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Sunday, March 6, 2016

1) Edinburgh Uni Press 2) sketch Sydney CBD

Very busy. A new project is a book cover for a second edition of "Intercultural Communication," written by Prof Ingrid Piller, an academic book. It will be published by Edinburgh University Press in Jan, 2017. The book is British Association of Applied Linguistis Book Prize 2012 - Runner UpGreat honour and so happy to work with/for Ingrid! I hope my image will help Ingrid's great work that tries to respect any languages and advocates oppressed languages in the world. When a book cover image comes to me, I'll post it. (*if this topic is boring, skip it and read about Sydney Sketch Club meeting below.) 
The statues at Family Court of Australia

Do you want to know how to have a chat with different language speakers? Why do we sometimes behave differently or similarly in languages and societies? If so, "Intercultural Communication" is the book to read! Full of insights, deep knowledge, good data, so many interesting case studies are drawn from Ingrid's life long and rich linguistic research in a critical approach from all over the world. 

This book also challenges our stereotyped information or prejudice in society. Some say, "Japanese or Asian background overseas students are shy, modest and silent." No, the fact is they cannot get the timing of turn taking in an English conversation and no idea about local topics in a class room. So, they think silent is the safest option. Ingrid demonstrates it with convincing statistical data. Her case studies fascinate me so much and very beneficial to contact other language groups. (I can't wait for a gratis book! Yey!) 

Ingrid is the linguist who can walk across continents and overcomes boundaries such as races, nationalities and languages. I was lucky to have her in my uni life! As far as I know any linguists dream that people will communicate freely in any languages and respect every language. No oppressed languages. No dominant languages. Like other linguists, me, too, hope so.    
A brave artist voluntarily sacrificed herself for my model.
Between the projects, a good break was a Sydney Sketch Club meeting. We enjoyed to sketch around the corner of Pitt St and Goulburn St in Sydney CBD. I sketched members, a hotel and the statues on the gate of Family Court of AustraliaThe first image is the statues. They were very emotional and eye catchy. A male and a female were struggling for something in a rocky mass in a dark colour. It has fascinated me. I depicted an unfamiliar subject like the statues. The second image is a kind member artist voluntarily sacrificed herself for my model! We, cheeky girls enjoyed a chat and portraits! The image below is the hotel and a street view. I so much enjoyed colours. Next time, I want to put people around architecture on streets. City view sketches will be references for the next picture book. So, I've been focusing on a street view and architectures these weeks. 
A hotel and a street view
Yes, I do sketch hunting. When I come across useful visual information, I'll sketch it. I'm always aware of the ongoing project and nearly obsessed?! It's nothing different from hunting. Then, I've been working on the character design in black and white and colour of the main children. I'm certainly developing their images = my characters will come to life in my heart and on papers. 

Another good news. My computer has been fixed up, finally! You've got why I've been so quiet for these weeks! Please pardon my no comments on your blogs, but I tried my best to contact you. Oh, being without a computer is equal to being out of civilisation and no socialisation! The fractured shoulder and the wrist are recovering steadily and quickly, which has amazed a physiotherapist at hospital. My magic?! is "long distance swimming." 1.5 km. The physio says with her shining eyes, "I'm excited! You do very well. I will recommend other patients to do swimming. You recover much quicker!" The kind physio, too, celebrates my contract with EUP. 

Thank you so much for a strong support. We all have ups and downs in life. In any context, I'm eventually and always optimistic and positive, because of your support.   
Friends, thank you for waiting and visiting. Happy Painting and Happy Communication! Let's enjoy our lives! 





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14 comments:

  1. Sadami, tienes excesivo trabajo. Demasiadas cosas que te apasionan. Debes dejar un poco el trabajo y terminar de recuperarte de tus roturas. Ya sé que lo haces, pero para ello has de pensar en otra cosa que no esté relacionado con el trabajo. No puedes? Hazlo, por tu salud. Te vas a la playa a nadar y dibujar olas... Qué bien los pintas! Y si se te estropea la computadora, lo mismo: a la playa, a nadar y dibujar.
    Te queremos en plena salud, física y emocional!
    Un fuerte abrazo.

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    1. Oh, tan dulce, Joshemari !! Sí, la salud es mi más importante, aunque voy a trabajar en los proyectos. Me escapo a la playa de Narrabeen para nadar por lo general tres veces a la semana / fin de semana para una escapada. De lo contrario, inspiraciones para proyectos no se van a plantear! Siempre equilibrio entre el trabajo y la salud. Muchas gracias por tu amabilidad. Por favor tenga cuidado y que, también, disfrutar de esbozo. Los mejores deseos, ((abrazos)) Sadami

      Oh, so sweet, Joshemari!! Yes, the health is my most important, although I'll work on the projects. I escape to Narrabeen beach for swimming usually three times a week/weekend for a break. Otherwise, inspirations for projects will not come up! Always I balance between work and health. Thank you so much for your kindness. Please take care and you, too, enjoy sketching. Best wishes, ((Hugs)) Sadami

      >>>>>>>>>>>Joshemari said...
      Sadami, you have too much work. Too many things that you are passionate about. You must leave a little work and finish recover from your breaks. I know you do, but for this you have to think of anything that is not work-related. You can not? Do it for your health. You go to the beach to swim and surf draw ... How well the paint! And if you ruin the computer, the same: to the beach, swimming and drawing.
      We want you in full health, physical and emotional!
      A hug.

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  2. Lovely sketches, as always, Sadami! That sounds like a great book, because there can be many misunderstandings between languages. Have a great week!

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    1. Thank you, Judy! The book is really ground breaking in that area. So, linguistics students and lecturers can use it for their class all over the world. Like you, Ingrid is originally, an European and can employ several languages. She taught in Europe, UK, USA and Middle East and has settled down in Australia. Your country is a good example of bilingualism and curriculum supports it. In linguistic conferences, we hope for linguistic diversity.
      Best wishes, Sadami

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  3. Wonderful sketches - I liked the statues a lot - you showed just enough. I didn't know about Japanese/Asian speakers not knowing the timing of speech in English...I am lazy and have never really learned another language so am so amazed at those people who speak 2 or 3 or 4 languages!! I think learning young is best as the older brain doesn't seem to want to hold on to new words, etc. (for me, at least). I am so glad you are healing and getting stronger all the time and this book commission is great for you!!

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    1. Oh, sweet Rhonda, thank you! Yes, many sketch club members love the statues. Re turn taking, it was quite interesting that Ingrid explained about the difference between Latin languages (= Italian, Spanish etc) speakers and English speakers in a lecture. If you can find the book at a library, have a look of it. Great fun.
      Ingrid employs at least 4 or 5 languages, if my memory is correct. Re language acquisition, young children and adults show difference, like you comment. I'm interested in how we develop a concept of a word, when a child/adult gets it. Speech production is mystery in linguistics, we don't know about it. Also, I'm optimistic about language learning.
      Yes, EUP's job is lovely! I look forward to having Ingrid sign it. Yes, I'll recover!! You, too, please take care.
      Best wishes, Sadami


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  4. I would sacrifice myself to be your model any time

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    1. Oh, Polly, you're soooo nice! When we get together, we will portrait each other. Please don't say, "Hey, this is the end of our friendship," when you look at my work. Cheers, Sadami

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  5. what a wonderful blog-post Sadami (it is so funny how auto correct always wants to make you "salami" instead)...I am so glad that your computer is fixed now. Your watercolors and drawings are an inspiration!

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    1. Thank you, sweet Celeste. I'm working on black and white and colour roughs after a storyboard. Your blog post always inspires us, too. Best wishes, Sadami

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  6. Wonderful sketches and congratulations on your new project. The topic of the book sounds really interesting. As a speaker of a minority language, I've always got a soft spot for learning languages. I know what you mean by language stereotypes. As a a matter of fact,long time ago I met a Japanese girl who kept quite while we were having a heated discussion (there was a German,a Norwegian girl and me). After a while I asked her whether she wasn't interested in the discussion, and she answered she didn't know when she could start talking because she didn't want to break in to our conversation.It was extremely rude in Japan.

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    1. Hi, Anna, great feedback and thank you for an insightful comment. When a second edition comes up, have a look of it. It would be a great fun for you.
      Yes, your experience of the Japanese speaker and thoughts of Japanese social conventions are right. But regarding turn taking in discussion, English speakers and Latin languages speakers show differences, once Ingrid said in her lecture. It interested me very much. In English conversations, turn taking must be even between a speaker and a listener. However, in Latin languages, people speak more freely, Ingrid said. One day, when I see you in person, I'd ask you?!
      Please keep your important identity and head up as a minority language speaker. In addition, Ingrid has a great interest in "identity." I really enjoyed her lecturers.
      Best wishes, (( Hugs )), Sadami

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  7. all the best for your new book cover sadami ...many congratulations ... i love the sketch of statue

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    1. Thank you, sweet Jane! You're always so kind. Please take care. Best wishes, Sadami

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