Does your mind need to shut up while speed reading? [How to be an Original]
One of the subjects that returns in speed reading literature and theories is subvocalizing. Subvocalization is the process in which you “say” the words you read in your mind, you’re in a sense reading to yourself “out loud” silently.
I recently discovered that subvocalizing is a matter of controversy in speed reading country. The general opinion is that it’s a bad thing. It slows you down, after all: who can speak (comprehensively) at a rate of 1000wpm? So subvocalizing is something that needs to stop. It doesn’t require training though, if you increase your speed, you will get this as a bonus. It will stop simply because it cannot keep up.
I can’t get it to stop
I use subvocalizing when I read. And while I’m writing this, I realize I even use it when I write. During my training of speed reading I noticed a change in subvocalizing, and I gradually changed from every single word to only the key words. And this is something I cannot seem to get rid of.
So I turn to the all knowing web to check out subvocalizing. And to my surprise I found a couple of links from pretty reliable sources, that subvocalization isn’t as bad as it is presented in a lot of books. Subvocalization needn’t slow you down if it’s not accompanied by physical movements (e.g. talking, murmuring). It even plays a role in comprehension!
Now whether or not subvocalization primarily has benefits or primarily has downsides we may never know. We cannot measure it after all as it happens inside a person’s mind. For my training I’m going to accept it on a keyword level.
Oh, and when I’m reading for the sheer fun of reading (I like fantasy books, absolutely love Raymond E. Feist and his world of Midkemia), I subvocalize every word. I love it how the words suck me into the sentences and smoothly guide me into the magical world of the book.
Original post here: Lodewijkvdb
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