Despite its growing prominence within fields such as applied linguistics,
education and media studies, current treatments of literacy studies often
incline towards a particular view or approach. This lucid introduction
provides a more balanced understanding, arguing that:
*literacy must be examined through a balance of approaches if we are to
appreciate its true nature
*literacy cannot be described simply as situated, social activity
*literacy is the sign systems and the uses of language that foster and
reflect its social existence
*literacy is a property of mind.
Literacy: an Introduction helps the reader to understand the currents of
thought, whether post modernist, cognitivist, or Vygotskian, which underlie
its analysis. Integrated exercises and a concluding glossary enable readers
to develop a full understanding of the topic.
Contents summary:
Introduction: what is literacy?
1. Socio-economic perspectives on literacy
2. Literacy as a sign system: understanding literacy as the visual
representation of language and meaning
3. The historical development of literacy
4. Literacy and language: linguistic approaches to the nature of literacy
5. Literacy as knowledge: issues of literacy, learning and mind
6. The many sides of literacy: conclusions and discussion
Randal Holme is an applied linguist, who has been involved in teaching and
studying literacy for a number of years. His current research interest is
in the applications of cognitive linguistics to such areas as literacy
studies, and second language teaching. Based in the School of Linguistics
and Language at the University of Durham, he lectures in applied
linguistics and directs the Language Centre.
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