In terms of literacy, there are a few quests which deal with letters and notes being delivered to other people, and in one case, it appears to be between commoners (The one somewhere in the Shroud where a woman who carries herself as 'nothing special' has received a letter from a thief seeking her affections, and is worried about it. Â I don't remember the exact location, but I have screenshots of it buried somewhere in the pile I've taken for lore reasons.) Â However, many more of them are between officials, merchants, or people of a higher standing. Â And interestingly, I've noticed, often times when there is a 'letter exchange', the letter will be read aloud to you upon it being received.
I always thought this was a little weird, at least compared to our culture; people don't usually read letters aloud to others unless the letter is actually addressed to them too. Â Thus, at first, I thought this was merely done as a story mechanism, so the player would know what the letter said, but in knowing that most Eorzians are likely illiterate.. I actually wonder if this is common practice; if the literate and learned are accustomed to reading aloud as a courtesy to others who may not be able to decipher the words. Â Honestly, I think that would be an interesting little culture quirk, if it were the case.
I always thought this was a little weird, at least compared to our culture; people don't usually read letters aloud to others unless the letter is actually addressed to them too. Â Thus, at first, I thought this was merely done as a story mechanism, so the player would know what the letter said, but in knowing that most Eorzians are likely illiterate.. I actually wonder if this is common practice; if the literate and learned are accustomed to reading aloud as a courtesy to others who may not be able to decipher the words. Â Honestly, I think that would be an interesting little culture quirk, if it were the case.
