Literacy

 

What is literacy?

 

What is illiteracy?

 

What are the characteristics of a literate person?

 

What is Literacy?  Reading, writing, and speaking are important elements of literacy, but using them in a way that makes meaning in context is also crucial.  For example, fluency in reading, writing and speaking is going to vary depending upon the specific social context.  In Ghana, English is used to measure literacy.  People there are only considered literate if they are fluent in English.  Fluency in their native language has no relevance - if you are not literate in English - you are illiterate.  In the Native American Lakota Sioux culture, fluency in Lakota is valued as literacy within the context (and almost on a higher level than English), albeit it is not always viewed as such by those outside the tribe. Literacy is a currency and the inability to access the currency reduces your personal value within the society.

 

What are characteristics of a literate person?  A literate person has agency automatically. They have greater perceived value and more social power. Literacy gives you access to other social contexts as well as the ability to jump to other social discourses. Greater fluency in various forms of literacy - such as body language, enable you to better interpret and interact with the world around you.