Blake, Brett Elizabeth and Robert W. Blake. Literacy Primer. New York: Peter Lang Publishing Inc., 2005. Print.
Literacy Primer discusses literacy its many aspects. It introduces and defines types of literacy (autonomous, multiple, basis, functional, numerate, etc.), examines issue of literate vs. illiterate and explores the history of the development of literacy from Ancient Greeks to present.
Although relatively small in size (193 pages including 20 pages of references and resources), I find this book to be comprehensive in its coverage of literacy and highly readable. My only reservation is that the authors seem biased in preference for literate over oral societies/cultures and toward the English language. Despite this I feel the book useful in helping a new student like myself become acquainted with the terms, language and issues of literacy.
Stay tuned. I have read my way through to page 121. More in depth comment to follow.
Jane, Like you, I find that these authors sometimes make statements that I find questionable. However, the book is very comprehensive and it introduces complex ideas in clear, accessible language, so I find its strengths to outweigh its weaknesses. There are very few such books available on the market today. In fact, I know of no others that could be used in a graduate course. --B. Gleason
ReplyDeleteI so heartedly agree. I have found this short little book packed with an excellent introduction to the terms, parameters, background, and issues on literacy, from Ancient Greeks to 21st century.
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