Query on literacy

[Valentina Pagliai]

Dear Marcia,

In Italian, like in Spanish, the word "alfabetizzazione" refers to
learning to write and read. The word "alfabetizzato," that would
correspond to "literate" in this meaning, however, feels awkward in
usage, and it is mostly used in the negative ("analfabeta," a person who
does not know how to read and write). There is also the word "letterato"
which refers generally to a person with a high education, generally
though in the humanities (knowing literature). So yes, the two meanings
seem distinguished in Italian. By the way, the word "educazione" in
Italian means "politeness" as well as "education."

Valentina Pagliai