Mason Overby

Nicole Kauffman

URWT 1104

3 February 2019

Literacy In Three Metaphors

1. Critical reading means being able to think deeper about what you are reading. Looking

for patterns, themes, and analyzing sources. To me this is when you really try and understand

what the author is really saying, reading between the lines so to speak. Looking past the

metaphors and other literary devices to obtain and comprehend the author's purpose and

message. What separates critical reading from others is the analyzing that takes place when you

are reading. This is how I usually approach my reading. I consider myself a critical and

analytical person, in a good way. For me this is the only way to read. I cannot say I have been

exposed to very many styles of reading, but I take what I read and think about it. Otherwise, in

my opinion, what is the point of reading if it does not make you think?

2. Before class I thought literacy ment someone could read or write and did not think much

more about it. Now, I have expanded my personal definition and know literacy to mean: being

proficient in any thing you choose to do. That is broad definition because there are so many

things people can be literate in. Hobbies, jobs, and of course reading and writing.
3. Some of the difficulties surrounding defining literacy as described by Scribner are,

Literacy has not been properly defined and it is focused too much on the individual. According

to Scribner many definitions contradict each other leading to confusion. However, Scribner

believes that these definitions are fault from the beginning because they define literacy in the

terms of the individual. Scribner offers another viewpoint, one that is focused on literacy as a

societal concept. “Literacy is the outcome of social transmission”( Scribner, 1984). The

definition of literacy changes with the society. As people expand their knowledge and their

language so to does their proficiency in reading and writing. There is not one definition that can

justly define literacy, but rather Scribner uses 3 metaphors to give some insight into what literacy

can mean.

4. What I think Scribner means by literacy being an attribute of the individuals and a social

achievement is, as a society we have developed better means of communication, one that is

important for all individuals to have. As a society, we have all agreed on a common form of

communication to describe objects and express our thoughts. The individual must then have

these abilities in order to be a part of the society or they will be outcast and cannot participate in

societal functions. It changes our view, because now we see that literacy is not a single

definition, it changes with time, as the needs of the society change. Sciber is an advocate of the

societal perspective. Scribner mentions how to grasp the definition of literacy some social

analysis must take place. Further drawing the comparison that literacy and society are connected.
5. Literacy as Adaptation- “Functional literacy is conceived broadly as the level of

proficiency necessary for effective performance in a range of settings and customary tales”

(Scribner, pg 9).

This is how i would best articulate my new definition for the word literacy. Scribner put

functional in front of literacy to give it a broader definition. However, I feel that whether it has

functional in front or not, literacy means the same thing to me. It does not just apply to reading

and writing, but all functions of life.

Literacy as Adaptation- “New technologies and communication media are likely to reduce

literacy requirements for all.” (Scribner, pg 11).

This quote really resonated with me because it applies directly to me and I do not know

how I feel about it. I have grown up in the digital age and have been fully immersed in

technology so this quote is very relevant to me. I am not sure how I feel because I can see how

its true and how this quote is false. For instance, I am reading this article using technology, but

yet some of the stuff I read on social media makes me question peoples traditional literacy. I

think the internet has, in some ways, dimminshed peoples critical thinking skills but not literacy.

For example I would say slang words are a form of literacy. Being literate in how your

generation speaks I would consider as literacy. Most people probably picture using big

sophisticated words as proof of literacy which is how I define “traditional literacy”. I disagree. I

am still split if the media and new technologies have ruined our literacy, because it depends on

your definition. Being literate in memes is something I think I am quite fluent in, but does it

mean I am less literate? Maybe in the traditional sense, but, as Scribner says, literacy changes

with the society.

Literacy as Power- “Not to be literate is a state of victimisation”(Scribner, pg 12)

This quote was honestly an eye-opener because I never thought thought about it like this.

It was a real wake up call when I read this. In the U.S., we take for granted access to free

education. Therefore, it is very hard to be able to comprehend what it is like to not have

education and not be able to even read and write. This is a very powerful quote because it is true

in my eyes. We have advanced as a global society to help other, developing countries, advance

as well. Depriving people of their literacy is robbing them of their basic rights to even

communicate and express their ideas. How could a people voice their opinion if they don’t know

how?

Literacy as Power- “If literacy has not emerged as a priority demand, should governments and

private agencies undertake to mobilize communities around this goal?”(Scribner, pg 13).

I thought this was a very intresting question because the answer, at first glance, I thought

should be yes. That is already what public schools do, in some way or another. Many people do

not want to be in school, but it is the law you must attend. So in this way the government already

does this. However, the way in which literacy is taught could be very bias. The government

could be pushing an agenda and this will affect how literacy is taught and what the public

actually learns. I still feel the answer should be yes, as stated in the previous quote “not to be

literate is a state of victimization” (Scribner, pg 12). However, a strong oversight should be

placed on how literacy is taught to make it as neutral as possible. So as not to skew the public in

a certain direction and let them come to their own conclusions.

Literacy as a State of Grace- “Literateness has to come to be considered synonymous with being

“cultured”’ (Scribner, pg 13).

I picked this quote because I find it to be somewhat true and on some levels I agree with

it. Literature and writing are major components of culture, and if I incorporate my new definition

that literacy is being proficient in any action, then that would incorporate culture itself and

almost all of cultural aspects. I would have to agree that being literate is close to being a cultured

person. Although, being “cultured” has a somewhat elitist connotation to it. Being cultured to me

has a certain snobbiness to it, being prim and proper and ignorant of other cultures. Is what I

picture when I hear “cultured”. In this respect being “cultured” and literacy differ, in my opinion.

Literacy as a State of Grace- “An individual who is illiterate is bound to concrete thinking and

cannot learn new material” (Scribner pg 14)

I disagree with this claim. I do not think that just because someone is illiterate they

cannot learn new material. This quote seems to imply that someone who is illiterate has their

brain shut off and is mindless drone. The mind never stops learning, at least in my experience,

we are always learning. Also whos to say these illiterate people have even been given the chance

to learn new concepts? If someone has the motivation and time then I do not see how they could

not learn new concepts. Also using my newfound definition of literacy then this quote would

imply mean this person does nothing. An illiterate person still has to feed themself and perform

other tasks necessary for survival. Tasks they would need to be literate in to perform

successfully. I do not see how someone's level of literacy makes them think in a confined way,
if they were given the opportunity to expand their knowledge. Maybe I am wrong and this quote

implies that this individual has no access to education. I disagree with this quote, because

someones literacy level does not make them into robots that can only thing in defined

parameters.