(01-12-2015, 12:39 PM)Berrod Armstrong Wrote: What we need to remember here is that people exist outside the main cities of the realm. The cities may simply house a concentration of those folk who are able to read or write. Not to mention, people can have others read for them!Â
Think about out in Quarrymill, or the Golden Bazaar, or Swiftperch. It's likely that these places hold a lot of illiterate Eorzeans -- not to mention all the places in-between! Also, the amount of written signs, books and otherwise are just as well there for the benefit of the few who CAN read. The majority of the population being illiterate won't stop the provisions all over the world for the people who can read and/or write.
Right, I'm reminded of the courtesan thread of all things at the moment. In many cultures, they were meant to be learned and carry conversation, so it's not completely out there for there to be folks who make a business (or are required to know how) to read for their employers.
Also, I find the signs thing a bit odd. Sure, there's the keep out signs... but a lot of the other signs seem to focus more on pictures than words - I mean, just going to the Marauder's guild shows a symbol of an axe and a pistol (which has been there for a while now, and I'm assuming where the Machinist job trainer is going to be stationed). Then again, it's quite possible I've been missing a lot of the other written signs. It just doesn't seem as predominant as it does in our modern culture, with electronic tickers and billboards and names in lights.
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