Institute of Corpora and International Studies launches 

 

 

Shanghai Jiao Tong University inaugurated the Institute of Corpora and Intercultural Studies on November 2nd.

 

Chair Professor Li Defeng from Shanghai Jiao Tong University was appointed dean of the institute.  The institute consists of various programs and departments to address translation and lexicography, language engineering, language teaching and learning, literature and language and law. A language cognition laboratory is also established. The institute intends to execute a variety of research, leading the fields of linguistics, translation studies, and text corpora pedagogy both domestically and internationally.

 

For the inauguration of the institute, linguistics scholars from all over China expressed their opinions on the development and application of linguistics. Collectively, they agreed that applied linguistics could be narrowly defined as the study language instruction and acquisition. They further emphasized that theory without application is like a river without a water source or a tree with no roots—it will have no meaning and basis without drawing from and influencing experience. Scholars also noted that research should be conducted in conjunction with language tests, corpus compilation and use, and implementation of teaching methods. Additionally, they said that responsible academics will advocate effective teaching and oppose “teaching to the test”. Concurrently, they should treat the development of linguistics as a cross-cultural endeavor.

 

The Chinese version appeared in Chinese Social Sciences Today, Dec.7, No.389, 2012

 

(Translated by Yang Min)