Internal voice when reading

Submitted by 1__ajm t3_11znoo4 in books

Do you have the internal voice speaking the words in your head when you read? I'm a painfully slow reader, and I've come to the conclusion, it's because I read like that. It's frustrating. I want to read more books, but I take so long to get through them. What takes a friend a week might take me several months. Do you have any tactics to help improve my reading speed?

For context, I'm native English reading English books, never been diagnosed with dyslexia or other. I've read intelligence is little to do with reading speed, but I guess I'm bright enough. I've read books since I was very young and I'm mid-30s now. I'm actually a teacher and most of my students read faster than I can. I'm perfectly fine reading aloud. No difference in speed between real books or Kindle.

Cheers

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SilverChances t1_jdd5yze wrote

This is a very interesting subject. Maybe you already know, but it has a name: subvocalization. It can be physically measured: our speech apparatus makes little movements while we're "hearing" this voice in our heads!

Some claim it actually improves retention of information.

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CrossXFir3 t1_jdd7hs2 wrote

I'm sure it does. I can read both ways, but I find a read both more enjoyable and I find myself able to really take in the information more thoroughly when I ready with subvocalization.

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1__ajm OP t1_jdd697p wrote

I hadn't heard its name. Thanks I'll do some (slow) reading about it tomorrow, but do you know if there are any links with subvocalisation and reading speed?

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SilverChances t1_jddaan8 wrote

It's complicated! (I'm not an expert, just a curious person who likes to read about reading strategies.) People who subvocalize are sometimes trained to stop as a strategy for reading faster. However, it's important to note subvocalization is a matter of degree: it's not on or off, but comes in many levels of intensity. It seems to affect certain types of comprehension and memory retention, particularly increasing comprehension at a high level and retention into short-term memory. It's not clear it's such a bad thing, but maybe being able to turn it off (or up and down) might also be a good skill to have?

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FlattopMaker t1_jddy13y wrote

I've noticed when reading text in a language I'm uncertain about, I tend to subvocalize instead of speed read, but I've learned to turn it off when pressed.

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lydiardbell t1_jdd7u06 wrote

Learning to skip subvocalisation is a big part of most speed reading strategies, but it's worth noting that speed reading (not to be confused with just reading fast) is also usually are correlated with lower comprehension (not necessarily bad comprehension - just lower, in the same individual).

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kleebish t1_jdeok13 wrote

I took a famous speed reading course. Speed reading is junk. You are better off with a synopsis than skimming a page at 900 wpm.

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Bradburys_spectre717 t1_jdd9utc wrote

How do you skip subvocalization? I read slower, always have, and it sounds like it is due to my subvocalization

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Mentalcomposer t1_jdd82g6 wrote

I hear the words I’m reading in my head, but I actually read too fast and find I don’t retain what I read sometimes.

So I have to purposely make myself read slower. And if I don’t understand what I read, I read it very slowly, out loud, pausing to make sure I’m getting it.

I’m curious tho. Have you tried to purposely read faster? What happens? Do you retain the info?

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FlattopMaker t1_jddyeg6 wrote

having to re-read something slowly to check for comprehension has been an issue for me sometimes. I get impatient with it because I need to read large volumes of materials quickly and don't retain information as quickly when I hear it compared to visual processing. I literally see the page (or email or ebook) in my head when I want to recall something.

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1__ajm OP t1_jdd8ztr wrote

I've tried and it's like I'm tripping up over myself. The internal words get a bit jumbled and i miss details. I'm probably trying to go too fast actually, I tried with your comment.

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SilenceEtchedOnAWall t1_jdd5y5g wrote

Yes, always.

I'm a very fast reader by wpm when I'm not spending more time on Reddit than actually reading the book, which is rare.

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CrossXFir3 t1_jdd7ah2 wrote

Oh yeah, I get it. I can actually fairly reasonably speed read, but honestly I enjoy reading slower and mentally listening to the book ya know? It used to bother me, but honestly, why? I find when I read like that I absorb the details so much better than seemingly a lot of people. I'll talk about a book with someone and it's often clear that I took in the little details and maybe even saw more foreshadowing and setup than some people that read much faster.

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1__ajm OP t1_jdd8juy wrote

Yeah, I get that and you're right, I do like the details and imagery I get in my head.

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diller9132 t1_jddusjt wrote

I especially enjoy when I'm reading and narrate a scene "incorrectly" or not in line with my characterizations. Then I go back and read the same lines a different way until it fits in the "mind movie" better.

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Bridalhat t1_jdekmzk wrote

I read fast enough for my own taste (I’ve never tested it—the big hurdle is finding time to read but I don’t think I’m much above or below average) and I like that I have an internal narrator! I’ve spent a lot of time reading poetry in French, Latin, and Greek and think that good writing should be “heard,” if that makes sense. I write casually and will delete if something would be difficult or awkward to say out loud, and I have to assume at least some of the people I am reading do the same. Good prose requires a good ear.

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aculady t1_jddbqk0 wrote

I have always had internal narration, and prior to my TBI, I could read about 100 pages an hour of technical information with better than 95% retention. Reading fiction was faster. It wasn't uncommon for me to blow through six or seven 400-500 page novels in an average weekend while still having plenty of time to do other stuff. So I don't think that listening to the "audiobook in your head" is necessarily the reason for a slower reading speed.

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Neat-Cold-7235 t1_jdfo66v wrote

I couldn’t imagine reading and not hearing the words in my head tbh

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1__ajm OP t1_jdgzzak wrote

Same, it would be weird. My only issue is, my internal voice takes is sweet damn time

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Neat-Cold-7235 t1_jdh1baz wrote

Lmao same and I do this weird little thing where I mouth the words as I read them. I can’t read in public because it’s too embarrassing…my brain reads a little faster then my mouth can keep up so it just looks like I’m aggressively chewing gum.

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swordmaster006 t1_jdd5mck wrote

Sometimes, but sometimes not. Sometimes I like the internal reading voice, almost like a narration to an audiobook or something. Sometimes I'm reading very visually, like a movie in my mind. Sometimes I'm reading it quickly, like I'm just absorbing the information on the page. IDK, it's kinda hard to describe. I don't think I decide consciously, it's kinda whatever feels good in the moment.

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1__ajm OP t1_jdd5zky wrote

Mine is always on. Even for news papers, comments on Reddit, everything.

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Marcuse0 t1_jdd9qbz wrote

I can read that way, I find it helps me to slow down a bit and understand what I'm reading rather than skimming. I can read very well without doing so, so I don't misunderstand what I'm reading but I often find it harder to recall specifics of things I've read rather than the gist.

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kleebish t1_jdeo7yu wrote

I was an english teacher for years, and I read aloud to my students a lot (high students loved being read to.) I still read in my head as if I were reading aloud. I know it's slow, but it's so pleasurable. But I can ONLY read well-written books. The slow pace is painful for a crap book, but intense and wonderful with a good one. I will read fast if it's junk I have to get through for some reason.

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1__ajm OP t1_jdf2t4z wrote

I think I feel the same. Badly written books seem to be like a mental nails across a chalk board.

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1__ajm OP t1_jdf3e3u wrote

Appreciate all the comments. Interesting that a lot of you have varying degrees of internal voice. It seems I should be able to turn it up and down with a bit of practice. I guess more than anything, it's a relief that it's normal. If anyone's looking for a new book, my last read was: Flowers for Algernon - highly recommended.

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kurousugo t1_jddbbd5 wrote

This is very interesting as I remember a relative of mine saying they do this and have the same issue. But I wasn't aware this was a thing as I never read like that. Maybe you could try to move your eyes swiftly from the beginning of a line to its end (while trying to retain as much information as possible)? Doing this over and over might increase your reading speed little by little. If you focus too much on little details often I feel that eats away at your reading speed.

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euegnia t1_jddd6j8 wrote

I haven't had an internal voice for a long time when reading. BUT there are certain books where the characters are so tangible it isn't hard for me to imagine their voices. When this happens, I enjoy slowing down my reading so I can hear all the voices, idk if that makes any sense.

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heykittums t1_jdde77s wrote

When I get really into what I'm reading, no. Most of the time, yes.

I used an app a while ago that claimed to help increase reading speed by reducing subvocalization. To practice, I would read a passage while counting out loud. Then started reading while counting in my head. I don't know that it really helped me, but worth a shot if this is something you're concerned about.

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JimmiRustle t1_jddielj wrote

Well the worst is when they disagree and start arguing.

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RabbitInHeadlights t1_jddpkw1 wrote

Yes I've always read like you. Every word, every sound, every motion my brain can muster.

I love reading, but it can take me weeks and months on a book or two.

My wife apparently just kind of "understands" the words as her eyes follow the page and she's insanely fast.

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Skaffel t1_jddqcyg wrote

I also have an internal voice while reading, and I read pretty fast. I don't visualize anything (aphantasia) so the internal voice is crucial for me to get immersed with what I am reading.

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inforapenny11 t1_jddta8l wrote

I can get rid of it by skimming or trying to see the words in blocks. But unless I consciously try to get rid of it or the book is so entertaining I skim and forget to savor it, the internal voice is there. I think you can read fast even with the internal voice though.

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philosophyofblonde t1_jdduxah wrote

Just because you have internal narration doesn’t mean it moves at the same speed as regular speech. Normal speech is limited by the speed at which you can physically move your mouth, not by how fast you can comprehend words/parse meaning. My internal narration moves at roughly 2.5x-3x speed if I were to change my settings. Maybe even a bit higher. But at that speed it sounds garbled to actually listen to a sped-up recording. At the same time I adjust audio to at least 1.6 to 2.2 depending on how slow the narrator is, which is much closer to normal speaking speed than a dramatized narration. The speed at just the regular setting is intolerably slow to me, but I’m a fast talker and always have been.

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1__ajm OP t1_jdf2577 wrote

Is tmyour internal speed a practised thing, something you make happen, or does it just naturally happen?

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couldbeyouornot t1_jdecgcx wrote

there's no race. is your comprehension very high? when I read fast without the voice I don't remember anything.

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1__ajm OP t1_jdf2mzx wrote

I agree, time won't however. I have a very high comprehension and love reading. Just would like to get the chance to read more

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couldbeyouornot t1_jdfe1fs wrote

My suggestion would be to just carry one around and default to it more often.

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okiegirl22 t1_jdemthd wrote

I don’t have the internal narration, voice in my head, or whatever it is that most other people seem to experience when reading. I read quickly, I guess, but my retention suffers. The details of a book leave my brain when I’m done reading it, ha ha!

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TheAirNomad11 t1_jddz0tr wrote

YES! I'm glad I'm not the only one! I recently have been reading a lot more and realized I am a bit of a slow reader. I timed myself while reading a book recently then looked up the word count at the end. Google says 200-300 WPM is average and I was at 206 for that book (but I think knowing I was timing myself made me try to read slightly faster so I'm probably just under 200). I do have the internal voice which might be what's slowing me down. I was talking to some friends though and they said between the important or action packed parts of books, they almost skim through. They don't read every detail, which bugged me. I read every word and every detail of the book.

I have been trying to decide if I want to try to train myself to read faster to be able to read more books but I think it is better to read it at my own pace and enjoy what I'm reading. Other comments talked about subvocalization, I'm interested to learn about that though.

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