preliterate
UK: /priːˈlɪtərət/ | US: /priˈlɪtərət/
adj. relating to a society or culture that has not yet developed a written language
adj. occurring before the development of literacy in a society
preliterate = pre<before> + literate<able to read/write>
- pre: A Latin prefix meaning "before," used in English to indicate precedence in time or order.
- literate: Derived from Latin litteratus (educated, learned), from littera (letter, written character). In English, it refers to the ability to read and write.
Etymology Origin:
The word "preliterate" combines "pre-" (before) and "literate" (related to reading/writing) to describe societies or periods before the advent of written language. This term reflects the anthropological classification of cultures based on their use of writing, with "preliterate" specifically denoting those that rely solely on oral communication. The logical progression mirrors similar constructs like "prehistoric" (before recorded history).
Anthropologists study preliterate societies to understand oral traditions.
Many preliterate cultures preserved their history through storytelling.
The preliterate era of human civilization lasted thousands of years.
Artifacts from preliterate periods often lack written explanations.
Preliterate children develop language skills through speech and listening.