The role of culture in literacy acquisition: an interdisciplinary approach to qualitative research

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Vgotskian psychologists view cognitive development as consisting of an increased ability to manipulate symbols “(primary language) for both social and mental functions. Contemporary anthropologists view culture, language and literacy as part of an integrated symbolic system, collectively constructed and dynamically evolving with new life experiences. Literacy for anthropologists consists not only of technical knowledge, but also of cultural norms and values directing its use. Since anthropology and psychology share this concern for the role of culture in literacy acquisition, this paper suggests that the integration of theories from both disciplines can enhance our understanding of how precisely culture influences literacy, and it presents two research examples in which the study of culture was enhanced through the interdisciplinary approach proposed here.

This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit: