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Subvocalization is that little inner voice that we can hear when we read (we don't all hear it). Some people think it's necessary to get rid of it, others don't...

- Reading -

Reading is partially based on language, but the trick is that these two exercises do not involve the same areas of the brain, which means that the reading process requires visual, aural and mental strategies that are different from language.

Reading is a matter of visual recognition of the word by the brain, regardless of the order of the letters. A small example:

« Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and we can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter, but the wrod as a wlohe ».

When we read a word or a group of words, our gaze is fixed. This « fixation » takes about 0.25 seconds. Then the eye moves to the next group of words. This « saccade » will take about 0.1 seconds. Then, unconsciously, we make small quick rereads to understand the whole thing. Speed-reading techniques try to suppress these reading reflexes in order to save time. This is also why it's always a good idea to have someone else read over a text we've written, because our brain knows what we meant to write and applies a self-correction when we reread ourselves.

- Fast forward -

Mentally pronouncing the words read would prevent the reader from exceeding 300 words per minute, which is more or less the speed of reading aloud (referential speed).

There are techniques that allow us to read faster and exceed 300 words per minute, regardless of subvocalization :

Increasing our vocabulary : The more vocabulary we have, the faster our brain will recognize words.

Read as fast as possible : It is not about understanding, but only about going as fast as possible, in order to increase our eye speed.

- Let’s demonstrate agility -

Thought comes before words (language), it is the condition for using words. Once the thought is elaborated, words can be chosen to express it. We should therefore be able to subvocalize faster than we speak, by :

reading words in groups ;

using a visual guide (finger or pencil) ;

reducing fixation times ;

having active (rather than passive) reading.

Let's adjust our speed to what we are reading : Read easy passages quickly, and slow down on less familiar words that require time to decipher.

- Trying to get rid of it -

To put an end to subvocalization and increase our reading speed, we need to practise reading exercises regularly. This will require patience, perseverance and concentration.

At first, let’s practise for a few minutes a day so as not to exhaust ourselves. Then gradually increase the time so that it becomes easier.

Let's settle down in a quiet place with no distractions, clear your mind and try to suppress that inner voice by :

mentally saying « hmmm » ;

mentally counting ;

holding a finger in front of our mouth to check that our lips aren't moving.

- A misconception -

It's important to know that fast readers no longer subvocalize only when they read quickly, as this phenomenon returns when they reduce their speed.

Speed-reading saves time, but this dream of velocity is an illusion. Elisabeth Schotter, a cognitive psychologist from San Diego, is categorical : « No human being can read 1,000 or 2,000 words per minute and maintain a constant and similar level of comprehension at 200 or 400 words per minute ».

Rereading the same passage several times is normal, and Elisabeth Schotter insists: « Avoiding rereading certain words takes away from the reader an important tool for understanding the text. What's more, our brain takes advantage of the 0.1 second pause to continue its cognitive and comprehension work ».

Speed-reading is essentially a question of sorting and skimming : We skip certain words, select certain parts, and focus on the elements we are looking for. This can be a good thing in situations where only « global » comprehension is required, but it can play tricks on us, as when reading emails or short texts where the whole must be understood in order to respond correctly or convey it as truthfully as possible.

Conclusions

Between e-mails, social network feeds, and the growing press articles and pile of books to read, who wouldn't dream of doubling their reading speed?

According to a study in the « Scandinavian Journal of Psychology », 19.3% of people do not subvocalize. But we don't know whether the suppression is due to the different techniques or whether it's the fact of reading quickly that makes it disappear. In the end, it's a bit of a chicken and the egg story.

But speed-reading is « cognitively unnatural », it's not a natural instinct, unlike speech. It involves numerous mental and visual processes which rely on language. And most speed-reading techniques ignore these essential processes.

What do you think?