Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read and write. It is a concept claimed and defined by a range of different theoretical fields. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines literacy as the "ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society."
An individual's ability to read, write, and speak in English, compute, and solve problems, at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family of the individual, and in society
The ability to read and write In the United States, the third grade is the point at which students transition from learning to read to reading to learn
The ability to read and write A test of functional (useful) literacy is the ability to read such material as a newspaper and to fill out business forms
Knowing how to read and how to write Understanding books There are greater and lower degrees of literacy There are also many types of literacies Literate in general terms means educated
This includes reading, writing, and the creative and analytical acts involved in producing and comprehending texts
It is possible to find a range of views of literacy The definition provided by the South Australian Curriculum Standards and Accountability Framework provides common ground for discussions around literacy in DECS sites and schools The ability to understand, analyse, critically respond to and produce appropriate spoken, written, visual and multimedia communication in different contexts
The ability to read, write, listen, and speak in ways that enable communication, enhance understanding of ideas, and enrich lives
"One's ability to extract information from coded messages and to express ideas, feelings, and thoughts through them in accepted ways; the mastery of specific mental skills that become cultivated as a response to the specific functional demands of a symbol system" (Salomon, 1982, p 7)
Basic knowledge and abilities required to function adequately in one's immediate environment
includes definition (English), illustration (62KB, indexed 11 11 2000)[730 words, index = sil]
Literacy is an individual's ability to read, write, speak, compute and solve problems competently
This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world
{i} ability to read and write; education; familiarity with a particular subject or field
There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy Unless otherwise noted, all rates are based on the most common definition--the ability to read and write at a specified age Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of this publication
the ability to read In a literate culture, ideas and information are transmitted and preserved in writing In the Middle Ages, while the institutions of the Christian Church maintained a high level of Latin literacy, most lay people were illiterate See also textuality
The ability to read and write a simple statement about one's everyday life and do simple mathematical calculations
The ability to read and write in ways that enable communication, enhance understanding of ideas, and enrich lives
Literacy is the ability to read and write. Many adults have some problems with literacy and numeracy The literacy rate there is the highest in Central America. the state of being able to read and write illiteracy numeracy. Ability to read and write. The term may also refer to familiarity with literature and to a basic level of education obtained through the written word. In ancient civilizations such as those of the Sumerians and Babylonians, literacy was the province of an elite group of scholars and priests. Though more prevalent in classical Greece and Rome, it was often limited to members of the upper classes. The spread of literacy in Europe in the Middle Ages was evidenced by the use of writing for functions once conducted orally, such as the indenture of servants and the notation of evidence at trials. The rise of literacy in Europe was closely tied to great social transformations, notably the Protestant Reformation, which brought individual study of the Bible, and the development of modern science. The spread of literacy during the Reformation and the Renaissance was greatly facilitated by the development of printing from movable type and by the adoption of vernacular languages in place of Latin. Compulsory schooling, established in Britain, Europe, and the U.S. in the 19th century, has led to high rates of literacy in the modern industrialized world
the ability to operate a personal computer and its associated software and hardware, and to understand most of the underlying concepts (but not necessarily the electronics, or a programming language)
The young and multidisciplinary field of health literacy emerged from two expert groups; physicians and other health providers and health educators, and Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English as Second Language (ESL) practitioners. Physicians are a source of groundbreaking patient comprehension and compliance studies. Adult Basic Education / English for Speakers of Languages Other Than English (ABE/ESOL) specialists study and design interventions to help people develop reading, writing, and conversation skills and increasingly infuse curricula with health information to promote better health literacy. A range of approaches to adult education brings health literacy skills to people in traditional classroom settings, as well as where they work and live
Scientific literacy is the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity. It also includes specific types of abilities. In the National Science Education Standards, the content standards define scientific literacy
A term which has been variously defined Generally taken to mean that an individual is able to use computers in a particular context Often includes an understanding of the functioning of technology in society, applications programs, and, according to some experts, programming