The meaning of literacy

Although much of education policy focuses on the acquisition of this ambiguous quality, there is no consensus on a specific definition for the term. In fact, few of the prominent literacy scholars attempt to define the term concretely. Instead, they illustrate the complexity of the term and its uses.

“The meanings and uses of literacy are more complex and diverse than… typical questions or tests allow” (Graff 5).

“Literacy is imperious. It tends to arrogate to itself supreme power by taking itself as normative for human expression and thought” (Ong 19).

“Literacy has always functioned to divide haves from have-nots…” (Baron 83).

“… learning language is learning how to mean” (Goodman 317).

“From this point of view, being and becoming literate means using knowledge and experience to make sense of and act on the world” (Lytle 382) .

How do you define literacy?