I need to know I am not mad...

Dr. Z · 31-01-2008, 03:37

OK, bit of an odd one and certainly impossible to test for absolutely sure but when you read things, do you "hear" a voice in your head reading out what your eyes see?

I assumed, like you must do with these things that because I don't "hear" anything in my head as I read, thats how it is for everyone else but there is a thread over on ocuk where people are talking about reading things in different voices and stuff. Unless I actually want/try to do that, I don't hear any voices at all, I guess I just sort of absorb the words?

Perhaps this is why I can read so fast? I could read and understand an entire novel in just 3-4 hours if I could sit completely undisturbed for that whole period of time. I regularly used to read one whole book a night as a child. Does the voice inside people's heads slow them down because you can only read at the speed that you could understand speech?

How many people hear voices?

petemc · 31-01-2008, 04:06

Yes I do. But oddly when I watch subtitled anime its like I'm able to understand Japanese because I don't hear my inner voice when reading the words.

lostkat · 31-01-2008, 06:57

Sometimes. Depends what I'm reading. With regards to it meaning faster reading, I did a course at work which incorporated a bit about speed/effective reading, where they actually said that blocking out that voice is an enabler to being able to read extremely quickly. I can't remember the whys and wherefores though. I think it's something about being able to think faster than the voice, so if you can block it out and just absorb the words, you quicken the pace.

jmc41 · 31-01-2008, 07:57

I'd really love to be able to block those voices then!

Piggymon · 31-01-2008, 08:30

I don't hear any voices when I read... I don't think I do anyway

/is confused.

Matblack · 31-01-2008, 09:57

Nope, none here, I am also a very fast reader, although not legitimate speed reading fast, I can do that but it takes away some of the enjoyment of novels.

Different people read in different ways, my mother and I both read in a similar way, we use word shape rather than letter order to read, my father on the other hand is very letter order orientated and is consiquently a slower more methodical reader, not slow just slower than us.

MB

BBx · 31-01-2008, 10:15

I thought it was just how you read :/

Though if I read something written by someone who I know has an accent they tend to 'sound' like that in my head too

BB x

Garp · 31-01-2008, 11:52

Depends on how I'm reading and what I'm reading. For the most part I don't, I generally read far to fast to be able to hear the voices. Sometimes I'll read books slowly though for various reasons and its then that I hear the voices

Will · 31-01-2008, 12:03

I can't speed read at all without missing the intricacies of the book or article I'm reading. Even when I type I mouth the words as I type (in mouth them in my head). I also attributed it to having learnt how to read and write and speak in numerous languages so it was the only way I could cope/deal with it.

It's interesting though.

Haly · 31-01-2008, 12:30

I don't at all. I can read quite fast though and also used to read an entire kid's book at a time.

View Poll Results: Do you hear voices as you read?
Yes, I hear voices	21	70.00%
No, I do not hear voices	9	30.00%
WTF?	0	0%
Voters: 30. You may not vote on this poll

31-01-2008, 03:37	#1
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	I need to know I am not mad... OK, bit of an odd one and certainly impossible to test for absolutely sure but when you read things, do you "hear" a voice in your head reading out what your eyes see? I assumed, like you must do with these things that because I don't "hear" anything in my head as I read, thats how it is for everyone else but there is a thread over on ocuk where people are talking about reading things in different voices and stuff. Unless I actually want/try to do that, I don't hear any voices at all, I guess I just sort of absorb the words? Perhaps this is why I can read so fast? I could read and understand an entire novel in just 3-4 hours if I could sit completely undisturbed for that whole period of time. I regularly used to read one whole book a night as a child. Does the voice inside people's heads slow them down because you can only read at the speed that you could understand speech? How many people hear voices? __________________

31-01-2008, 04:06	#2
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Yes I do. But oddly when I watch subtitled anime its like I'm able to understand Japanese because I don't hear my inner voice when reading the words. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

31-01-2008, 06:57	#3
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Sometimes. Depends what I'm reading. With regards to it meaning faster reading, I did a course at work which incorporated a bit about speed/effective reading, where they actually said that blocking out that voice is an enabler to being able to read extremely quickly. I can't remember the whys and wherefores though. I think it's something about being able to think faster than the voice, so if you can block it out and just absorb the words, you quicken the pace. __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

31-01-2008, 08:30	#5
Piggymon Lara Croft Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: PigmoPad - Braintree Essex Posts: 8,604	I don't hear any voices when I read... I don't think I do anyway /is confused. __________________ BF% 28/08/08 - 21%

31-01-2008, 07:57	#4
jmc41 Absinthe Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,070	I'd really love to be able to block those voices then!

31-01-2008, 09:57	#6
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Nope, none here, I am also a very fast reader, although not legitimate speed reading fast, I can do that but it takes away some of the enjoyment of novels. Different people read in different ways, my mother and I both read in a similar way, we use word shape rather than letter order to read, my father on the other hand is very letter order orientated and is consiquently a slower more methodical reader, not slow just slower than us. MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

31-01-2008, 10:15	#7
BBx Reverse SuBo Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 8,673	I thought it was just how you read :/ Though if I read something written by someone who I know has an accent they tend to 'sound' like that in my head too BB x

31-01-2008, 11:52	#8
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	Depends on how I'm reading and what I'm reading. For the most part I don't, I generally read far to fast to be able to hear the voices. Sometimes I'll read books slowly though for various reasons and its then that I hear the voices __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

31-01-2008, 12:03	#9
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	I can't speed read at all without missing the intricacies of the book or article I'm reading. Even when I type I mouth the words as I type (in mouth them in my head). I also attributed it to having learnt how to read and write and speak in numerous languages so it was the only way I could cope/deal with it. It's interesting though. __________________ *No No!*

31-01-2008, 12:30	#10
Haly Do you want to hide in my box? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,941	I don't at all. I can read quite fast though and also used to read an entire kid's book at a time. __________________ Halycopter

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