The Emergence of a Tradition: Technical Writing in the English Renaissance, 1475-1640

by Elizabeth Tebeaux

Examining books on different topics as these appeared during the Renaissance allows us to see developments in the use of graphics, the shift from orality to textuality, the expansion of knowledge, and rise of literacy, particularly among middle-class women readers, who were an important audience for many of these books. Changes in English Renaissance technical books provide a new, and as yet largely unexplored means of viewing the Renaissance and the dramatic changes that emerged during the 1475-1640 period, the first years of English printing.

Genres: Academic

246 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1996

Reviews

[Gregory Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn’t have known to read this had it not been for my current course of study in professional writing, but I’m happy that I did. It’s a really neat study into English Renaissance technical writing that bridged some basic gaps in my understanding of English writing. It illuminates things like why Old English looks so funny (no uniform spelling). This alone should make you better appreciate the uniformity of whatever you’re interested in reading today. The shift from oral learning by memory to the need of written discourse for more complex knowledge, and print technology perhaps affecting the literacy level of English-speaking people—the birth of the middle-class are also fascinating elements of this book. Early “how-to” books are quite cool to peruse and mark changes in the way pages were designed that are seen everywhere we read things today. Many examples are given as well as opportunities to read a variety of lessons in Renaissance English. Headings, sub-headings, visual aids, tables of contents, indexes, glossaries—all these things were basically invented by early technical writers. It also discusses the emergence of differences between technical and philosophical/religious writing. It also gives credit to and provides examples of Leonardo da Vinci’s contribution to modern technical writing. A lot of good knowledge packed into this little book.