post 10

A literacy event is any action involving one or more people, where the interpretation of print plays a role. It is the examination of the relationship between spoken and written language within modern day society. It can be used in a variety of ways, but a situation such as a professor teaching from a PowerPoint or handout would be an example: there is a relationship between what is being spoken and read, and an intermixing of the two.

One of the first examples Heath gives is that of product recognition. Even children who don't quite know how to read, know how to identify a product label. They also notice common advertising themes and mascots.In Trackton, there seems to be little written text for children to read from. Therefore, they often times have to hear stories from the oral tradition and add as they go. The children also invent their own poems and emotional tales, much different from how literature is traditionally taught (written form). Since most of the individuals in this town are not literate, reading to them is common for job training, documents, and church sermons.

Sherman is a really excellent example of a literacy event learner. He teaches himself how to read by using comic books. Although he does not know any of the words, he uses the association of the pictures to understand what is happening and then learns to translate. This relates to Heath's point that children often recognize brand labels, or understand visually first. They can later understand linguistics through association.