Postgraduate Studies
The Department welcomes students with good academic records in their subject area and strong research proposals, provided that appropriate supervision is available within the department.
For more information on postgraduate studies in the Department of Languages and Cultures, please consult our Languages and Cultures Handbook (295KB in PDF format).
Postgraduate Coordinator
Dr Cecilia Novero
Tel 64 3479 8694
Email cecilia.novero@otago.ac.nz
Postgraduates Profiles
Chinese
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French
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German
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European Studies
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Asian Studies
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Spanish/Portuguese
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Chinese
Dr Yumin Ao
PhD awarded 2011
Yumin Ao obtained her BA in English Language and Literature from Jiangxi Normal University, her MA in Comparative Literature from Shanghai International Studies University, and her PhD from the University of Otago. Her PhD is a study of the thematic, narrative and musical structures of the Chinese playwright Guan Hanqing’s drama Injustice to Dou E. She has taught at Jiangxi Normal University, Shanghai International Studies University, Donghua University, and the University of Otago. Her research interests include classical Chinese Literature, Traditional Chinese Drama and Theatre, Comparative Literature, Chinese Aesthetics and Arts History, Chinese Characters and the history of Chinese writing, and Cross-cultural Studies. She was a visiting fellow at the Institute of History and Philology of Academia Sinica in Taiwan in the October to December quarter of 2009. She attended the workshop “Knowledge on The Move: Circulation, Domestication, and Trans-cultural Reconfigurations (July 25–29, 2010)” at the Karl Jaspers Centre for Advanced Trans-cultural Studies at Heidelberg University in Germany. The Otago Post has recently included an article about this academic visit (See http://www.otago.ac.nz/postgraduate/otagopost/otago013736.html).
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
“A Study of the Modern Transition of Zhu Guangqian’s Aesthetic Theories.” In Foreign Language Teaching and Research, edited by Jiang Yajun and Yin Yao, 177–82. Shanghai: Fudan University Press, 2007. [ISBN: 978-7-309-05400-2/H.1085].
“The Facilitation of Teaching Reform through Performance Assessment: The Application of Performance Assessment of Non-English Graduate Students in Donghua University.” In the Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Foreign Language Teaching Methodology in China (SHFLT2), edited by Dai Weidong, 927–37. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2007. [ISBN: 9787544604277].
“Subjective Choice or Objective Tendency?—A Study of Benedetto Croce’s Influence upon the Aesthetics of Zhu Guangqian in the Early Stage.” In Foreign Language and Culture Studies, edited by Wu Youfu, 1102–14, Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2004. [ISBN: 781080958].
“Review of Selected Journal Articles,” in Comparative Literature in China 3 (2002): 155–6. [ISBN: 1006-6101].
TRANSLATION (FROM ENGLISH TO MANDARIN CHINESE)
(翻譯)，從神奇故事到傳奇劇：明代夢幻/鬼魂劇《牡丹亭》的形態結構分析， Zhao, Xiaohuan. “From Story to Script: towards a Morphology of The Peony Pavilion―a Dream/Ghost Drama from Ming China,” Structuralist Theology [Jiegou zhuyi shenhuaxue 結構主義神話學], Ye Shuxian 葉舒憲, ed., Xi’an: Shanxi shifan daxue chubanshe (forthcoming).
CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS
“From Song to Story: Towards the Song Arrangement and Plot Advancement in Injustice to Dou E,” the 18th Biennial Conference of the European Association of Chinese Studies (July14–18, 2010), University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
“A Case Study on Structuralist-Narrative Analysis: Towards a Narratology of Injustice to Dou E—a Variety Play from Yuan China,” the Third Annual International Conference on Philology, Literature and Linguistics (July 12–15, 2010), Athens, Greece.
“From Song to Story: Towards the Song Arrangement and Plot Advancement in Injustice to Dou E,” Research Seminar of the Department of Languages and Cultures (June 8, 2010), the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
“Action and Emotion: Towards an Analysis of the Dramatic Structure of Injustice to Dou E,” the 18th Biennial New Zealand Asia Studies Society International Conference (July 6–8, 2009), Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
“The Facilitation of Teaching Reform through Performance Assessment: The Application of Performance Assessment of Non-English Graduate Students in Donghua University,” the 2nd International Conference on Foreign Language Teaching Methodology (March 24–26, 2006), Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China.
Johannah Cook
PhD Research
Title of PhD thesis is: “Politics, Personality and Poetry During the Wei-Jin Period.”
The Wei-Jin Period was a time of immense political and social upheaval in China. It was also a time of unprecedented literary freedom as a new style of living and writing caught on amongst Chinese intellectuals. I explore how the Wei-Jin fengliu or “Wei-Jin style” captures the particular ethos of the period and how it is expressed through Wei-Jin poetry. Through the analysis of representative works from the period, I also examine how Wei-Jin poetry expresses the political ideals and personality of the poet in question.
Profile
Currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Languages and Cultures at the University of Otago. Main research interest is traditional Chinese poetry. Taught English at various universities in China whilst studying Chinese from 2002 until 2008. In 2006, enrolled as a student of Chinese literature at Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China and studied classical Chinese poetry from the Han, Wei, Jin, and Six Dynasties Period. Currently teaching Mandarin Chinese part time to Year Six and Year Seven students at Columba College, Dunedin.
Tertiary Qualifications
M.A. in Chinese Language and Traditional Chinese Poetry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Postgraduate Diploma in Chinese, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Diploma in Secondary Teaching, Christchurch College of Education, New Zealand.
B.A. in Japanese, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
Conferences
Paper titled “Parting with Prince Biao, Cao Zhi at the Crossroads” was presented at The Seventh Annual Graduate Research Conference at the School of Asian Studies, University of Auckland.
Hiang Loon Low
PhD Research
Towards A Chinese Word List for Malaysian Learners of Mandarin as a Foreign Language (MFL): A Corpus-based Study from Comparative Perspective
This study aims to propose a practical and scientific Mandarin word list for the Malaysian Mandarin learners at tertiary level. For this purpose, a thorough Mandarin language needs analysis was conducted. Needs analysis provides important basis for the formation of a word list as vocabulary selection for a language course depends very much on what goals are to be achieved and what contents are to be taught. Also, this study aims to construct the corpora of Mandarin textbooks for general purposes and specific purposes in serving the language needs of the Malaysian MFL learners.
Profile
Hiang Loon Low, married, is a PhD candidate at the Department of Languages and Cultures, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Based on her previous experiences in teaching Mandarin as a foreign language for 10 years, her research interest is focused on the Mandarin language needs analysis and development of Chinese word lists for learners of Mandarin as a foreign language or second language. She is the main author for two Mandarin textbooks for specific purposes, namely Mandarin for hotel and tourism management and Mandarin for food management. She is the co-writer and editor for Practical Mandarin Guide Book + CD for learners of Mandarin as a foreign language in Malaysia. She has presented her papers at national and international conferences. She is also the author of a fictional book entitled: “The Reeds at the Riverside – A teenage diary of a lecturer” published by Mentor Publishing House in Kuala Lumpur. The book has been reprinted five times.
Publications
1. Article titled “The Development of Chinese Word Lists for Learners of Mandarin as a Foreign Language” by Hiang Loon Low was published in the International Journal of the Humanities (a fully refereed journal) in Volume 8, Issue 7, Nov 2010 by the Common Ground Publisher, University of Illinois Research Park, 60 Hazelwood Dr., Suite 226, Champaign, IL 61820 USA., IL SA
2. Article titled “Vocabulary Size for Foreign Language Teaching – A Comparison between English and Chinese Language” by Hiang Loon Low was published by Tesolanz (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages New Zealand) Inc.in Nov 2010 Tesolanz Newsletter.
3. Paper titled “The Development of the Teaching of Mandarin as a Foreign Language in the National Universities in Malaysia” by Hiang Loon Low was published in the Proceedings of the 1st Malaysian Mandarin Teaching Conference by MJ (Mandarin Journey) Publishing in Dec 2010.
4. Co-written paper titled “The Comparison of Character Used in the Chinese Teaching Materials of Mainland China and Malaysia – A Focus on Chinese Textbooks of Standard One to Standard Three” was published in the Proceedings of the Third Chinese Language Educational Materials Conference of China in April 2010.
Conference Papers
Paper titled “The Development of the Teaching of Mandarin as a Foreign Language in the National Universities in Malaysia” was presented by Hiang Loon Low as one of the seven invited speakers at the 1st Malaysian Mandarin Teaching Conference on 18 December 2010. The conference was organized by Malaysian Mandarin Language Teacher Association.
Paper titled “The Preliminary Comparison of the Vocabulary Compiled in the New HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) Word List and the Elementary Mandarin Teaching Materials from Different Regions of the World” was presented by Hiang Loon Low at
the 7th International Conference of Teaching Mandarin as a Foreign Language from 12 to 15 November 2010 at Xiamen University, Xiamen, Mainland China. The conference was organized by the Centre for Studies of Chinese as a Second Language, Beijing Language and Culture University, Mainland China and the Language Educational Materials Sub-centers, National Language Resource Monitoring and Research Center of Xiamen University, Mainland China.
Paper titled “Vocabulary Size for Foreign Language Teaching – A Comparison between English and Chinese language” was presented by Hiang Loon Low at the 2010 CLESOL Conference (Conference for Community Languages and ESOL). The 2010 CLESOL Conference organized by TESOLANZ (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages New Zealand) Inc. and CLANZ (Community Languages Association New Zealand) was held in King’s High School, Dunedin, New Zealand from 1 October to 4 October 2010.
Paper titled “The Development of Chinese Word Lists for Learners of Mandarin as a Foreign Language” was presented by Hiang Loon Low at the Eighth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities. The Humanities Conference 2010 organized by the Common Ground Publisher was held from 29 June to 2 July 2010, at the University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA.
Co-written paper titled “Engaging Learners in i-Class in E Distance Learning of Mandarin Language” was presented by Hiang Loon Low’s co-author, Chin Shuang Goh in the 14th Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education (GCCCE). The GCCCE 2010 conference was held from 2 – 4 June, 2010 at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Co-written paper titled “The comparison of character used in the Chinese teaching materials of mainland China and Malaysia – A focus on Chinese textbooks of standard one to standard three” was presented by Hiang Loon Low’s co-author, Shulun Guo at the Third Chinese Language Educational Materials Conference. The conference was held from 25 – 28 April, 2010 at Bohai University, in Jinzhou City of Liaoning Province, China.
Weijun Ma
Li-jiun Shen
Lin Zeng
PhD Research
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Profile
Lin Zeng(曾琳)
Professional translator and interpreter (between English and Chinese)
PhD Candidate
Department of Languages and Cultures
P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054
Telephone: 64 3 4798704
zenglin2008@gmail.com
Education
M.A. &B.A. in English Language and Literature, Beijing International Studies University (BISU)
M.A. in Education, University of North Florida (UNF)
Research interest
Translation theory, practice, and teaching; translation of contemporary Chinese literature; language and culture
Academic employment
Beijing International Studies University 2000-2011
Position: Lecturer 2000-2009,Associate professor (2009-2011).
Course: Advanced Translation (from Chinese to English), Advanced English, postgraduate level; Pragmatic translation, English speaking and listening, undergraduate level University of North Florida
Position: Instructor (2003-2004) Course: Chinese language and culture
Publications
Journal articles:
“A Cultural Perspective on the Translation of Publicity Materials”, 2008Proceedings of XVIII FIT World Congress, Beijing: Foreign Language Press,
“Formative Assessment in the Teaching Assessment of Undergraduate Translation Course”, Journal of Sichuan International Studies University, (special issue,2008)
“Teaching of Translation with the Assistance of Blackboard Learning System”, Foreign Language Education, (Special issue,2007)
“On the Teaching of Business English translation”, was collected into College Foreign Language teaching and research, Dongfang Press, June 2007.
“Using Modern Instructional Technology in College English Teaching” was collected into the book Studies on English Teaching Reform with the Assistance of Web-based Multimedia Technology, Tsinghua University Press, November 2006
“Application of Functional Translation Theory in Business English Translation” published in the Journal of Beijing Second Foreign Languages Studies University, (Special issue, 2006)
Translations:
A. From English to Chinese
2010 Maikenxi bense (《麦肯锡本色》) of Marvin Bower’s The Will to Lead, Beijing, China Renmin University Press
2009 Zuzhi yu guanli (《组织与管理》) from Chester Barnard’s Organization and Management (main translator), Beijing : China Renmin University Press, ,
2008 Youquanli de jingliren (《有权利的经理人》)from Peter Block’s The Empowered Manager(main translator), Beijing: China Renmin University Press,
2008b Qiye mudi (《企业目的》) from Nikos Mourkogiannis’s Purpose, Beijing: China Mechanical Engineering Press
2007 Gongneng shehui (《功能社会》) from Peter Drucker’s A Functioning Society, Beijing: China Mechanical Engineering Press
2006 Woerma celue, (《沃尔玛策略》) from Michael Bergdahl’s What I learned from Sam Walton, Beijing: China Mechanical Engineering Press
B. From Chinese to English
2009 Translated documents and three articles for the Art Z-Park 2009 International Art Exposition
2009 Translated the introduction of Beijing Chaoyang District People’s Procuratorate
2009 Translated movie subtitles and Director’s note and the movie synopsis: Walk to School, a selection of the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival, prize-winning film of the Huabiao Awards
2007-2008 Translated 12 articles for the bi-monthly magazine The World of Chinese, Beijing: The Commercial Press, ISSN: 1673-7660:
Presentations
“Retranslating Western Learning: a Case Study of Translating Western Concepts from Japanese into Chinese.” Paper presented in 3rd Conference of the International Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies, Monash University, July, 2009.
“A Cultural Perspective on the Translation of Publicity Materials”. Paper presented in 2008 XVIII FIT World Congress, Shanghai
Forum on the Teaching of Translation and Interpreting, Beijing, 2007
“Application of Functional Translation Theory in Business English Translation.”
Paper presented in 2nd National Symposium on Pragmatic Translation, Guangzhou, 2006
The 4th National Symposium on Interpreter Training and Research, Beijing, 2002
European Studies
Alexandra Dumitrescu
Margi MacMurdo-Reading
PhD Research
Profile
French
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Sarah Parvaiz
German
Peter Barton
PhD Research:
My current doctoral research has the provisional title: “Dissonance as Dissidence in the work of Thomas Bernhard”. This project sees the concept of ‘voice’ as central to an understanding of Bernhard’s prose and stage work; it is voice, I argue, that provides the link between (self-) consciousness and subjectivation through social interpellation. Central to this research are the theoretical propositions of Jacques Lacan on the construction of the subject and his desire outlined in The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis and The Ethics of Psychoanalysis. My other academic interests include aesthetics and ideology, psychoanalysis, literature and ecology.
Profile
I was born and brought up in Dunedin where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1988. I left the following year on 12 month scholarship with the DAAD to attend the University of Tübingen where I stayed until late 1992 when I moved to the UK. After several years in London and Exeter I shifted back to Dunedin with my family in 2005. After having made more professional detours than were strictly necessary (starting out as a quarry labourer and ending in IT management) I finally returned to serious academic study in 2010.
I am married with two daughters. When not studying I am usually either pottering in the garden, wrestling with the basics of classical guitar, or on a beach somewhere keeping an eye on the kids and trying not to feel too envious of their energy.
Education:
MA, History of Art. Distinction. Birkbeck College, University of London, 2000. Dissertation subject: Staging exhibitions of multiculturalism and the Other in German state institutions
BA (Hons), First Class. University of Otago, 1987. Dissertation subject: Patterns of Lebenserfahrung in the poetry of Ernst Stadler.
Conference presentations:
“The problem of knowledge and the discourse of the hysteric: exploring a Lacanian interpretation of Die Marquise von O...”
“Kleist und die Moderne”. International Symposium hosted by Department of Languages and Cultures at the University of Otago, 25-27 September 2010. Organisers: Prof. Dr. Bernd Fischer (Ohio State University) and Prof. Dr. Tim Mehigan (University of Otago)
Publications:
Forthcoming (November 2011) with Camden House, Rochester, NY: “The problem of knowledge and the discourse of the hysteric: exploring a Lacanian interpretation of Die Marquise von O...” Contribution to a book containing the proceedings of the International Symposium on Kleist, September 2010 (see above)
Teaching:
Courses: German 231, Intermediate German Language (European Reference Level B1). Semester 2 July – October), 2010 and 2011.
Affiliations:
Internationale Thomas-Bernhard-Gesellschaft (pending)
NZ Alumni of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)
Anita Perkins
PhD Research:
Travel texts and moving cultures: contemporary literature and film in the context of the new mobilities paradigm
The doctoral thesis brings together two main areas of scholarship: the cultural analysis of literature and film, and the new mobilities paradigm (Sheller and Urry, 2006). The object of analysis is ‘travel texts’, i.e. literature and film critically engaged in the cultural experience of movement/travel. The selected texts are (re)viewed within the context of the new mobilities paradigm, a framework for (re)conceiving of cultures as mobile, as opposed to traditional Heideggerian-inspired sedentary perspectives of people and place. The analysis primarily takes a cross-sectional look at a corpus of travel texts from 1989/90 to 2010.
Recent conference presentations:
• 21 Sept 2010 Setting the PhD Thesis in Motion: Travel Texts, Moving Cultures and the New Mobilities Paradigm, at ‘The Next Generation of Cultural Research’, University of Western Sydney.
• 16 Nov 2010. Towards a Mobile Cultural Analysis of Travel Literature and Film’, at ‘Mobilities Symposium: Towards a movement-driven Social Science in Aotearoa/ New Zealand, on 16 November, University of Otago.
Affiliations:
• University of Otago Centre for Research on National Identity – Postgraduate Group
• Asia New Zealand Foundation Young Leaders Network – Member and Steering Committee Representative
Current Part-time Work:
I currently tutor German and I am also employed as a freelance writer for the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s website content, and EBSCO Publishing NZ Points of View series.
Asian Studies
Anna Luke
Profile:
I was born in Bangkok, Thailand and grew up in Singapore. I am enthusiastic about Asian studies, in particular building on my Mandarin and Thai language skills. I moved to Dunedin for my university education, completing my BA (Chinese Hons) and BSc (Physiology). My current MA topic looks at the creation and development of a Singaporean national identity, with the tentative title of "A Young Nation’s Dilemma: Crafting an Identity in the Lion City". In my spare time I enjoy traveling through Asia, cooking up a storm in the kitchen and watching Chinese movies.