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A Speed Reading Learning Technique
Learn a pictographic language without learning how to pronunce it's pictograms
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Subvocalization is considered to be a major obstacle in learning speed reading. It occurs when we don't understand the text well unless we silently "pronunce" the words to hear them in order to comprehend it. Though this is just a habit, it may be quite hard to overcome.

One way to overcome it may be not to know how to pronunce the words at all. For example, to learn to read and write a new language without learning how to speak it.


Inyuki, Oct 13 2007

Wikipedia - Speed reading http://en.wikipedia.../wiki/Speed_reading
Max. reading rate mentioned: 25,000 wpm [Inyuki, Oct 13 2007]

Blindsight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blindsight
[zen_tom, Oct 13 2007]

Wikipedia - Words per minute http://en.wikipedia...ki/Words_per_minute
Max. speech rate mentioned: 400 wpm [Inyuki, Oct 13 2007]

[link]






       //For example, to learn to read and write a new language without learning how to speak it.//   

       How is that possible? By learning a language, you will naturally be substituting your own words for those depicted by the pictograms.   

       Subvocalising something is what happens when you conciously think about something - when information can pass directly through the conciousness filter and be processed directly by the brain - that's when you become capable of speed reading. It's a matter of detaching that layer of filtration, absorbing the information, and then being able to retrieve the data from wherever it's been stored.   

       It's all very zen - but it's exactly the same process as when we learn to do anything really well - like playing tennis, or driving a car, or playing a musical instrument.   

       To do anything well, our conciousness must relinquish control of the process, leaving our bodies free to be guided by the much faster, much slicker subconcious part of our mind.   

       Perhaps you could figure out a way to teach someone the language subliminally - but then they wouldn't be aware of it.   

       Some studies of people with blindsight (a condition where a person is unable to conciously see anything, while it is apparent that his vision works perfectly well for his subconciousness) show that it's quite possible for someone to 'know' something, without being aware of it.

zen_tom, Oct 13 2007
  

       //To do anything well, our conciousness must relinquish control of the process//   

       I don't believe that to be universally true. For example, a lot of advanced driving techniques are based on undoing unconcious driving. A key aspect is driving to a plan and not on (vastly inferior) autopilot.   

       'Normal' driving is easier, yes, but not as good.   

       The fairly obvious point I'm making is that the quality of some activities benefits from concious thought.

boysparks, Oct 13 2007
  

       Maybe - take your example - someone having unconsiously learnt to drive in a safe area will have little experience of people jumping out into the road, or other hazards, and their 'plan' might be more short-sighted than someone who learnt to drive somewhere a bit more dynamic.   

       In other words, all those things that might be taught on an advanced driving course, will eventually become automatic themselves. You've not replaced inferior autopilot with superiour concious awareness - but rather updated one autopilot for a better (but just as automatic) one.

zen_tom, Oct 13 2007
  

       According to the rather badly-written Wikipedia page, research shows (see Wikipedia page for citation) that: "Subvocalizing will only decrease the reading rate if it is accompanied by obviously visible movements of the mouth, jaw or throat."   

       Also, is it likely that anyone would want to learn to speed-read in a foreign language but not want to learn to speak it too? And also too, if you learn what "Ville du kæmpe for demokratiet, hvis du levede i diktaturstaten Danmark, hvor Anders Fogh Rasmussen var enehersker?" means, is it remotely possible that you won't at least try to pronounce it subvocally? I think not.

MaxwellBuchanan, Oct 13 2007
  

       [MaxwellBuchanan], if one knows alphabet, he or she will inevitably subvocalize. One needs something else than his or her known alphabet.

Inyuki, Oct 13 2007
  

       True, but I don't think anyone is ever going to want (or maybe even be able) to learn a language with no idea of pronunciation.

MaxwellBuchanan, Oct 13 2007
  

       //but rather updated one autopilot for a better (but just as automatic) one.//   

       Sorry, but no. I'm talking about a technique that specifically raises the level of concious thought applied to the task.   

       Yes some techniques one learns can be automated, but the key aspect (of the sort of driving I'm talking about) is to retain concious thought whilst driving. The 'plan' is something that has to by dynamically created while you drive, according to very specific local conditions. It can never become automatic.   

       Due to the level of concentration required it is bloody exhausting to keep up for anything more than an hour (it feels like taking an exam) and when you do lapse towards autopilot it really shows.   

       Apologies for sounding like a driving bore; my point remains: I believe some things are done better with concious thought.

boysparks, Oct 15 2007
  

       Back on topic, as zen_tom: surely //you will naturally be substituting your own words for those depicted by the pictograms//

boysparks, Oct 15 2007
  

       I'm not so sure about that. The pictograms could simply become fully visual symbols, without any involvement of the ears/mouth control systems. It would be similar to language as learned by the deaf.   

       And maybe you could learn to read and write in this language. What an interesting question!   

       [+++]

GutPunchLullabies, Oct 15 2007
  
      
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