In the Russian language, there are words whose meaning is not always clear, even to those people for whom this language is native. At the same time, some words have not one, but several meanings at once. One of these words is "diploma".
The most common use of this word in the meaning of "reading and writing" is actually a translation of Greek grammata into Russian. That is, literacy is a person's knowledge of the alphabet, the ability to write and read.
In addition, it is customary to refer to the word letter as an official document that certifies, for example, an international agreement or establishes certain legal relations. Examples of such documents are the Letter of Credentials, the Letter of Ratification, etc.
A diploma is also a written act, a document that certified in Russia at the beginning of the last century the completion of transactions and the establishment of certain relations. Such documents include the deed of sale and charter and other similar acts.
In Tsarist Russia, a certificate of awarding awards, possessions, distinctions, etc. to a person was called a diploma. Examples of such documents: Certificate of Merit, This Certificate and others. Anyway, in the past, almost any official document or letter was called a diploma.
Pupils who successfully completed one course or another or excelled in their studies are still issued a Certificate of Merit. And the foremost workers in factories and plants from the Soviet times to this day (in some places) are awarded with Certificates of Merit.
It should be noted the cases of the use of this word in a figurative sense. So, for example, if you want to express your dissatisfaction with the design, content or legal force of this or that document, then you can safely use the expression "filkin's letter" in relation to this paper. But if the text of a document, book, letter - and any work - seems difficult or even impossible for you to comprehend, you can use the expression "Chinese literacy". It happens that a person is called a "literate", wanting to express sarcasm in relation to the knowledge that he is trying to show off.
