Preface Introduction 1. Passages from the Medieval 2. Roots of Capitalism and Nationality 3. Lega... more Preface Introduction 1. Passages from the Medieval 2. Roots of Capitalism and Nationality 3. Legacies of Uneven Development 4. Conclusion: Ireland in a Changing World Order Glossary Historical Time Line Further Reading Bibliography Index
Has writing changed history or has it merely recorded historical change? Within the field of Lite... more Has writing changed history or has it merely recorded historical change? Within the field of Literacy Studies, opinions on the role of writing in bringing about historical change have tended to polarise into two camps. The 'autonomous' school sees literacy as a dynamic force for change and accords it a central role in the development of civilisation. The 'ecological' school sees literacy as embedded in specific social contexts and disputes that it plays any autonomous role in historical change. This thesis will discuss both theoretical approaches and evaluate these contrasting positions in a specific historical context. The focus of this study is on the role that literacy played in Ireland from the medieval to the modem period. Ireland is a useful case study because it contains virtually all the elements that arise in the wider debate: restricted literacy and pragmatic literacy, the relationship of language change to literacy, the presence of disparate literate pract...
Preface Introduction 1. Passages from the Medieval 2. Roots of Capitalism and Nationality 3. Lega... more Preface Introduction 1. Passages from the Medieval 2. Roots of Capitalism and Nationality 3. Legacies of Uneven Development 4. Conclusion: Ireland in a Changing World Order Glossary Historical Time Line Further Reading Bibliography Index
Has writing changed history or has it merely recorded historical change? Within the field of Lite... more Has writing changed history or has it merely recorded historical change? Within the field of Literacy Studies, opinions on the role of writing in bringing about historical change have tended to polarise into two camps. The 'autonomous' school sees literacy as a dynamic force for change and accords it a central role in the development of civilisation. The 'ecological' school sees literacy as embedded in specific social contexts and disputes that it plays any autonomous role in historical change. This thesis will discuss both theoretical approaches and evaluate these contrasting positions in a specific historical context. The focus of this study is on the role that literacy played in Ireland from the medieval to the modem period. Ireland is a useful case study because it contains virtually all the elements that arise in the wider debate: restricted literacy and pragmatic literacy, the relationship of language change to literacy, the presence of disparate literate pract...
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