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Lewis, I. 1986

 
Reference
 

Lewis, Ioan. 1986. "Literacy and cultural identity in the Horn of Africa: The Somali case." In Baumann, G. 1986. Interest level: general.

Summary
 

Discusses the nationalist movement that resulted from Ethiopia rejecting a Latin script (non-Amharic) for Somali, tied in with religious issues. Somali literacy was "overnight," people proudly and quickly mastered reading their mother tongue. Culture has reverted to primarily oral communication. Most of what is written is a transcription of oral poetry.

Evaluation
 

Is relevant to oral culture; nationalist effects of mother tongue literacy. Relates situation to neighboring countries and trade partners.


Context for this page:

Go to SIL home page 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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