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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Writing and Civilization: A View from African Culture
Author:Masaoki, Miyamoto
Year:1992
Periodical:Senri Ethnological Studies
Issue:34
Pages:9-21
Language:English
Geographic terms:Subsaharan Africa
Africa
Subjects:writing systems
literacy
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
History and Exploration
Abstract:Writing is a tool for formalizing a language on a still more abstract level. In Africa south of the Sahara, writing was, with a few exceptions (such as West African Vai script and Bamun script), brought in from outside, along with the propagation of Islam, Christian proselytization, and colonial administration. Generally, Africa south of the Sahara enjoyed a culture that did not, until quite recently, necessitate the intermediation of writing. The diffusion and development of writing quickened during the colonial period. As the oral tradition - in short language - was transformed into written form it acquired the coercive power of a standard, and discouraged people from transmitting it in the way they had in the past. The standardization of Swahili is an example. Notwithstanding the expansion of school education and the implementation of adult anti-illiteracy campaigns the majority of Africa's population today still cannot read or write. The biggest problem in this respect is the fact that literacy is directly related not to mother tongues or folk languages, but rather to foreign languages such as English and French. As a result, there is frequently little or no connection between written and spoken language in the linguistic life of Africans, and to gain writing means to become alienated from one's own language and culture. Overcoming this contradiction would seem to be the most important problem to be confronted when dealing with the issues of writing and civilization in Africa. Bibliogr., notes, ref.
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