20 Types of Illetracy

[bionic]

Really Chazz? Do we have to argue semantics? Come on.


Every dictionary will list :"ignorant of the fundamentals of a branch of knowledge" under Illiteracy or something similar. Also, looking back at the etymology of the word, in its original Latin meaning I believe it's "unlearned" or "uncultured" and not necessarily about the skill of reading or writing. I could be very much wrong though, I need either @Bird or @magister343 to check me.

The Merriam-Webster says this:

Illiterate:
1. having little or no education; especially: unable to read or write <an illiterate population>
2. showing or marked by a lack of familiarity with language and literature <an illiterate magazine>
3. showing or marked by a lack of acquaintance with the fundamentals of a particular field of knowledge


http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illiterate

Illiteracy:

1. the quality of state of being illiterate; especially: inability to read or write
2. a mistake or crudity (as in speaking) typical of one who is illiterate


Ignorance also a synonym for illiteracy...
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illiteracy

 

[hush]

Every dictionary will list :"ignorant of the fundamentals of a branch of knowledge" under Illiteracy or something similar. Also, looking back at the etymology of the word, in its original Latin meaning I believe it's "unlearned" or "uncultured" and not necessarily about the skill of reading or writing. I could be very much wrong though, I need either @Bird or @magister343 to check me.

That sounds about right. Also, according to the online etymology dictionary (which I love):

illiterate (adj.)
early 15c., "uneducated, unable to read (originally of Latin)," from L. illiteratus "unlearned, unlettered, ignorant; without culture, inelegant," from assimilated form of in-

 

[Matt3737]

Illiteracy can be used synonymously with ignorance and can be somewhat synonymous with semiliteracy indicating a spectrum of ability to read or write. Different types of illiteracy is also a somewhat loose use of the word being that it strictly refers to reading and writing, i.e. litera/littera 'letter of the alphabet', but it's used to refer to a lack of knowledge regarding the topic. That the person has not read or studied that which he is illiterate towards.

 

[magister343]

Literally illiterate means "unlettered." Strictly speaking it means unlearned or uncultured only in the sense of lacking book-learning. It has been used loosely for a long time though.

 

[manatee]

Pwetty.





The paragraph on scientific illiteracy seemed slightly scientifically illiterate.

 

[bionic]

I think it's a dumb article based on lacklustre information, poor execution, and a poor choice of diction. The only good thing about it is that they cut out Plato and used Aristotle under Scientific Illiteracy. The writer could've done a lot better.