Today is World Literacy Day :

Viva languages!

The Verger by W. Somerset Maugham touches the fate of a man who cannot read or write. A man qualified by every means fails to impress the authorities for the appointment of the verger. Ending the story, Maugham questions the destiny of an intellectual man who cannot read or write.

The ability to read, write, listen and speak a language is identified as literacy in the modern context. One who can do a signature is taken as a literate person. These criteria, however, change with time. The latest definition of the United Nations, therefore, goes on to explain the literacy:

"Ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society."

The UN statistics indicate 80 percent of the world's population was literate by 1998. If we are to be happy over being the 22nd happiest nation of the world, then we have another reason added.

We have a 90.7 percent literacy rate. The literacy level nevertheless is subject to change depending on the country or region.

Factors such as wealth and industrial level affect the literacy level of every country.

Experts had been arguing the definition of literacy since 1980: some mention it is ideology and beyond practical usage. Some are of the opinion that the 'literacy' definition should be expanded.

Adult male 		92 
Adult female 		89 
Total			90 

Youth male 		95 
Youth female 		96 
Total 			96 

For example, in the United States, the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association have added "visually representing" to the traditional list of competencies. Similarly, in Scotland, literacy has been defined as the ability to read and write and use numbers, to handle information, to express ideas and opinions, to make decisions and solve problems, as family members, workers, citizens and lifelong learners.

A basic literacy standard in many societies is the ability to read the newspaper. Increasingly, communication in commerce or society in general requires the ability to use computers and other digital technologies.

Now that we are in the Information Age, literacy expands its margins too. The ability to write and read is extended into the understanding of computer - computer literacy.

Since the 1990s, when the Internet came into wide use in the United States, some have asserted that the definition of literacy should include the ability to use tools such as web browsers, word processing programs, and text messages. Similar expanded skill sets have been called multimedia literacy, computer literacy, information literacy, and technocracy.

Other genres under study by academia include critical literacy, media literacy, ecological literacy and health literacy.

With the increasing emphasis on evidence-based decision making, and the use of statistical graphics and information, statistical literacy is becoming a very important aspect of literacy in general.

The International Statistical Literacy Project is dedicated to the promotion of statistical literacy among all members of society.

Although the history of literacy goes thousands of years back to the invention of writing, what constitutes literacy has changed throughout history. At one time, a literate person was one who could sign his or her name.

At other times, literacy was measured only by the ability to read and write Latin regardless of a person's ability to read or write his or her vernacular. Even earlier, literacy was a trade secret of professional scribes, and many historic monarchies maintained cadres of this profession, sometimes-as was the case for Imperial Aramaic-even importing them from lands where a completely alien language was spoken and written.

In 12th and 13th century England, the ability to read a particular passage from the Bible entitled a common law defendant to the so-called benefit of clergy provision, which entitled a person to be tried before an ecclesiastical court, where sentences were more lenient, instead of a secular one, where hanging was a likely sentence.

This opened the door to literate lay defendants also claiming the right to the benefit of clergy provision, and-because the Biblical passage used for the literacy test was inevitably Psalm 51-an illiterate person who had memorized the appropriate verse could also claim the benefit of clergy provision.

By the mid-18th century, the ability to read and comprehend translated scripture led to Wales having one of the highest literacy rates.

This was the result of a Griffith Jones's system of circulating schools, which aimed to enable everyone to read the Bible in Welsh. Similarly, at least half the population of 18th century New England was literate, perhaps as a consequence of the Puritan belief in the importance of Bible reading. By the time of the American Revolution, literacy in New England is suggested to have been around 90 percent.

Literacy had expanded its margins: computer versus reading

The South Asian attitude about literacy is very much dependent on the society factor.

Literacy is associated only with schooling, but not the everyday life. Memory of text is considered an honour. These misconceptions are thankfully declining with the injection of modern educational methods.

The average person in Sri Lanka reads newspapers more than books. These reading habits change so fast with the technology across the globe. Most of the people have given up reading the broadsheet newspapers; they have chosen the Internet which can be accessed on palmtop or laptop, which means more convenience.

People are slowly making a habit of reading both books and newspapers online.

They get most of the newspapers free and buy e-books from online stores. Even though technology goes in a fast pace, no one should entertain the fears of losing the grip of literacy. It will remain forever, only the form will be subject to change.

- Sachitra