What+is+literacy?

 ** English is a funny language; that explains why we park our car on the driveway and drive our car on the parkway. ~Author Unknown **

**What is literacy?** Literacy has been described as the ability to read and use written information, as well as being able to write appropriately for a range of contexts and media. In other words, literacy involves the skills and knowledge needed to be able to function in society (Hill, 2006). However,          literacy is so much more than just a few simple skills. Not only does it involve decoding text, but one must also be able to comprehend it! As a result, to "read" is not just to decipher text, but also to understand it (Hill, 2006)! Likewise, to write is not just to handwrite something, but to write to communicate for meaning. ** Types of literacy **

There are many concepts involved in literacy that are worthy of mention. A few are listed below:

  media literacy visual literacy functional literacy etc.

It is common to hear the term "literacies" used, to bring together many of the above.

** Language Development ** Language development begins at birth, with most children following developmental patterns, although not all at the same time. Children are immersed in language in their society, from the well-known golden arches of McDonalds to other signage such as traffic signs.

Hill (2006) writes that the stages progress similarly to this:
 *  0-7 months

|| <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Makes sounds in response to stimulus, in discomfort or pleasure. Coos Gives 'raspberries' ||  || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Single syllable babbling ("ma", "pa" etc.) || || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Babbling with multiple syllables ("mama", "dada" etc.). The video below shows this stage. Uses multi-syllable babbling to call parents || || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Uses other words than just multi-syllable babbling Can be understood by parents half of the time ||  || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Uses two-word sentences ("mummy go") Has a 50-word vocabulary Uses "me", "you", "my" || || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Uses prepositions Can have a conversation Can identify commonly-used objects, such as "cup", "spoon" etc. Can be understood by strangers about three-quarters of the time ||  || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Can be understood by strangers most of the time    ||
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">7-10 months
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10-16 months
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">16-23 months
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">23-34 months
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">34-37 months
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">37+ months

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