The development of Initial literacy

How do we acquire language? Where does language come from as we grow up? As we get older, how do we develop the skills necessary to defend our points of views either written or spoken? Does language affect us all in the same way weather we’re deaf, mute, or neither? These are all questions that arise when I think of the development of initial literacy.

The development of language occurs in various steps, unnoticed when we are growing up, but noticed by the adults around us. As Goodman explained “…literacy learning is the idea that leaning language is leaning how to mean. The child leans how to mean through written as well as spoken language.” (317) This takes place sporadically as we are young. As we get older literacy transcends into daily rituals of simple tasks that involve reading and writing.

What plays a role in our development of literacy?

As children we don’t realize what literacy is, but we develop it progressively. There are many influences as to how we learn how to be literate. According to Goodman, factors such as our personal experiences are immense aspects on how we approach literacy: reading and writing. Due, to our dynamic backgrounds, we each individually view things in different perspectives. Thus, because of our different point of views we approach the art of literacy in a different way than the person next to us. Hence, our environment is a great factor as to how we approach reading, writing, and comprehension.

As many subjects have a “root” so does literacy. The place where our literacy is fostered from plays a vital role as to the future development of language. Goodman points out that there are three important factors when it comes to literacy.

1. “The functions and forms that the literacy event serve,

2. The use of oral language about written language, which is part of the literacy event and reflects society’s values and attitudes towards literacy,

3. Conscious awareness about literacy, including its functions, forms, and context” (318).

Since, we are young before we learn to talk we begin developing pictorial language. For instance, when a child wants something they begin to point at it and when they lean the name of the thing they want they begin to sound it out, which soon turns into speaking it out. As we slowly develop speaking, by the time we begin head start we already know how to speak and some what write. At this point we slowly develop written language, which will eventually lead us to progress in literacy.