Ferdman 1991

Ferdman, Bernardo M. 1991. "Literacy and cultural identity." In Minami and Kennedy 1991. (Reprint in Ferdman 1990.) Interest level: academic.

Discusses implications of cultural diversity in a multiethnic society such as the United States for the process of becoming literate and being literate. Looks at relationships between

• literacy
• culture, and
• cultural identity.

Argues that in diverse societies, individuals who become literate may hold different views of literacy that represent their culture-specific values, beliefs, and norms. Asserts that as literacy is defined by culture, cultural identity mediates the process of becoming literate as well as the types of literacy activities people engage in. States that literacy education itself can also influence and shape the individual's cultural identity.

Provides a theoretical framework that explains the mutual relationship between literacy and culture at the individual level. Formulates questions as a guide to future thinking and research about the ways cultural identity affects how and whether an individual becomes literate as a result of schooling.

• Bibliography module: Ferdman 1991
• In overview module: Bibliography (Literacy): F
• In modular book: Bibliography (Literacy), by Doris Gallemore, Trudi C. Hunt, Jeanne Swanson, and Stephen L. Walter
• In document collection: Reference materials
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 28 June 1999

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