This metaphor is designed to capture concepts of literacy that emphasize its survival or pragmatic value. The literacy that is thought of in this metaphor is functional literacy. Functional literacy is conceived broadly as the level of proficiency necessary for effective performance in a range of settings and customary activities. The use of functional literacy is in places like on the job and shopping for groceries. When we talk about functional literacy we mean literature that is used to describe how society functions and how things are to be done.
Functional literacy helps an individual adapt to the society in which they live.
In Scribner's opinion the functional approach has been hailed as a major advance over more traditional concepts of reading and writing because it takes into account the goals and setting of people's activities with written language. The literacy as power metaphor emphasizes a relationship between literacy and group or community advancement. Literacy has been the tool in maintaining the elite and dominant classes in certain societies. It is suggested that those who are literate have more involvement in their government. Also illiteracy seems to be concentrated among poor, black, elderly, and minority-language groups.