1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910816076403321

Autore

Coulmas Florian

Titolo

Writing and society : an introduction / / Florian Coulmas [[electronic resource]]

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cambridge : , : Cambridge University Press, , 2013

ISBN

1-139-61037-6

1-107-23518-9

1-139-61595-5

1-107-25434-5

1-139-62525-X

1-139-61223-9

1-139-06106-2

1-299-27643-1

1-139-62153-X

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (xi, 180 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Collana

Key topics in sociolinguistics

Classificazione

LAN009000

Disciplina

302.2/244

Soggetti

Writing - Social aspects

Written communication - Social aspects

Literacy - Social aspects

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Machine generated contents note: 1. The tyranny of writing; 2. The past in the present and the seeds of the public sphere; 3. Written and unwritten language; 4. Literacy and inequality; 5. The society of letters; 6. Writing reform; 7. Writing and literacy in the digitalized world.

Sommario/riassunto

How does writing relate to speech? What impact does it have on social organisation and development? How do unwritten languages differ from those that have a written form and tradition? This book is a general account of the place of writing in society. Drawing on contemporary and historical examples, from clay tablets to touchscreen displays, the book explores the functions of writing and written language, analysing its consequences for language, society, economy and politics. It examines the social causes of illiteracy, demonstrating that institutions



of central importance to modern society are built upon writing and written texts, and are characterised by specific forms of communication. It explores the social dimensions of spelling and writing reform, as well as of digital literacy, a new mode of expression and communication posing novel challenges to the student of language in society.