What Happens to People Who Cannot Read? The Problem of Illiteracy.

Significant research studies, bibliographies, and selected scholarly papers that have analyzed numerous aspects of illiteracy are examined in this paper. A definition, characteristics, and the plight of illiterates are discussed. The following selected research studies are then reviewed and a brief analysis of each is given: (1) "The Acquisition of Literacy by Children and Adults" (T. G. Sticht); (2) "Ethnographic Research on Word Recognition Strategies of Adult Beginning Readers" (N. Boraks and S. Schumacher); (3) "Outlook for the 80's: Adult Literacy" (L. Y. Mercier); (4) "Adult Literacy: An Annotated Bibliography" (F. E. Kazemek and P. Rigg); and (5) "Adult Literacy Education: Current and Future Directions" (A. Fingeret). In addition, "Adult Illiteracy in the United States: A Report to the Ford Foundation" by C. S. Hunter and D. Harman, and M. Berube's "Children of the Revolution: A Yankee Teacher in Cuban Schools" are discussed. Concluding remarks focus on the implications of these scholarly studies, pointing out that with the wealth of knowledge regarding the behavior and characteristics of illiterates, the United States and its educational system are in a position to do more for the illiterate population than has been done in the past. (JD)