Literacy

Literacy is the ability to read and write. In modern context, the word means reading and writing in a level adequate for written communication and generally a level that enables one to successfully function at certain levels of a society.

Literacy history

The history of literacy is several thousand years old, but before the industrial revolution finally made cheap paper and cheap books available to all classes in industrialized countries, in the mid-nineteenth century, literacy existed only in a tiny minority of the world's different societies. Until then, materials associated with literacy were too expensive that only wealthy people and institutions could afford them. As an example, in 1841 England 33% of men and 44% of women signed marriage certificates with their mark as they were unable to write. Only in 1870 was primary education made available for all in England.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The definitions of literacy have changed throughout history. It has only recently become expected and desirable to be literate and demeaning if you are not. At one time, a literate person was one who could sign their name. Literacy, at other points, was measured by the ability to read the Bible. Literacy has also been used as a way to sort populations and control who has access to power. In the United States following the Civil War, the ability to read and write were used to determine whether one had the right to vote. This effectively served to prevent former slaves from joining the electorate and maintained the status quo.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Examples of highly literate cultures in the past

The existence of secular and religious texts as well as references to great metaphysical debates including reading and writing contests in those texts from the Indian subcontinent (South Asia) points to a highly, perhaps selectively, literate culture there as far back as five to eight thousand years ago. Some major Hindu texts and other discourses contesting them are supposed to be eight thousand years old.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Because of its emphasis on the individual reading of the Qur'an in the original Arabic alphabet many Islamic countries have known a comparatively high level of literacy during most of the past twelve centuries. In Islamic edict (or Fatwa), to be literate is an individual religious obligation not a privilege given to a few in the society.

Related Topics:
Qur'an - Arabic alphabet - Islamic - Fatwa

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In New England, the literacy rate was over 50 percent during the first half of the 17th century, and it rose to 70 percent by 1710. By the time of the American Revolution, it was around 90 percent. This is seen by some as a side effect of the Puritan belief in the importance of Bible reading.

Related Topics:
New England - 17th century - 1710 - American Revolution - Side effect - Puritan - Bible

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Also in Sweden the literacy rate is high. Already in the church law (kyrkolagen) of 1686, literacy was enforced on the people and a hundred years later (by the end of the 18th century), the literacy rate was close to 100 percent. Even before 1686, literacy was widespread in Sweden. However, the ability to read did not automatically imply ability to write, and as late as the 19th century many Swedes, especially women, could not write.

Related Topics:
Sweden - 1686 - 18th century - 19th century - Swede

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~