Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 16:15:31 +0000
From: "karl.maton" <karl.maton-AT-pop.ntlworld.com>
Subject: Re: [bourdieu] Digest Number 94


I'm sorry - a while ago there was a discussion, the focus of which escapes me now, but during
which I began discussing how one needed to develop Bourdieu to analyse the intrinsic features
of knowledge formations  / culture / etc, to complement his focus on the extrinsic questions of
function, strategy, etc.  I mentioned in passing that I had published a paper which drew on
Bourdieu but attempted to develop his approach to analyse not only function but also form, not
only extrinsic but also intrinsic issues regarding the development of knowledge formations /
disciplines / etc.  This led to some requests.......

The 'Languages of legitimation' paper is this paper.  It sets out a conceptual framework for
analysing both aspects of knowledge (or whatever the symbolic object may be).  It was primarily
aimed at a sociology of education audience, but get beyond that and one can see wider issues.
It is rather dense, as one can imagine when trying to illustrate the usefulness of a conceptual
framework whilst also setting it out, in a journal article.

I forgot ... I also mentioned a paper which builds on the 'Languages of legitimation' paper to
compare mathematics and literary criticism.  It is far less complex and less formal in style
and called 'Historical amnesia: Victims of fashion and outbreaks of breaks in the disciplinary
map'.  This uses the knowledge / knower modes of legitimation distinction in more prosaic
manner to look at the intrinsic features which enable the recurrent breaks one finds in certain
disciplines, such as cultural studies or sociology.  As before, if anyone is interested, just
let me know (OFFLIST) and a copy will wing its way to you.  In the paper I look at the
structure of mathematics and lit crit as knowledge formations.

I hope that makes more sense of the mention of the paper.  If it doesn't, I'll plead being
half-asleep today.

Take care,

Karl




idgy speck wrote:

> Hi
> can i break into this conversation
> in not knowing much about Bourdieu can i ask what 'languages of legitimation' is all about??
>
> Gill Dalgetty
> SOAS
> Uni of London
> England
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--
With best wishes,

Karl

Karl Maton
School of Education, University of Cambridge

Correspondence address:  108 Avenue Road Extension, Leicester  LE2 3EH, England.
Email: karl.maton-AT-ntlworld.com
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