Abstract
This paper challenges Walter Mignolo’s influential view that the Renaissance grammarian Nebrija’s theory of writing had a role in justifying Spanish imperialism and that it contributed to the diminution or elimination of native language and memory in the Americas. It will be shown that Isidore of Seville’s comparatively versatile conception of writing, which accommodated pictograms, was far more pervasive in Spain and the New World, fostering parallel advances in written and pictorial communication by indigenous groups, while European letters provided a flexible means of notation for Amerindian languages.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have