How did your character learn to read/write?

[Vysce the Lad]

Caen learned how to read and write from a collection of people, including his mother before she passes away in the Calamity. He still can't write very well at all and can't read big words.

[Ruran]

Locke was taught by his life-long friend, a Lalafell named Romimo. She would read stories to him when he was little, and he eventually got curious enough to start learning words here and there until he became fully literate. That thirst for knowledge!

[Keroascrazy]

taught in her earlier years by those at the ossuary who were able to recognize her potential for thaumaturgy.

can't be a good student if you don't understand the material.

[Izayoi]

Iza was trained by her mother, and her tutors in general when she was young. 

 

Not really decided for Inori yet, she is still a bit of a work in progress.

[Tiergan]

Lurial learned how to read/write while studying arcanum (one would think learning to read and write would be pretty important to being an arcanist carrying around a book all the time).

 

Tiergan learned to read and write because one of the privileges he received by being the 'Alpha' slave of his pens was the opportunity to educate himself on whatever he requested. He instantaneously wanted to read and write because he was enamored with the eloquent way an educated Ala Mhigan general once spoke before the city's fall.

 

Leilani knows how to read/write because her father is an archaeologist (and thus has to keep meticulous records of the things he finds) and her mother is a linguist of sorts that is capable of translating and transcribing ancient texts/tablets into Common tongue. Both parents taught their children the skill.

 

Furious Storm knows how to read and write, because I made him able to do so in order to communicate with people ( mute guy running around with a note pad ) only to find out way later that the devs decided most of Eorzea is illiterate. :V So I don't really know how he learned. I just assume that he somehow got someone to teach him once he was made mute.

 

ALL THAT SAID, I kind of can't help but feel like Ferne sort of arbitrarily decided most of Eorzea can't read despite all of the writing that is all over Eorzea. Fortunately, in the same thread where Fernehalwes reveals that literacy rates are low, further down he also mentions that 'No Entry" signs are for adventurers , implying that literacy rates amongst adventurers might higher than normal (possibly because of all the crazy work they're normally doing?).

 

This explains all of the sign posts, road signs (that don't have any other identifying symbols for folks who can't read), building signs, and hunt mark bills that all have writing on them, but would be wasted on the vast majority of the Eorzean populace.

 

Places like Buscarron's Druthers isn't exactly going to get visited by much of anyone except Wailers and other folks living in the wood - yet it still has a big ole sign posted right out front. Perhaps it's purely there for the adventurers.

[Caspar]

Hm, well, when Virara's teacher decided she was ready to be treated like a person rather than an animal, (Long story, lol) she took it upon herself to train her to be a Doman girl as well as a martial artist. However, her own training as a well adjusted lady was pretty spotty, being as crude as a Lominsan and being mostly self-educated. In areas such as knowledge of foreign cultures, etiquette and even the birds and the bees, Sensei slacked off due to virulent slothfulness.

 

So Virara can speak Doman very fluently, and has pretty good knowledge of Eorzean tongues, but is barely literate and her writing looks like a baby's scrawling. She's adept at picking up bits and pieces of foreign nomenclature via exposure, but hardly even knows anything about history or geography. She knows a lot about keeping herself healthy, but only recently even learned the difference between girls and boys. Vira's tendency to railroad onto one focus doesn't help things. She's quite perceptive and focused when learning, but tends to try to learn one thing by brute force, once at a time. She'd be a difficult student for almost any teacher to train... but I'd love to have a tutor for her in game at some point. I think it'd be fun.

[Zac Evans]

[align=center]Well, Midlanders are trained in their letters since infancy, so Zac was taught by a mother before and after chores with the aid of a thick wooden spoon for 'motivation' when he was lacking [/align]

[Kellach Woods]

ALL THAT SAID, I kind of can't help but feel like Ferne sort of arbitrarily decided most of Eorzea can't read despite all of the writing that is all over Eorzea.  Fortunately, in the same thread where Fernehalwes reveals that literacy rates are low, further down he also mentions that 'No Entry" signs are for adventurers , implying that literacy rates amongst adventurers might higher than normal (possibly because of all the crazy work they're normally doing?).

 

This explains all of the sign posts, road signs (that don't have any other identifying symbols for folks who can't read), building signs, and hunt mark bills that all have writing on them, but would be wasted on the vast majority of the Eorzean populace.  

 

Places like Buscarron's Druthers isn't exactly going to get visited by much of anyone except Wailers and other folks living in the wood  - yet it still has a big ole sign posted right out front.  Perhaps it's purely there for the adventurers.

 

Keep in mind also that PCs tend to have higher literacy rates than most in RP because otherwise that cuts into A LOT of story-writing potential.

 

How many DMs gave Barbarians the ability to read in early DND3.0 because the Barb was being an obtuse prick about that?

 

And as you mention, an adventurer that can't read would have a hard time doing the following :

- Grand Company Hunts

- Leves (IIRC most of them are recorded on paper)

- Hunting Log (you know what it looks like, but not where it can maybe be found)

- Navigate a map

- etc.

 

It's safe to say that if you're an adventurer, you're at least a functioning illiterate person or you have someone to read for you. Which actually works btw - plenty illiterate folks are able to perform their duties if they have someone to read for them.

[Berrod Armstrong]

ALL THAT SAID, I kind of can't help but feel like Ferne sort of arbitrarily decided most of Eorzea can't read despite all of the writing that is all over Eorzea.  Fortunately, in the same thread where Fernehalwes reveals that literacy rates are low, further down he also mentions that 'No Entry" signs are for adventurers , implying that literacy rates amongst adventurers might higher than normal (possibly because of all the crazy work they're normally doing?).

 

This explains all of the sign posts, road signs (that don't have any other identifying symbols for folks who can't read), building signs, and hunt mark bills that all have writing on them, but would be wasted on the vast majority of the Eorzean populace.  

 

Places like Buscarron's Druthers isn't exactly going to get visited by much of anyone except Wailers and other folks living in the wood  - yet it still has a big ole sign posted right out front.  Perhaps it's purely there for the adventurers.

 

Keep in mind also that PCs tend to have higher literacy rates than most in RP because otherwise that cuts into A LOT of story-writing potential.

 

How many DMs gave Barbarians the ability to read in early DND3.0 because the Barb was being an obtuse prick about that?

 

And as you mention, an adventurer that can't read would have a hard time doing the following :

- Grand Company Hunts

- Leves (IIRC most of them are recorded on paper)

- Hunting Log (you know what it looks like, but not where it can maybe be found)

- Navigate a map

- etc.

 

It's safe to say that if you're an adventurer, you're at least a functioning illiterate person or you have someone to read for you. Which actually works btw - plenty illiterate folks are able to perform their duties if they have someone to read for them.

Also also! There may be like a bajillion of us as players but our characters (the ones portrayed as adventurers, or those with links to such) still represent a small portion of Eorzea's population! It still fits with what Ferne said, so it's not really a bad thing if most of our folks can read or write.

[g0ne]

Eleni learnt how to read and write from her grandmother, Nan, who raised her and with whom she spent nearly twenty years of her life.

 

In fact, pretty much everything Eleni is is because of her grandmother. 

[Steel Wolf]

This is actually a question I hadn't thought through about. Literacy in the realms of Eorzea appeared to be pretty reasonable, what with the signage all over the damned place, so I just sort of assumed that reading was a thing that was taught as part of regular living and moved on with my digital life.

 

Huh...

 

I honestly don't have an answer. I guess the easy one is "She was taught" with regards to both of my characters and just...kinda call it a day.

 

Uninspired, but there it is.

[Telluride]

Nathan, for his part, learned his letters from the performance troupe among which he was raised. While most people the troupe met saw only the rough hedonists that came to perform, in truth, the coordination needed to play and learn their music, dances and skits would have been nearly impossible without the ability to read letters and music, and thus it was that each day, a cluster of bored children would listen to one of the elders of the troupe, and practice reading and writing. While they were wilder than most city students might have been, the necessity of these lessons to maintain the troupe's abilities to perform provided sufficient motivation to learn.

[Aya]

Honestly, despite authoritative comments otherwise, I don't feel like common illiteracy meshes with the prevalence of written text in the world.  I do not think this was well thought through on the design end, and I wouldn't worry myself about treating it as cannon.

 

That said, Aya was taught by her parents.

[Delilah Scythewood]

Lili's parents were both very talented and gifted botanists. They wrote papers, theories, maps, charts, and more! Seeing that Lili also shared a similar aptitude, they taught her as well.

[Gegenji]

Honestly, despite authoritative comments otherwise, I don't feel like common illiteracy meshes with the prevalence of written text in the world.  I do not think this was well thought through on the design end, and I wouldn't worry myself about treating it as cannon.

 

That said, Aya was taught by her parents.

 

I found it kind of odd too, considering that there's apparently three different papers in circulation according to the lore - one for each city (they were all fighting over... Lightning or something in one of the holiday events). Of course, that could simply be attributed to the fact that the distances are vast enough to the point that a single paper is unfeasible (which in and of itself makes perfect sense, considering)... but it also means there's enough readers in each city to make running a paper profitable.

 

I'm not sure what the numbers need to be in such a case - adjusted, of course, for whatever alternate fantasy method they use for mass production - but that amount of lettered folk seems off considering what was presented unless the newspapers are rather expensive. Really, the only one of the three cities I could see readily having or even making newspapers is Ul'dah - mass production of paper products sounds like something dangerous to try in the Twelveswood, and the pirate history to Limsa makes me think news there is more likely to pass by word of mouth. Possibly in a slurred manner over a drink or three.

 

And then, again, it's Ul'dah. That means it has to be profitable enough for someone to want to do it. Unless it's merely being bankrolled by some powerful figure who has the money and likes having a method to control the flow of information to the more learned folk. Which... is again, something I can certainly see happening in the Jewel.

[Berrod Armstrong]

Honestly, despite authoritative comments otherwise, I don't feel like common illiteracy meshes with the prevalence of written text in the world.  I do not think this was well thought through on the design end, and I wouldn't worry myself about treating it as cannon.

 

That said, Aya was taught by her parents.

 

I found it kind of odd too, considering that there's apparently three different papers in circulation according to the lore - one for each city (they were all fighting over... Lightning or something in one of the holiday events). Of course, that could simply be attributed to the fact that the distances are vast enough to the point that a single paper is unfeasible (which in and of itself makes perfect sense, considering)... but it also means there's enough readers in each city to make running a paper profitable.

 

I'm not sure what the numbers need to be in such a case - adjusted, of course, for whatever alternate fantasy method they use for mass production - but that amount of lettered folk seems off considering what was presented unless the newspapers are rather expensive. Really, the only one of the three cities I could see readily having or even making newspapers is Ul'dah - mass production of paper products sounds like something dangerous to try in the Twelveswood, and the pirate history to Limsa makes me think news there is more likely to pass by word of mouth. Possibly in a slurred manner over a drink or three.

 

And then, again, it's Ul'dah. That means it has to be profitable enough for someone to want to do it. Unless it's merely being bankrolled by some powerful figure who has the money and likes having a method to control the flow of information to the more learned folk. Which... is again, something I can certainly see happening in the Jewel.

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! 

 

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.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Honestly, despite authoritative comments otherwise, I don't feel like common illiteracy meshes with the prevalence of written text in the world.  I do not think this was well thought through on the design end, and I wouldn't worry myself about treating it as cannon.

 

That said, Aya was taught by her parents.

 

I found it kind of odd too, considering that there's apparently three different papers in circulation according to the lore - one for each city (they were all fighting over... Lightning or something in one of the holiday events). Of course, that could simply be attributed to the fact that the distances are vast enough to the point that a single paper is unfeasible (which in and of itself makes perfect sense, considering)... but it also means there's enough readers in each city to make running a paper profitable.

 

I'm not sure what the numbers need to be in such a case - adjusted, of course, for whatever alternate fantasy method they use for mass production - but that amount of lettered folk seems off considering what was presented unless the newspapers are rather expensive. Really, the only one of the three cities I could see readily having or even making newspapers is Ul'dah - mass production of paper products sounds like something dangerous to try in the Twelveswood, and the pirate history to Limsa makes me think news there is more likely to pass by word of mouth. Possibly in a slurred manner over a drink or three.

 

And then, again, it's Ul'dah. That means it has to be profitable enough for someone to want to do it. Unless it's merely being bankrolled by some powerful figure who has the money and likes having a method to control the flow of information to the more learned folk. Which... is again, something I can certainly see happening in the Jewel.

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! 

 

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.

 

^this.

 

I doubt the farmers and shepherds and standard hunters of animals really need to be able to read to survive. Likely, people living in the cities probably have a higher literacy rate, as they'd need more money to own property there.

[Gegenji]

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! 

 

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.

[Sounsyy]

Unless it's merely being bankrolled by some powerful figure who has the money and likes having a method to control the flow of information to the more learned folk.

 

I smell a Manderville. Damnit Godbert.

 

 

Also have to agree. Inside the city-states there's likely a high(er) literacy rate, while the surrounding areas and settlements probably have a considerably lower literacy rate. If for no other reason than exposure to reading materials.

[OhThatDemoness6]

When Sable was young, she was taught basic reading and writing from a band of Hyur travellers (where she came from brawn and survival was more important than brains). Because of them, she found a love of reading and grew from that.

 

Her writing could be generally improved since she spends more time reading, but that is changing due to her recent studies as an Arcanist.

[Zyrusticae]

When Fern said adventurers have a higher literacy rate in general, he really should have elaborated on where they actually come from...

[Unnamed Mercenary]

When Fern said adventurers have a higher literacy rate in general, he really should have elaborated on where they actually come from...

 

Maybe they just came from well-off families who could afford an education. Or some other unnamed cities? Or a land of people who have an education system.

 

As shown the thread, we don't need to work that hard to figure out how our characters are literate. Likely, adventurers have similar backgrounds.

[Mae]

Which actually works btw - plenty illiterate folks are able to perform their duties if they have someone to read for them.

This is true. My grandfather didn't learn to read until he was in his late 60's, and he ran a successful business for years. I actually didn't know he had been illiterate for most of his life until just before he died.