LITERACIES, CRITICAL LITERACY AND SOCIOLOGY

Sandro Serpa
Prof. Dr., University of the Azores, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences,
Department of Sociology;
Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences – CICS.UAc/CICS.NOVA.UAc;
Interdisciplinary Centre for Childhood and Adolescence – NICA – UAc. PORTUGAL, sandro.nf.serpa@uac.pt

Abstract

Literacy has emerged as a concept that meant the application of reading, writing and numeracy competences in the individual’s everyday context. Currently, the concept of literacy takes on a central and multivariate dimension and is mobilised in several concepts beyond this original meaning, such as digital literacy, sustainability literacy and ocean literacy, just to name a few. In this presentation we aim to discuss the concept of literacies through a Sociology-based stance. It is concluded, and quite intentionally thought-provoking, that this multiplicity of literacies can, to some extent, be framed in the concept of critical literacy, and so can the implications of this stance.

Keywords: Literacy(ies), Critical Literacy, Sociology, Competences.