Article Sidebar
Article Details
Issue
Section
Articles
Copyright is owners of the journal.
African Research Review by International Association of African Researchers and Reviewers is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Main Article Content
Communication and Technology—the Literacy Paradox
Abstract
This paper explores some of the many gains achieved by the new
technologies and points out some practices that these new technologies encourage which are already undermining our literacy and redefining our cultural values. It then points to measures that can be taken to ensure that our boom in technology does not become our doom, does not institutionalize illiteracy or drag us back to mediocrity. The paper is anchored on the rationalist perspective that it is possible to combine a descriptive and prescriptive approach to language use in order to enhance communication and encourage literacy. It accepts that it is a mistake to attempt to “embalm the language,” it must change and adapt, and so acknowledges the need for flexibility. But it equally cautions that the need to communicate, the need to get one’s message across, or to find self-expression, should not get in the way of developing skills in literacy, such as using proper grammar and
punctuation. It notes that in some aspects of language use, there are simple rights and wrongs; and these should be observed, if we are to uphold and preserve our literacy.
technologies and points out some practices that these new technologies encourage which are already undermining our literacy and redefining our cultural values. It then points to measures that can be taken to ensure that our boom in technology does not become our doom, does not institutionalize illiteracy or drag us back to mediocrity. The paper is anchored on the rationalist perspective that it is possible to combine a descriptive and prescriptive approach to language use in order to enhance communication and encourage literacy. It accepts that it is a mistake to attempt to “embalm the language,” it must change and adapt, and so acknowledges the need for flexibility. But it equally cautions that the need to communicate, the need to get one’s message across, or to find self-expression, should not get in the way of developing skills in literacy, such as using proper grammar and
punctuation. It notes that in some aspects of language use, there are simple rights and wrongs; and these should be observed, if we are to uphold and preserve our literacy.
