What is literacy?

Ideas of literacy have been redefined and have further developed from the traditional/functional approach of the definition of literacy. The functional perspective of literacy is concerned with the ability of how to read, spell and write. As Santoro (2004) states the functional understanding of literacy was “a singular set of reading and writing skills developed during early schooling, if a student can read and write, then he or she can read and write in all contexts” (p. 51). However, it is evident that literacy is much more complex and is concerned with all types of literacy, multimodal, critical, personal, functional and visual. In fact all teachers are teachers of literacy. All subject areas have their own metalanguage and notions of literacy, these literacy skills affect how well students are taught the content in a particular subject area (Santoro, 2004). 

Each subject we teach has developed its own spoken and written styles, its own rather specialised jargon to such an extent that, in each subject, we are really using a sub-language of the English language…It is up to you, as an expert in your subject, not only to be aware of the particular language of your subject, but to teach it (Maher,1990, p.19)

There are many definitions of literacy through ideas that have developed over time due to the changing society and its new technologies.  Luke and Freebody’s perspective of literacy is “flexible and Sustainable mastery of a repertoire of practices with the texts of traditional and new communications technologies via spoken language, print and multimedia” (Luke & Freebody, 2000, p. 9). Their definition explains that not only traditional forms of literacy are important but new forms of technologies play a vital role in understanding literacy. Barton and Hamilton have six propositions regarding literacy; they focus on knowing how to communicate appropriately according to different situations and contexts (Kamler & Beavis, 2003). They also discuss the importance of social goals and cultural practices. Barton and Hamilton’s theory focuses on the significance of communication in relation to the definition of literacy (Kamler & Beavis, 2003). There are numerous ideas of literacy, and it is important still to consider the traditional approach of reading, writing and spelling but it needs to be accompanied by multi, semiotic, media, technology, intercultural and visual literacies. Literacy in education needs to be relevant to the 21^st century, making connections in the class room with the outside world.