Lives of Reading and Writing

  • Benjamin C. Fortna
Chapter

Abstract

Before the relationship between individuals and texts intensified in the modern period, reading, writing and vocalization already played important roles in the lives of ordinary Ottoman subjects. From cradle to grave, textual and oral traditions mediated and informed daily existence in the pre-modern Ottoman empire. A number of clearly observed rituals marked the important stages and transitions in everyday life. Reading, whether textual or oral, and vocalization were crucial to almost all of them. Ottoman society and culture were predominantly oral but texts nevertheless enjoyed positions of prominence and surfaced at critical junctures.

Keywords

Life Story Young Reader Love Story Turkish Republic Folk Tale 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

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Copyright information

© Benjamin C. Fortna 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Benjamin C. Fortna
    • 1
  1. 1.School of Oriental and African StudiesUniversity of LondonUK

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