There is scant research within educational literature on the nature of visual cognition, language, and expression in relation to cross-culturally driven socio-cognitive and socio-economic development. Indeed, the integrated, multi-disciplinarian approach needed to address the nature of this complex relationship is still being devised. / This dissertation examines a community of artisans located in Kenya's remote western highlands. Over the past ninety years, the community has developed a unique soapstone carving cottage industry. This creative commercial response to the pernicious effects of Western acculturation has somewhat mitigated the severe environmental, demographic, and economic stresses being experienced by most other Gusii communities in the region. / The community-cottage industry's structural and longitudinal dynamics meld traditional artisanal and social practice to Western market mores. However, the industry could not have evolved, nor could it have sustained itself, without a corps of competent artisan-merchants. The creation of such a corps is the result of a distinctive bi-modal educational system consisting of both indigenous training and Western-style schooling. This system, in its totality, helps to develop the requisite cognitive, affective, psychomotor, and linguistic skills essential to artisanal-mercantile practice. Consequently, participating Gusii youth generally graduate knowing how to produce and market soapstone carvings. / This dissertation, drawing from studies in history, economics, psychology, sociology, ethnography, phenomenology, communications, and aesthetics, examines the foundation and growth of this cottage industry as well as its bi-modal education system in tam of its socialization patterns and learning processes. These patterns and processes are related to cross-cultural theories of socio-cognitive and socio-linguistic development and learning. One of the principle features of this particular educational system involves the of visual acumen among its trainees. Such an enhanced faculty is for those whose livelihoods depend literally on pleasing the eyes of Western consumers. Explication of this system, therefore, provides the necessary framework within which to consider the central role that visual cognition, Language and expression plays in the cottage industry.

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