The Growth andTransformation ofLiteracyIS103History of InformationOct. 15, 2007Geoff Nunberg2Today's AgendaWhat do we mean when we talk about "literacy"?What factors have militated for increased literacy inthe past?Why did literacy become a focus of 19th centurysocial policy?What (conflicting) powers have been ascribed toliteracy?E.g., does literacy lead to radicalized consciousness or to a moreeasily controlled workforce and citizenry?Is enhanced literacy always a cause of individual socialadvancement and group prosperity?What is "information literacy" and why does itmatter?3The Emergence of the Modern"Informational System,"Round 4Many, if not most, of the cultural phenomena of the modern worldderive from [the 18th century] -- the periodical, the newspaper, thenovel, the journalist, the critic, the public library, the concert, thepublic museum.*† Perhaps most important of all, it was then that'public opinion' came to be recognized as the ultimate arbiter inmatters of taste and politics."--Tim Blanning, The Culture of Power*Not to mention the dictionary and encyclopedia-- GN † Or for that matter, the beginning of the postal service and massliteracy.4"Literacy": Two HistoriesLiteracy as a phenomenon (social,individual)Literacy as a concept/ "The literacy myth"(Harvey Graff)5History of literacy, etc.Literate, illiterate go back to Renaissance. (Cf nounliterate = "one who takes holy orders without universityeducation by demonstrating a knowledge of Latin andGreek"; "lady literate")But both are rare words until late 19th c.6"Literacy": a linguistic curiosityThe meanings of literacy, literate, etc.Basic alphabetism:“literacy campaign”/ “literacy rates”Skill in using the language:“A literate prose style”General “cultural” knowledge:“The new illiteracy”; “A very literate conversation”Basic knowledge in some area or field:“economic/geographical/media etc. literacy” (also“numeracy”)7Problems of translationNote that only English uses one word for allthese concepts:“literacy campaign”/ “~ rates” = campagned'alphabetisation , Alphabetisierungskampagne (or Lese-und Schreibtest)“A literate prose style” = un style litéraire/”Il a deslettres”/uno style colto…“The new illiteracy”; “A highly literate person” = instruit,cultivé, ("every literate person" = toute personne deculture)“economic/geographical/media etc. literacy” (also“numeracy”) = connaissance, conoscenza, Kenntnisseetc., Bildung, etc. Cf “la cultura/conoscenza informatica,”EDV- [elektronische datenverarbeitung] Kenntnisse” etc.8Literacy: The Original"Technology Adoption"Complicating the notion of "literacy rates."Literacy varies according to:1. Levels of individual skill.Cf Stone's five levels of literacy in pre-industrial Britain,from ability to sign name to extensive literacy in English &classical languages.Historians tend to measure literacy as simple "alphabetism"-- why?9Literacy: The Original"Technology Adoption"Complicating the notion of "literacy rates."Literacy varies according to:2. Range of social functions requiring literacy:What do people need literacy for?10Literacy: The Original"Technology Adoption"Complicating the notion of "literacy rates."Literacy varies according to:2. Range of social functions requiring literacy:What do people need literacy for?11"Functional Literacy”Emergence of notion of “functional literacy” after UNESCOreport of 1956: “A person is functionally literate when hehas acquired the knowledge and skills in reading andwriting which enable him to engage in all those activitiesin which literacy is normally assumed in his culture orgroup” But often defined in practice as 4th-gradeeducation.12"Functional Literacy”What does "functional literacy" entail in modernAmerica?13"Functional Literacy”In US, “functionally illiterate” rapidlybecomes a loose way of saying “virtuallyilliterate”47.5% of the nation - almost 1 of 2 Americans are functionallyilliterate!-- Web site of Literacy Now!, Inc.Dorothy Allison's autobiographical novels and socialcommentary slices wide the underbelly of Southern femaleexperience--growing up dirt poor and shamed, functionallyilliterate in the language of love. Chicago Tribune14Literacy: The Original"Technology Adoption"Complicating the notion of "literacy rates."3. Is literacy individual or group achievement?Cf role of public readers, letter writers, etc.15Literacy: The Original"Technology Adoption"Complicating the notion of "literacy rates."3. Is literacy individual or group achievement?Compare with levels of "computer literacy" in moderndeveloped societies.Issues of "multimedia literacy"16Factors influencing the growthof literacy (Stone)Social stratificationJob opportunityReligionSocial controlDemographic patternsEconomic organizationPolitical institutions17Social and ReligiousPrerequisites for literacyGrowth in literacyProtestant > Catholic, North > SouthLiteracy rates highest in Scotland, Sweden,New England, Wales…But there is also a relatively high literacyrate in Catholic areas of Northern Europe(Bavaria, Rhineland), which tended to bewealthier with more commercialdevelopment and more towns."une France double"18Social Prerequisites forLiteracy, 2Growth in literacyUrban > ruralMen > women19Literacy and EducationEducation should be a vehicle for producingliterate society per societal requirements…But often fails to achieve these goals forhistorical, symbolic, class reasons20Literacy and EducationEducation should be a vehicle for producingliterate society per societal requirements…But often fails to achieve these goals forhistorical, symbolic, class reasons21The historical legacy"The educational structure at a given time is therefore theproduct of a long development and may contain manyelements and insitutions which cannot be explained, muchless defended, except on historical grounds." LawrenceStone22The historical legacy"The educational structure at a given time is therefore the productof a long development and may contain many elements andinsitutions which cannot be explained, much less defended, excepton historical grounds." Lawrence StoneIf you were designing UC Berkeley from scratch and withoutattention to the history of such institutions, what features wouldyou probably omit?23The historical legacy"The educational structure at a given time is therefore the product of a longdevelopment and may contain many elements and insitutions which cannotbe explained, much less