We explain what reading is and what are the main benefits of this practice. In addition, how the reading process is carried out.
What is reading?
Reading is a way of acquiring knowledge , of apprehending certain information from a code. For the human being , the code par excellence is language . After reading certain symbols, the reader apprehends knowledge, translates them into information within his mind, decodes them. The code has a support that can be visual, auditory or tactile.
Reading implies knowing how to pronounce written words, identifying them and understanding their meaning. On a textual level, reading is being able to understand a text and extract its meaning.
What are the benefits of reading?
People who read more regularly, and acquire what is known as a reading habit , benefit from various advantages. In the first place, these people enrich their inner world, which allows them to understand the external world in a better way . Someone who reads acquires more knowledge and increases their communicative capacity. Words help not only to better understand things but also to make us better understand each other.
On the other hand, reading helps develop our ability to analyze and solve problems , whether intellectual, practical, in daily or work life. On the other hand, it is also an entertainment option for those who choose fiction reading instead of doing other activities such as watching television or surfing the Internet .
Reading as a process
To make the reading process possible, several aspects are put into play. In the first place the physical question, since it is necessary the ocular movement and the fixation of the sight to read . In addition, several internal processes occur within our mind. When we read, what we do is visualize the words. Then, there is a phonation process (conscious or not) in which reading passes into speech and hearing passes into the ear. Finally, the brain comes into play so that the information reaches our brain and we can understand.
Learning to read is a process that begins at a very early age , between the ages of five and six in elementary school. Learning to read opens the doors of education and writing which is another very important process in the intellectual formation of a person. Unfortunately, there are still millions of illiterate people in the world who lose access to world knowledge.
There are different types of reading possible, which adapt to the needs of the reader. A deep reading requires more concentration and attention , as well as more intense intellectual work. A quick read, on the other hand, seeks to detect the most prominent parts of a text and not deepen. A review reading implies a previous reading of analysis , such as a rereading of a text already read.
Reading habits
It is important that as a child the habit of reading is acquired . Nowadays, children, with the impact of new technologies , do not usually embrace readings habits. Therefore, parents and teachers should make the effort to teach them to enjoy readings and reflect.
The human being can read on average 250 words per minute . When the text creates difficulties, the reader can make regressions , that is, reread parts of the text that will help him understand. Reading ability depends on many factors, such as the complexity of the text, readability, font size, paratext, reader concentration, fatigue, certain diseases, effects of alcohol, and so on.
When readings aloud is called vocalization , the words that are being read are articulated in sounds . Readings high speed and understanding are less.
People who cannot use their eyes to read use the Braille method, that is, they read with their hands.
It is also important to mention that we can read music and even mathematical and chemical formulas .
Reading methods
- Sequential readings : It is the traditional way of readings a text, with our own time from when we begin until we finish a text without repetitions or omissions.
- Timely readings : In this case only fragments that are of interest to the reader are read.
- Diagonal readings : The reader reads the special fragments of a text such as the titles, the first sentences of the paragraphs, the typographically highlighted words, highlighted elements, such as citations or formulas, and so on.
- Scanning : It is a quick readings of the text in which individual words are searched.
- Fast readings : It is similar to diagonal readings but seeks greater concentration.
- Photo Readings : In it the reader reads a complete page to get a general idea.
Whatever the way of readings, it is necessary to take into account the importance of readings. A person who does not know how to read is called illiterate . The Dyslexia , on the other hand, is the inability of a person to read.
