Cursive/Printing Ideology

[Richard J Senghas]

The following is an intriguing question I received from a student studying
to teach English as a second language. I was wondering if anyone out there
has seen any literature on this or similar issues. Since widespread
computer use has effected significant shifts in written communication
patterns, I'm interested in anyone who has done recent work concerning
ideologies surrounding handwriting styles/technologies, and especially
issues concerning the teaching of handwriting. If I get responses, I'll
post a summary of them to the list.

>     I have a question for you.  I'm involved in teaching beginning
>reading to adults.  The lady whose class I'm taking over would like for
>me to continue her policy of encouraging the students to use handwriting
[cursive, I assume -RJS]
>rather than printing, as she feels that if people see that they only
>know printing, they will feel that the students are ignorant.  If they
>haven't learned to print, she encourages them to use handwriting first.

-Richard

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Richard J Senghas, Asst. Professor       | Sonoma State University
Department of Anthropology/Linguistics   | 1801 East Cotati Avenue
Coordinator, Linguistics & TESL Programs | Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609
Richard.Senghas at sonoma.edu               | 707-664-3920 (fax)