EN240 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Vai People
Document Summary
The 3 r"s have been believed to be the "trinity of democracy" and have regarded universal literacy a precondition for social order. Basic human right to literacy, as there is to food, shelter and medical care. Sylvia scribner and michael cole"s research suggests that the benefits of universal literacy have ve little basis in fact. Jack goody suggests the invention of writing shifted culture from "primitive" to "advanced" Written records replaced myths with history and facts. Literacy was originally only restricted to small groups -- elites. Universal literacy was demanded in the 19th century but not for cultural or technological progress, was just to perpetuate social order. Spiritual and psychological advances -- protestant europeans wanted to be able to have personal contact with newly translated scriptures. Later, was pressed into the service of nationalism. No tendency for literates to rise socially; people who had risen socially tended to be more literate.
