How come a person who can't speak English well is considered illiterate?

Answer 1

In almost every country English has become the main language .
Others may think that they(who is considered an illiterate) would not be well informed about their subjects.So when they talk to others ,they(others) may feel that they are an illiterate.
This is not actually true about them .They may not speak well due to certain circumstances.They might read and write well.If they are asked to explain What they have learned in English in their mother tongue they would explain it perfectly.

Answer 2

If you are not from an English speaking country and you don't speak English well, then you aren't necessarily illiterate. You just need more practice and patience from others

If you are from an English speaking country and you don't speak English very well then you may be illiterate only because a lot of our language, especially our refined language, is written. People can get only so much of a vocabulary if they cannot read. Since there are millions of word in the English language it would be hard to know the meaning of words if you cannot read the dictionary to understand it, or to read a sentence with the word in it.

Two different scenarios with two different outcomes in meaning and understanding.

Answer 3

I think you worded your question wrongly...
I get what you mean..in the world today..alot of people talk more than 2 languages...and between the languages...english is always included...

Its a commonly known language...as some words in english is also used in many Asian countries in their own pronounciation...
Also many European countries use english daily...even though some words in english are originated from them...

So if you can't speak english...thats fine...you shouldn't be considered as illiterate...because that does not even make sense...illiterate means that you can't read or write.. and not able to speak englsh does not fit to his catergory...

Answer 4

Not enough information in your question to give you an answer.

An illiterate cannot use written words to communicate (either read or write effectively) - think of the person who has to make an "X" for their signature.

The ability to speak well (articulation/elocution?) has nothing to do with literacy - think of a deaf person reading Hemingway then speaking about it. Ever hear a deaf person speak? They try very hard, and are learned, but because they don't get feedback, the sound comes out a little funky.

Answer 5

If that person is a native speaker of English and he/she is normal from a medical point of view, then, yep, we can say that he/she is illiterate because one of the meanings of the word "illiterate" is "showing lack of culture, esp. in language and literature".

(After reading the answers above: I can't believe how many people answered your question without checking all the meanings of this word in a dictionary; now, this sounds like lack of education to me.)

Answer 6

there are two words - one is illiterate and the other uneducated
here illiterate is used to one who doesnot know read and write, let be any language not necessarily English, an uneducated is one who doesnot know manners or behaviour in the society but often mistaken as academics.

Answer 7

Because they are illiterate - in English. However, they may be literate in a different language or languages.

Answer 8

Actually that's a very good question. But I think it would be relative to the country they are from. If they are in America or Australia for instance, it would be very hard to not speak English and live day to day.

Answer 9

They're not. Being illiterate only means that one can't read.

Answer 10

Not illiterate, just not as educated as much as they would like to be.