Blog 2

Prior to the first day of class, I had a very narrow view of the concept of “literacy.” To be literate, in my opinion, would simply entail that one had the ability to read and write with moderate proficiency. Scribner points out that the term “functional literacy” today is the grey area of proficiency necessary to communicate effectively and function within society. From the office, to school, to home to the grocery store-the literacy we use in each social aspect of our lives is somewhat different and gives us the ability to communicate much further than simply reading and writing. The ‘social view of literacy’ is how we as a society define literacy as both an individual pursuit and as a social construct.

Being literate goes beyond the ability to write a passage to another person or understand what a person is saying. It is not a simple individual accomplishment one achieves in his or her lifetime. Literacy can never fully be accomplished or finished, but is constantly evolving- a skill that requires patience and focus to people’s opinions, beliefs and stories. Additionally, literacy has several different meanings. Business communication is much different than communication among peers or family members. In a professional environment, with a general census on appropriate language, literacy varies from situation to situation. A manager will write a memo to his employees far differently than writing an email to lay off an employee. This type of writing and understanding of appropriateness in literacy takes skill and time. Becoming literate is never fully accomplished, and is improved with the progression of an individual’s experiences.