From Oracle Bones to Computers: The Emergence of Writing Technologies in China is the first book to provide a systematic historical, rhetorical, as well as critical account of the development of major writing technologies in China, spanning a history of over five thousand years. Baotong Gu covers the development of a wide array of major writing technologies, most of which were native Chinese inventions, including oracle inscriptions, bronze inscriptions, brush pens, ink, early forms of paper, the modern form of paper, block printing, movable type, the Chinese typewriter, the computer, and the Internet. From Oracle Bones to Computers distinguishes itself from other historical studies because it examines these technologies from a rhetorical perspective to explore how the cultural context, especially the role of language and communication, helps construct and shape the meanings of Chinese writing technologies.An innovative feature of this book is its development of a six-element, operationalized model of rhetorical analysis that can be applied to the study of any writing technology. Using this model, the author examines the rhetorical contexts of writing technologies in China in their respective historical periods by examining them in the context of exigency, ideology, participants, knowledge creation, access and control, and communication. From Oracle Bones to Computers will appeal to historians, theorists, and teachers across diverse fields of study, such as writing, rhetoric, technology, technology transfer, Asian studies, and cultural studies.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Parlor Press
ISBN-10
1602351015
ISBN-13
9781602351011
eBay Product ID (ePID)
73429651
Product Key Features
Author
Baotong Gu
Publication Name
From Oracle Bones to Computers : the Emergence of Writing Technologies in China
Format
Hardcover
Language
English
Publication Year
2009
Type
Textbook
Number of Pages
280 Pages
Dimensions
Item Length
9in
Item Height
0.8in
Item Width
6in
Item Weight
20.5 Oz
Additional Product Features
Lc Classification Number
Z45.G83 2009
Copyright Date
2009
Target Audience
Scholarly & Professional
Topic
Handwriting, Communication Studies, General, Asia / China, History, Technical Writing
Lccn
2009-008637
Dewey Decimal
303.48/30951
Dewey Edition
22
Illustrated
Yes
Genre
Technology & Engineering, Language Arts & Disciplines, History