anthropology of letter writing

[Rachel Reynolds]

Hi Everyone:

A student has just written me a terrific response paper to Keith Basso's 
"Ethnography of Writing" article in  _Explorations in Ethnography of 
Speaking_ that has left me wondering about research that may or may not 
have been spurred on by Basso's piece.  Does anyone know of research work 
on letter writers who write for illiterate people?  All I can think of is a 
few literary references, but not any anthropological research.

My second generation South Asian American student wrote:  "Finally, I was 
curious to find out how letter writers in India (those who write and send 
out letters for the illiterate) change, delete, or add to the content 
dictated to them by the customer and the reasons behind this.  For me, 
letter-writing is such a personal act and I couldn't imagine having to ask 
someone to write for me.  Also, since this communicative act is performed 
for a fee, how do those dictating the letter alter their language to ensure 
that they can afford to pay the letter writer.  What topics are of the 
utmost concern and how do these reflect cultural assumptions?  I would 
guess that the topics in the case of the illiterate in India are money and 
well-being."

Any leads would be appreciated.

Rachel

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Rachel R. Reynolds
Assistant Professor
Director of Graduate Programs
Department of Culture & Communication
Drexel University
3141 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 895-0498
rrr at drexel.edu