Cultural Literacy

My recent mini-diatribe against the butchering of ‘the King’s English,’ has been fueled, most probably, by my recent reading of The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy.  As I have reviewed the breadth of knowledge recorded by the editors of this compendium I have found it remarkable and unfortunate that so many young people have so little familiarity with (or respect for) the English language and the wonderful culture and heritage it carries and makes possible.

  

Clear language—the words and concepts it expresses—is the vehicle for human progress.  It is what enables a person to be culturally literate—and cultural literacy provides some of the tools for being an educated and socially contributing person. 

 

In eating several lunches each week in a company cafeteria I cannot help but overhear the conversations occurring around me.  The content and expression of these impoverished conversations discloses a lamentable unfamiliarity with the breadth of our national culture and this, I suggest, is because of a limited vocabulary and familiarity with things past. 

 

A base of common knowledge or the development of a collective memory shared by literate people is the foundation of meaningful discourse. It allows us to understand the news we hear, the literature we read, the trends going on around us and to go beyond the scope of our peers’ common, and increasingly limited conversations. 

 

To gain a body of knowledge it takes familiarity with many diverse subjects, and that, I submit, primarily comes about by reading.  Successful advanced reading (and thinking and skill development) requires a knowledge of taken-for-granted (by literate people) background information that is not defined on every page. A basic axiom of learning is that the easiest way to learn something new is to associate it with something we already know or with which we are familiar.

A broad, shallow knowledge (cultural literacy) is the best route to deep knowledge and becoming a truly educated person.  This fundamental body of cultural knowledge, of givens, of awareness of context, is what makes progress happen.

  

Let me suggest the scope of gaining cultural literacy.

 

·        Learn the truths embedded in common cultural idioms. (e.g., ‘born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth’; ‘bite the bullet’; ‘behind the eight ball’; ‘clean bill of health’; ‘diamond in the rough’; ‘grain of salt’; ‘pulling strings’; ‘a vicious circle,’ etc.)

·        Become familiar with World Literature, Philosophy, and Religions. The Bible, especially, is essential for understanding many of the moral and spiritual values of our culture just as, for example, the Koran is to Muslim cultures.

·        Learn the conventions of written English.  This includes not just grammar, but standardization and richness of vocabulary.

·        Learn to appreciate the contributions of the Fine Arts: not just paintings and sculpture, but literature, poetry, drama, architecture, drama, classical music, dance.  They provide many of the symbols of our national existence.

·        Ancient and Modern history.  Appreciate the influence of ancient civilizations and modern, non-Western civilizations—their rise and fall. 

·        Know American History—to 1865, from 1865-1965, and current history

·        Know the basics of World Politics –ideologies and governments.

·        Understand basics of American Politics and Government and Law

·        World Geography--physical and cultural

·        Psychology and Sociology –not just ‘general,’ but personal and family applications

·        Business and Economics

·        Physical Sciences and Mathematics

·        Earth Sciences

·        Medicine and Health

·        Technology

·        Home Economics

Finally, I remind the reader that in-depth understanding or expertise of all or even many of the above components is not what I am suggesting is required to be a culturally literate person.  I suspect there are very few Renaissance men or women around.  But a goal to become more literate in general is within our grasp and is highly satisfying in the pursuit.