The transition from orality to literacy in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms
This is an interdisciplinary study which attempts to assess certain general linguistic theories about the adoption of literacy and its effects on society by considering them in relation to a specific historical society; Anglo-Saxon England. A major premise of the work is that many of the general theories about orality and literacy cannot be applied to specific societies without considerable qualification. A second, and equally important, premise is that the argument for a ~literate consciousness~, different from that of the consciousness of the non-literate, has not so far been adequately sustained. In pursuing this study I have concentrated on Early English prose; in particular the early law codes and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The reasons for this are two-fold: law and history tend to be the first areas whose substance is committed to writing in any society which adopts extensive use of literacy; and their committal to writing can often be more precisely dated than that of story-telling, be it in poetry or prose. While this does not overcome the problems of discussing orality in a pre-soundrecording age, it does help to minimize them. The substance of the thesis, then, is concerned with an examination of
Miller, Lorraine Jennifer
History
The transition from orality to literacy in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. This is an interdisciplinary study which attempts to assess certain general linguistic theories about the adoption of literacy and its effects on society by considering them in relation to a specific historical society; Anglo-Saxon England. A major premise of the work is that many of the general theories about orality and literacy cannot be applied to specific societies without considerable qualification. A second, and equally important, premise is that the argument for a ~literate consciousness~, different from that of the consciousness of the non-literate, has not so far been adequately sustained. In pursuing this study I have concentrated on Early English prose; in particular the early law codes and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The reasons for this are two-fold: law and history tend to be the first areas whose substance is committed to writing in any society which adopts extensive use of literacy; and their committal to writing can often be more precisely dated than that of story-telling, be it in poetry or prose. While this does not overcome the problems of discussing orality in a pre-soundrecording age, it does help to minimize them. The substance of the thesis, then, is concerned with an examination of
transition orality literacy anglo_saxon kingdom interdisciplinary_study attempt_assess certain general linguistic_theory adoption literacy effect society consider_relation specific historical society anglo_saxon_england major premise work many general_theory orality literacy apply specific society without considerable qualification second equally_important premise_argument literate consciousness different consciousness non literate far adequately sustain pursue study_concentrate early english prose particular early law cod anglo saxon_chronicle reason two_fold law history_tend first area whose substance commit write society adopts extensive_use literacy writing often precisely dated story_telling poetry_prose overcome_problem discuss orality pre age help them substance concerned examination