Hakuta, Kenji (1952-)

Kenji Hakuta, an experimental psycholinguist, is a scholar recognized internationally for his work in the areas of psycho-linguistics, bilingualism, and English language acquisition by immigrant populations. This entry describes his research contributions to these fields.

Hakuta was born in Kamakura (Kanagawa Prefecture), Japan, on December 19, 1952. He received a bachelor of arts, magna cum laude in psychology and social relations, and earned his doctorate in experimental psychology, both from Harvard University. He has held academic positions at Yale University, the University of California at Santa Cruz, and Stanford University. He was the Founding Dean of the School of Sciences, Humanities and Arts at University of California, erced, from 2003 to 2006, and is currently a professor of education at Stanford University. He has received more than 21 grants to fund his areas of research from 1979 to the present.

Hakuta has concentrated much of his research in the areas of bilingualism, bilingual education policy, and second-language acquisition, and currently focuses on affirmative action in higher education. In his book Mirror of Language, he explores the history of bilingualism and on the process of obtaining a second language on both the child and adult levels. Though the book was written 20 years ago, Hakuta sheds light on the real, literal meaning of bilingualism: how the bilingual mind works in the context of thinking, speaking, and learning with a bilingual brain. He posits that strong appropriate bilingual programs can aid students in developing fluency in their own home or native language and master a second language as well.

Another worthy contribution to the literature of second-language acquisition is the book he coau-thored with Bialystok, In Other Words: The Science and Psychology of Second Language Acquisition, in 1994. Hakuta and Bialystok examine the process of second-language acquisition with a particular focus on why it may be easier for some individuals to learn a second language, but others find it more difficult. The authors present a thorough review of the theoretical literature, from which they identify five aspects that influence second-language acquisition: brain, language, mind, self, and culture. The aspect of culture is addressed from the standpoint of language diversity in the schools and the implications it has for instruction, curriculum development, and policy making.

Hakuta's most recent interest is affirmative action and university access. In 2003, he coedited Compelling Interest: Examining the Evidence on Racial Dynamics in Colleges and Universities, with Mitchell J. Chang, Daria Witt, and James Jones. Compelling Interest was cited in the U.S. Supreme Court decision Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), a case regarding issues of race in admissions policy at the University of Michigan Law School. The text examines the complex issues involved in university access [Page 338]and presents stimulating discourse for the support and protection of affirmative action in university admissions. The authors posit that supporting inclusive admissions practices results in building diverse student populations in institutions of learning.

Hakuta's commitment to the education of language minorities is reflected in his research and advocacy activities for this student population. He served as an expert witness in court cases such as Teresa P. v. Berkeley Unified School District (1989), on behalf of the plaintiffs and the Multicultural Education Training and Advocacy, Inc. He also led the creation of the Stanford Working Group on Federal Education Programs for Limited English Proficient Students, along with Diane August in 1992. Goals of this group included the incorporation of up-to-date research in bilingual education in educational reform.

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