“Letra inglesa”: educators, teachers, and the quest for identity in the Hispanic world (1820–1860)

Abstract

Calligraphic culture in education had a long tradition in the Hispanic World. This entailed the cultivation of specific forms of script to the detriment of others. Since the late eighteenth century, discussions about the shape of letters and the differences between different alphabets were associated with national characters. The letra inglesa (English script) represented a wave of modernization of script and, at the same time, a challenge to the specific Spanish calligraphic tradition in the first half of the nineteenth century. The disputes over the suitability of this font for educational purposes are the focus of this contribution. It explores the spread of the letra inglesa and the resistance it encountered in the Hispanic world, particularly among educators. On the Spanish side of the Atlantic, the contribution focuses on the decade-long disputes in Madrid that had national resonance and became increasingly nationalistic. In some republics of South and Central America, republican order and modernization became strongly associated with English script; in others, the attachment to inherited scripts retained the upper hand. Issues of collective identity, professionalization and cultural awareness against British influence concurred in shaping extensive discussion about the chances and challenges of education and cultural transformation.