It’s probably a measure of functional literacy, like the ability to read through a page of information and understand it fluently. Someone who is able to sound words out one by one wouldn’t be considered functionally literate, for instance. They’d lack the ability to reasonably get through a text using reading as a tool. Instead reading would be an obstacle.
They might know a few words they need to know, like writing their own name, or reading some road signs, but they’d be unable to get through a novel or textbook. They might even know how to recite the alphabet or do math.
I used to teach adult literacy in the US and I’ve met hundreds of illiterate adults. Most of our studies showed 87% literacy but I could believe 79% too depending on the methodology and definition of literate.
it’s too high for a functional literacy. Even in well educated country like Poland with 99% formal literacy the functional literacy reach around 60%, so in USA it bound to be even less.
It’s probably a measure of functional literacy, like the ability to read through a page of information and understand it fluently. Someone who is able to sound words out one by one wouldn’t be considered functionally literate, for instance. They’d lack the ability to reasonably get through a text using reading as a tool. Instead reading would be an obstacle.
They might know a few words they need to know, like writing their own name, or reading some road signs, but they’d be unable to get through a novel or textbook. They might even know how to recite the alphabet or do math.
I used to teach adult literacy in the US and I’ve met hundreds of illiterate adults. Most of our studies showed 87% literacy but I could believe 79% too depending on the methodology and definition of literate.
it’s too high for a functional literacy. Even in well educated country like Poland with 99% formal literacy the functional literacy reach around 60%, so in USA it bound to be even less.