I’ve been seeing the use of the phrase “functinally illiterate”, and it got me thinking that I don’t think there is such a thing when it’s speech instead of the written word. There are plenty of instances I can think of where I or someone I knew was simply not capable of or didn’t want to try to understand something that was said. Is there something that means not bring able or refusing to comprehend speech when that person is fluent in the language being spoken?

  • Ada@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    3·
    23 hours ago

    It’s not really a thing is it?

    I mean, language learners often have a disparity in their ability to read vs their ability to understand spoken language, but that’s mostly because of things like accents, speed of speech etc, all of which improve with practice/exposure…

    • BeeegScaaawyCripple@lemmy.world
      1·
      14 hours ago

      Yeah, in interpreting (at least the program we were in) they broke down language into production (speaking/writing/signing) and comprehension (listening/watching). You generally need to have good comprehension before you can have good production. Without both, you’re not fluent.

    • CubitOom@infosec.pubOPEnglish
      3·
      23 hours ago

      I think it’s something that happens which I’ve experienced but I have a hard time describing it since I don’t know a word for it.

      However I am not talking about people that are new to or learning a language. I mean like if a lawyer is explaning a contract to you. Or if a teacher is giving giving a lecture and either you are bored out of your mind a drift off or you are so unable to understand some of the finer details that it just goes way over your head. This might also happen when you are mad and having a disagreement.