Cultural literacy

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Cultural literacy is the ability to understand the shared background knowledge, idioms, and references used by literate people in a given nation or culture. It is the common familiarity with names, places, and events that provides the context in which we comprehend a news story or a political debate. Whereas decoding, vocabulary, and grammar are sufficient to understand "He completed the journey with grim determination", cultural literacy is necessary to understand "He completed the journey like Sherman marching to the sea".

Hirsch

Educational Reform Controversy

References

Hirsch, Jr., E. D., Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know, Boston: Houghton Mifflin (published 1987), ISBN, ISBN 0-395-43095-X [e].

  • Hirsch, E.D. Jr., et al (eds). 2002. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. 3rd edn. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
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