Vernacular Literacy

Illiteracy problems are worldwide, and growing. Political and economic factors are often in conflict over which language to use for basic education; how it should be taught; what resources are available for using literacy in coping with rapid population increase, the spread of disease, and poor development. This book contains first-hand information on the history, economics, and politics surrounding literacy issues all over the world. Discussions are supported by case-studies of campaigns to promote vernacular languages, and examples of how people relate to their languages in different cultures.