Literacy

When society thinks of the word literacy, a few words come to mind such as polished or well-spoken. However, being literate means simply being able to read and write. It has nothing to do with how well or what form the writing is being done. So, it’s frustrating when society is closed minded and simply thinks that being literate means that you are well spoken and can read in one certain form, the professional form. Don't get me wrong, I think that having platform is important in the business world; but it doesn't mean that you are illiterate simply because you don't go by that one type. For example, a person coming to America from Mexico might use Spanglish, (English and Spanish put together) but that doesn't mean that they are illiterate. By the definition of being able to read and write, I'm sure that many Mex-Americans can read and write in that Spanglish language just fine. But when they are applying for a job at Bank of America, the employer might not think they are literate because they just don't write or read the same type of literacy in the business form and are literate in the Spanglish form. I think that people are constantly evolving so it's really hard to set one type of writing and reading and say that this is what it means to be literate. I mean even laws in our government are always evolving and changing and there is not one set way; so who is to say that having the "professional form" of writing is right from the 1900's when people, language, and society is changing.