It’s actually a bit of an ‘urban myth’ it did apply in eg Victorian Times but at other points in history there was widespread literacy.
What you do find at some times is that an elite wrote and spoke one language but everyone else wrote another. Which was a way of controlling access to information. This is one reason that the Bible was in Latin and there was subterfuge needed to get the first Bible in English. (The pages were smuggled into the country)
FelipeFelop@feddit.uk 1 year ago
I’m not sure how else to say it without repeating it.
I disagree that only the most educated people could read and write
I disagree that not many internet posts will be recorded for posterity
merde@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
but we know that too few people used to be literate. I couldn’t understand the need to disagree with this, i thought i misunderstood what you wrote.
FelipeFelop@feddit.uk 1 year ago
It’s actually a bit of an ‘urban myth’ it did apply in eg Victorian Times but at other points in history there was widespread literacy.
What you do find at some times is that an elite wrote and spoke one language but everyone else wrote another. Which was a way of controlling access to information. This is one reason that the Bible was in Latin and there was subterfuge needed to get the first Bible in English. (The pages were smuggled into the country)
merde@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
can you give some sources?