Language Is a Norm That Connects to All Laws

You probably have a vague idea that studying foreign languages is compulsory during your first and second years of university. Of course, that is not wrong; in the Faculty of Law, you will choose and study two languages from among seven: English, German, French, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, and Korean. Most students choose English and one other language, but some choose two languages other than English. But let's think about it again. Why do we study foreign languages in the Faculty of Law? Is it for globalization? Is it for traveling abroad? Is it to gain an advantage in job hunting?

Language defines the thoughts and actions of the people who use it. For example, the expression "mukae ni iku" is "pick up" in English. In French, which I teach, the verb "chercher" is commonly used. If translated literally into Japanese, "pick up" means "to pick up" or "to pluck up." "Chercher" means "to search for." English expresses the act of going to meet someone as the act of picking them up, while French expresses it as the act of searching for them. This is despite the act itself being the same. In other words, even for the same action, the way it is expressed differs depending on the language. You might say, "Well, isn't that obvious?" but these differences in how things are perceived through language give rise to ways of thinking different from our own and define our behavior. Furthermore, these distinct languages are the very norms of a country's unique legal system and political thought. While foreign language study at university may ultimately be useful for studying abroad or finding a job, it is actually a foundational study for understanding legal systems, political thought, societies, and cultures different from our own by experiencing heterogeneous ways of thinking. At first glance, it may not seem directly connected to specialized classes, but the acquisition of a language is what cultivates a Faculty of Law sensibility. For this reason, the Faculty of Law offers classes at various levels to meet your needs, such as intensive courses that meet four times a week for students who wish to study a foreign language in depth. There are also distinctive classes called Regional Culture Studies that are linked to each language. Now, let's cultivate a Faculty of Law sensibility together starting in April.