Does a Barbarian who takes a level in another class automatically gain Literacy?

[Kai Lord]

If a 1st level Barbarian doesn't spend any skill points on Literacy, then takes a level in another class, does he automatically gain Literacy just as if he'd started with the new class?

 

[LuYangShih]

Yes.

 

[Darklone]

Should be described under Illiteracy or multiclassing in the beginning of the PHB.

 

[Kai Lord]

Thanks.

 

[greycastle]

Wait a minute...

just because a level 5 barbarian, take a level of fighter, i feel it does NOT mean he learnt how to read at the same time...

he's only received more formal training...he hasn't studied as a fighter has "for years it's thought i think"

 

[Oni]

FAQ says they do, silly as it may seem.

 

[Spatzimaus]

It's a silly rule, but as written, they get Literacy as soon as they multiclass to anything else.

***HOUSE RULE ALERT***
Literacy is a cultural thing, not a class-related thing. I mean, why is it that every warrior who uses a chaotic, brute-force fighting style is assumed to be an ignorant savage? The Barbarian class has some very appealing features even to the cultured city-dwellers, after all, so it's not really fair to assume everyone who started as that class doesn't know how to read.
So, what we did IMC was make Literacy into a racial/cultural thing. The PHB races all start literate unless they come from a primitive society (in which case the DM will usually give them something else to compensate, anyway, like 2 ranks of Wilderness Lore). Monster races are usually assumed to be illiterate unless specified otherwise.