In order, the ranks for the Dark Brotherhood are
1. Listener
2. Keeper
3. Speaker
4. Silencer
5. Taker
In order, the ranks for the Dark Brotherhood are
1. Listener
2. Keeper
3. Speaker
4. Silencer
5. Taker
Listeners become a rank higher than non-listeners, and I'd say Keeper is both a rank and a job, you wouldn't wanna give the lowest ranking guy the task of Keeper, give it to someone you can trust, someone who is skilled and has proven themselves worthy of caring for the nightmother.
I agree.
Yes but I feel these are more given, rather than earned. As the dragonborn, you do close to nothing to be named the listener.
That's because to be the Listener means to hear the voice of the Night Mother, it's who she choses so that is the only rank in which is not given but earned in what ever way the Night Mother feels. As far as Speakers and below, they are given ranks by their superiors based on merit or any other methods they choose to use.