Mei Yicong

Sociocultural history and sociolinguistic landscape of the Ainu

Advisor: Associate Professor Lim Beng Choo

Yicong is a PhD student of Japanese Studies. Her research focuses on the preservation of the traditional language and culture of the Ainu people, the Aboriginal people of Hokkaido. Her research interests include the ethnic minority policies, as well as the sociocultural and sociolinguistic landscape in Hokkaido from the Meiji Period to present days. As an experienced language teacher and a degree holder of MA in Applied Linguistics at the University of Melbourne, Yicong is also highly interested in sociolinguistics and language teaching. She grew a strong urge to protect the traditional language and culture of Aboriginal peoples during her stay in Australia where she got to visit Aboriginal Australians and listen to their life experience. In her spare time, Yicong loves to read Japanese manga, including “Golden Kamuy” which aroused her interest in the traditional Ainu culture.