ABSTRACT
Literacy is a practice of knowing, which means acquiring a culture and an epistemology. Literacy is a process of knowing-about the world through language and knowing-how to act. Practically, literacy has meant learning the orthodox language and culture of the ruling elite, especially the official religious and political beliefs and practices. Literacy education has been traditionally governed by church and state. Since the 18th century, literacy has been institutionally defined by the practice of philology, and then by modern language departments, like English. 21st century literacy needs to be studied and taught as a multifaceted, interdisciplinary subject, which should focus on how perception, language, and knowledge formation are central to human psychology, language, and culture.
