Speed reading involves various methods to quickly process written material, but most reduce comprehension and enjoyment of reading. Techniques like chunking and limiting subvocalization can increase reading speed, but may not be effective for analyzing literature. Speed reading programs vary in usefulness and work best when learned at a young age and practiced regularly.
Some people are under the impression that speed reading refers to a specific method that can help readers quickly process written material and fully understand what they have read. There are actually many different methods of teaching people to speed read, and virtually all of them reduce comprehension. It can also reduce the enjoyment of the reading process, as books are quickly picked up for relevant detail rather than read verbatim.
Most speed reading programs involve a process called chunking. Instead of reading each word, words are taken in “chunks,” perhaps sentences or even entire paragraphs. The ability to recognize each word as a symbol of meaning and put them together to understand the text is the main focus. Recognizing key points in a text is also valuable, as you get to the gist of the material and can answer questions about it. Some programs claim that people can read around 2000 wpm with great comprehension. This is unproven, but it is true that a fast reader can go back and re-read material faster than someone who maybe reads a book once they finish reading word-for-word.
When most people read, we do something called subvocalization. This is essentially saying a word in our heads. Because most of us learn to read aloud before reading silently, subvocalization tends to persist. Even though we are no longer reading aloud, we are reading aloud in silence. Most people perform some type of speed reading techniques without being taught. For example, some words are very familiar, like “the, a, and,” and we don’t really subvocalize them. Many techniques and programs try to free people from subvocalization tactics as this slows down the reading process.
Some speed reading programs use subvocalization on a limited basis and people “quietly read aloud” key words or phrases in their head. There is much debate about the extent to which this process should be used in speed reading programs. What is clear is that subvocalization tends to improve reader comprehension and helps us retain the material we have read; so it’s useful.
You will find numerous speed reading programs, some in the form of computer programs. There are many differences regarding the usefulness of these programs and the reading speed in general. Also, most programs work best with young people. You’ll be a faster reader if you learn to do this as a youngster instead of an adult. It also usually needs to be practiced, because it can be forgotten.
There are some things that speed reading isn’t good for. For example, if you’re taking a literature class, you might need to analyze details, descriptions of passages, the use of specific language, and so much more. If you’re glossing over descriptions and only perhaps understand the theme of a book, you can’t analyze well. You might have the basics down, but you can miss out on a lot of the little details that turn simple writing into literature. While speed reading can be useful in some settings, when you need to memorize or analyze work, subvocalization and word-for-word reading are likely to be more effective.
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