See Me, Speak Me

Have you ever really examined other languages you have no idea how to read or speak? Have a look at the shape of the letters and for some, the unusual graphics that are used in the written form of the language. Scary yes. Imagine then, the dominant language of the nation you currently live in. Now imagine you are three. They become just visual shapes. Then you learn to identify those shapes and to create a name for the shape. A name you need to retain and remember. No different to any other form of visual development. You learnt to identify a ball, a tree, your mother, father, family and such. You received the information and you adapted your mind to it. Your cognitive skills created the necessary links to what you were viewing, to allow you to recall at will, what those shapes meant. So why is it that there is such a high number of people who, whilst they may have had full opportunity, cannot read? These people can manage to avoid reading for practically their entire lives. It is not an involved socially responsible way of living, but it is often a very full life. I have known mechanics, artists, even builders, who for years had kept their illiteracy a secret from others. And until required to complete actual written tests or being involved in a situation that required a minimum level of written interaction, others were none the wiser, as to the lack of written language ability of that person.

The creative ability of many illiterates cannot be denied, as often those person could provide any number of plausible reasons as to why they could not, at that particular time, engage in the reading, or writing required. Their cognitive ability existed. The skills required to create the reasons, existed. But the skill in relation to the required visual interpretation, did not. Is this laziness? Or, is it a problem of input? As mentioned, to watch one I later learned was illiterate, pull apart a mechanical engine and rebuild it, to run more efficiently and in a learnt way, complete all necessary procedures without indicating any issue, was impressive. Even to the correct settings for various distances and depths. It was not until confronted unexpectedly with a major mechanical change the situation was realised. Then came the resistance and the anger, before a successful outcome re-introduced and corrected the visual corruption, which had long been the cause for the illiteracy. He adapted throughout his life and then had to adapt again when a major change was required. But there is no denying it took its toll. The personal cost initially was enormous as he resisted admitting the need to change. Then the social cost as he struggled daily with the new demands and personal responsibility for changing. I can say, the outcome was very successful, but not without effort. The mind was prepared and very capable, to change and adapt, to learn and understand, It was the emotions which were not. They were the hardest part for him to deal with, in reaching the success of the process.

 (Continued tomorrow)