Its the same for programming. Most of programming isn't rocket science (unless it is :P) and anyone with the ability to apply basic logic can figure out what most programs do. However the language, the text itself, gets in the way, and people throw up their hands immediately once they see something unfamiliar.

The difference between literacy and illiteracy in this case, IMO, is almost an emotional one - its the ability to say to yourself, "ok, I may not know what this keyword means, but I know what is in front of me is not magic, that it can be understood, and I can understand it with some research and patience"

It helps a lot for ones future if someone is able to be taught this skill early on.