics of Pleasure and Identity. The study addresses one of National Research Priorities (Goal 4 'Safeguarding Australia'), by better 'understanding our region and the world', and boosting Australia's 'soft power'. Recent changes in Indonesia render much of our knowledge about that society outdated. The study will deliver a significant contribution to the urgent revitalisation of Indonesian and cultural studies. It will hopefully elevate the quality of ou ....Pop Cultures in Indonesia: a New Asian Politics of Pleasure and Identity. The study addresses one of National Research Priorities (Goal 4 'Safeguarding Australia'), by better 'understanding our region and the world', and boosting Australia's 'soft power'. Recent changes in Indonesia render much of our knowledge about that society outdated. The study will deliver a significant contribution to the urgent revitalisation of Indonesian and cultural studies. It will hopefully elevate the quality of our public debate about the world's largest Muslim populated country and Australia's neighbour, by paying serious and overdue attention to the brightest sides of contemporary Indonesia that have occupied the minds of one hundred millions or so ordinary people there.Read moreRead less
Oral Tradition, Literacy and Education in Two Eastern Indonesian Societies. This project will improve our understanding of social and cultural change in eastern Indonesia, a region of strategic importance to Australia. The research will contribute significantly to knowledge of the educational system and literacy levels in eastern Indonesia. This knowledge will be of practical use in development projects in the region and to policy makers in Canberra who are concerned with Indonesian affairs. The ....Oral Tradition, Literacy and Education in Two Eastern Indonesian Societies. This project will improve our understanding of social and cultural change in eastern Indonesia, a region of strategic importance to Australia. The research will contribute significantly to knowledge of the educational system and literacy levels in eastern Indonesia. This knowledge will be of practical use in development projects in the region and to policy makers in Canberra who are concerned with Indonesian affairs. The involvement of a PhD student in the project will increase our national research capacity in eastern Indonesia. The contributions to anthropological theory and method this research will produce will enhance Australia's international reputation as a centre of anthropology, southeast Asian studies and the study of literacy.Read moreRead less
A Typological Study of the Sound Systems of the New Guinea-Melanesia Area. This project aims to complete the first detailed cross-linguistic study of the sound systems of the New Guinea Melanesia area. More than one quarter of the world's languages are spoken in this region which remains very little known from a linguistics perspective. Results of this study should have important ramifications for our understanding of: (1) the nature of languages in the region, and of language in general (2) ph ....A Typological Study of the Sound Systems of the New Guinea-Melanesia Area. This project aims to complete the first detailed cross-linguistic study of the sound systems of the New Guinea Melanesia area. More than one quarter of the world's languages are spoken in this region which remains very little known from a linguistics perspective. Results of this study should have important ramifications for our understanding of: (1) the nature of languages in the region, and of language in general (2) phonological description and theory (3) phonological description and theory (4) linguistic diffusion and influence in an area that extends from Eastern Timor to Vanuatu and New Caledonia.Read moreRead less
New Guinea's place in Southeast Asia: a study integrating archaeology, linguistics and genetics. The multi-disciplinary research will develop an historical context for understanding present-day processes of cultural interaction in eastern Indonesia. Understanding Australia's past, and that of its neighbours, is a clear need for our country. The Onin Peninsula of western New Guinea (within Indonesia's Papua Barat Province) is the focus of multi-disciplinary research, involving archaeology and lin ....New Guinea's place in Southeast Asia: a study integrating archaeology, linguistics and genetics. The multi-disciplinary research will develop an historical context for understanding present-day processes of cultural interaction in eastern Indonesia. Understanding Australia's past, and that of its neighbours, is a clear need for our country. The Onin Peninsula of western New Guinea (within Indonesia's Papua Barat Province) is the focus of multi-disciplinary research, involving archaeology and linguistics, and incorporating human genetics to better understand the historical construction of identity within this region westward to Island Southeast Asia over the last 10,000 years and to develop closer ties with researchers in our neighbouring country.Read moreRead less