Research Strengths of the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics
The School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics is a large multidisciplinary department conducting research and teaching in a range of disciplines. These share the common goal of understanding the richness and complexity of human experience as shaped by cultures and languages. The school has 70 academic staff and over 4,000 students.
The School hosts three research centres:
- Centre for Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies
- Language and Society Centre
- Research Centre for New Media in Language Learning
Examples of research funded by competitive grants include:
The Criticism of Heaven and Earth
Two issues have returned with vigour to public debate: the role of religion in secular society and the relation between theology and political theory. This project provides a much needed reference work that sets the current debates within a long and rich tradition. Apart from enabling us to avoid the mistakes of the past, it also brings to the fore forgotten solutions to such issues. Further, given the central role of many of these critics in a range of disciplines, the project will have repercussions across a wide range of discussions within Australia and abroad.
Digital Dissent in the People’s Republic: The Language of Protest and Criticism in Sino Cyberspace
As Australia’s relations with China continue to deepen, it is vital for Australia to acquire in-depth knowledge of how rapidly China is changing as a consequence of digital information flows. The project provides that knowledge through its analysis of digital dissent. It explores how non-state players in the People’s Republic respond and react to urgent problems in their midst. It will also shed light on present-day tensions in China between state and civil society. More specifically, the project will deepen Australia’s critical engagement with China by focussing on such issues of consequence as censorship, corruption, environmental pollution, governance reform and calls for democracy and human rights.
More information about the research focus and strengths in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics.