The primary focus of this book is upon the training of local writers to enable a preliterate, minority language group to produce reading materials that reflect the cultural interests and desires of the group. The training program described in the book involves three components: intensive linguistic study culminating in a tentative orthographic system appropriate to the linguistic and sociocultural factors involved, training local citizens to create a beginning literature by writing their own thoughts and experiences in the local cultural and linguistic framework, and teaching the skill of reading in the local language to the larger community, with transfer to both speaking and reading knowledge of the national or dominant language as the group itself deems necessary. Chapters in the book discuss the following: (1) world literacy programs and preliterate societies; (2) initial steps to provide meaningful literature; (3) elements of a writer training program; (4) informal and formal training; (5) results to date as seen from the perspectives of the trainee, the indigenous society, the national educator, and the field linguist; (6) pinpointed problems; (7) preworkshop planning and preparation; (8) classes, activities and discussion topics with the trainee in focus; (9) discussion topics with the field linguist in focus; and (10) a summary of the viewpoints taken throughout the book. Appendixes include sample writings, sample schedules and other helps, and instructions for constructing a silk-screen mimeograph. (HOD)