Writing Technology & Development: Insights from Jack Goody

Abstract

In today's information age, information is power. This article examines Jack Goody's pioneering theories, as found in two of his major books, and applies them to the
African society. Lack of information means no progress or development. Useful
information is acquired mainly through reading and writing. And these two life
skills are in turn acquired in the process of education. Reading and writing, that is
to say literacy, are therefore directly linked to development. Because of this link,
people are either progressive or retrogressive. This dichotomy of human society
may not be so distinct today as individuals are increasingly getting literate. Goody
is a British social scientist who has studied human societies from a historicalanthropological
perspective. He places written communication centre-stage in the
evolution of human societies. It emerges, from the two books, that his theories are
highly pertinent to the developing world, and especially to Kenya

Keywords: Writing, literacy, development, Kenya, Jack Goody

Journal of Language, Technology & Entrepreneurship in Africa Vol. 1 (2) 2009: pp. 62-75