We begin this chapter by exploring the similarities and differences between communication in humans and other animals. One key difference is our human capacity to apply symbols to meanings in the world, and to connect symbols with each other into symbol systems. Symbols represent general things – the concept of ‘dog’ as distinct from this dog, Fido. Although young children learn the word ‘dog’ at a young age, it is not until they are older that they use the word as a concept. Conceptualisation can also occur in the other modes; for instance, in visual or gestural meanings. All academic disciplines use literacies as a basis for communicating knowledge, and also for learners to represent knowledge to themselves in their thinking. Literacies, for this reason, are the most basic of all basics in education.