If a person who only knows English, goes to say a country like Japan, could he be considered illiterate in Japan? What I am asking is whether a person who can read and write in one language, can be considered illiterate in another. If not, then is there a word that can effectively characterize being unable to read or write in a foreign language?
illiteracy - a lack of ability to read and write (dictionary.com)
This definition of illiteracy is a bit broad for me. Does it only apply if a person cannot read and write at all in any language? Or can you be literate in one language but not another?