What is Literacy?
Reading is interpreting symbols. As a result, almost anything becomes a text that we can read. Over time, the definition of literacy has changed from the more-or-less traditional idea of “reading” syntax (i.e. written words), to something more analogous to “interpreting” different forms of information. Today, one not only reads words, but other mediums in which information is presented (such as a film), and the way that information is packaged (such as information presented via a blog or tweet).
In this painting, paint serves as the symbols that we read. Similar to reading a piece of written text, we can get very close to the painting and use a magnifying glass to inspect specific brush strokes. We can also step back to view the painting as a whole entity. An adequate reading would require both.
In this way, reading is interpreting symbols, whether those symbols are letters, brush strokes, or musical notes. Information is often presented in a multimodal fashion, so individuals who are not trained to interpret or read accordingly will be at a disadvantage. Indeed, Alvermann et al.’s text Content Area Reading and Literacy discusses these various mediums as well, similarly stating that content is represented through what they call “multiple modes,” including oral; print; visual imagery such as pictures, photos and icons; and sounds” (p.77).
As a result, almost anything can become a text, and we develop literacy by decoding the content and context, otherwise known as “reading between the lines.” Other “texts” can include sarcasm (i.e. tone), cartoons, social media posts, media images, and so much more.
In this way, reading is interpreting symbols, whether those symbols are letters, brush strokes, or musical notes. Information is often presented in a multimodal fashion, so individuals who are not trained to interpret or read accordingly will be at a disadvantage. Indeed, Alvermann et al.’s text Content Area Reading and Literacy discusses these various mediums as well, similarly stating that content is represented through what they call “multiple modes,” including oral; print; visual imagery such as pictures, photos and icons; and sounds” (p.77).
As a result, almost anything can become a text, and we develop literacy by decoding the content and context, otherwise known as “reading between the lines.” Other “texts” can include sarcasm (i.e. tone), cartoons, social media posts, media images, and so much more.
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“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” |