Literacy: what it is, types and phases of development

The learning processes through which we acquire information and knowledge are many and varied, and research in around them takes into account more and more factors and aspects of the environment which influence the development of our ability to learn.

One of these concepts is that of literacy., a term referring to learning processes that takes into account not only individual capacities in terms of to literacy, but also the influence that the sociocultural context and the role of the person have in this process.

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What is literacy?

Literacy is understood as the concept that refers to the set of competencies and abilities that enable a person to collect and process information in a certain context by reading and convert it into knowledge, which can be manifested orally or through writing.

However, the concept of literacy is characterized by emphasizing the sociocultural vision of learning. That is, it goes beyond the borders of cognitive abilities. Literacy not only takes into account recognition and understanding through language, but also recognizes the influence of the social context, the roles and dynamics of the reader and the writer, as well as the possible interlocutors.

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types of literacy

This sociocultural conception of learning through written language specifies that There can be several types of literacies. Some of them are vernacular literacies, which refer to reading learning in everyday life, and official or regulated literacies.

In addition, there are a large number of areas in which literacy can occur. Learning theorists have come to propose such as the financial literality, labor literality, critical, information, digital or disciplinary literality, to name just a few of them.

Taking into account this great variability within literacy, the abilities and skills that make a person an expert in a certain type of literacy are also very important. varied, meaning that the ability to read or write is only one part of the set of skills needed to develop and attain literacy in an area specific.

Key concepts

There are two concepts that are key when it comes to understanding the notion of literacy. These are literacy events and literacy practices.

1. literacy events

Also known as legal events, they refer to all everyday or day-to-day situations in which written language plays a fundamental role. These literacy events are evident in the reading of signs, posters, forms, pamphlets or documents.

However, for these actions to be considered literacy, the person must possess in her repertoire of abilities the knowledge of the rules and conformities that are tacitly found in the situation, known as practices of literacy.

2. literacy practices

Literacy practices, or literate practices, encompass the social and cultural rules and conformities named above. These provide meaning to the situation or context in which the act of reading occurs.

What are the governing principles?

As a result of what is described by the theories that define the concept of literacy, we can break down a series of principles by which it is governed. These principles are specified in the following statements:

• The acquisition and learning of literacy is possible by combining explicit and implicit learning. In addition, these are given gradually so it can be improved and perfected.
• For literacy to occur, it is necessary the mediation or influence of sociocultural factors.
• These skills can occur beyond the school environment, and can be developed regardless of sociocultural group or age.
• In addition to the ability to understand written letters and symbols, literality requires knowledge and interpretation of all kinds of information representations, such as, for example, icons and graphics.

Finally, in order to acquire literacy, people require situations or contexts with a significant purpose that allows them to put literacy into practice. In the same way, all kinds of opportunities need to present themselves to apply them in different situations that motivate it.

How is it developed and expressed in learning?

Although there is no "protocol" or fixed and predetermined stages that regulate the learning process of the literacy, we can distinguish a series of phases that, although they appear diffusely, serve to guide us in How do people acquire these capabilities?.

There are three moments through which literacy develops: emergent literacy, formal learning, and literacy.

1. emerging literacy

From the first years of people's lives, they are exposed to all kinds of information and messages represented in writing, which must interpret and work with its uses and meanings.

Before starting the school stage, the child is surrounded by books, advertisements, brochures and catalogs and everything type of press or documents with letters and symbols, all associated with the culture to which the little.

This phenomenon that occurs long before literacy or formal learning is given the name of literacy. emerging and can be reflected in the child's ability to know how to use a book or what the symbols on it refer to. perceives.

2. formal apprenticeship

Next, the school stage begins in which the person acquires the formal skills that allow literacy, as well as phonological skills, what initially consists of learning in itself (learning to read and write) will become a means of learning other knowledge.

3. literacy

At the same time as formal learning, the person acquires, gradually and through the experiences of their daily life, all the necessary skills that make up literacy.

These situations favor the improvement of these skills which will become specific literacies for each of the subjects.