Subvocalization | Things About Speed Reading Nobody Tells You

Summary

This video script explores the concept of subvocalization and its impact on reading speed and comprehension. It defines subvocalization as the silent repetition of words while reading, which can be mechanical or mental. The script suggests that while eliminating subvocalization can increase reading speed, it may come at the cost of comprehension, with studies indicating a potential loss of 10-20%. It discusses different techniques for suppressing subvocalization, such as counting or finger tapping, with the latter being more effective in maintaining comprehension. The video encourages viewers to make informed decisions about when to suppress subvocalization based on their reading goals.

Takeaways

• 📚 Subvocalization is the silent repetition of words while reading, which can come in various forms such as whispering, mouth movements without sound, or internal repetition.
• 🔍 Mechanical subvocalization involves physical mouth or tongue movements and can be easily untrained, for example, by chewing gum while reading.
• 🧠 Mental subvocalization is the internal repetition of words in the mind, which is more challenging to suppress and may affect reading speed and comprehension.
• 🚀 Eliminating subvocalization can increase reading speed, but it may come at the cost of comprehension, with potential losses of 10 to 20 percent.
• 🔄 The focus should shift from reading words to understanding the meaning of the text, which can help overcome the unnecessary hindrance of mechanical subvocalization.
• ⚖️ The trade-off between reading speed and comprehension varies depending on the technique used to suppress subvocalization.
• 🔢 Counting while reading is one method to suppress subvocalization, but it may significantly reduce comprehension.
• 🎶 Tapping fingers on a table while reading is a more promising technique that can reduce subvocalization without as much loss in comprehension.
• 🤔 The reason tapping works better than counting is that it prevents the 'mental dispute' for speech resources, allowing for faster reading with less subvocalization.
• 📉 The cost to comprehension when suppressing mental subvocalization can vary, and it's essential to be aware of this when deciding on techniques to use.
• 📚 In summary, mechanical subvocalization can be eliminated to focus on meaning, while mental subvocalization suppression should be approached with caution due to potential comprehension loss.

Q & A

What is subvocalization and why might someone want to eliminate it?

Subvocalization is the silent repetition of words while reading. People may want to eliminate it to read faster, as it can hinder reading speed without necessarily improving comprehension.

What are the different forms of subvocalization mentioned in the script?

The forms include saying or whispering words, whispering every other word, moving the mouth without sound, and having an active tongue while keeping the mouth shut. There's also mental subvocalization, which occurs internally without any physical movement.

Why might focusing on the words rather than their meaning be a problem during reading?

Focusing on words instead of their meaning can slow down reading speed and may not contribute to a deeper understanding of the text, which is often the goal of reading.

How can one untrain mechanical subvocalization according to the script?

Mechanical subvocalization can be untrained by keeping the speech apparatus occupied, such as chewing gum while reading, which helps to eliminate the habit of physically moving the mouth or tongue.

What is mental subvocalization and why is it important to be aware of it?

Mental subvocalization is the internal repetition of words in one's mind without any physical movement. It's important to be aware of it because suppressing it can lead to faster reading but may come at the cost of comprehension.

What is the potential cost of suppressing mental subvocalization in terms of comprehension?

The potential cost of suppressing mental subvocalization can be a loss of comprehension, with studies suggesting a possible decrease of 10 to 20 percent.

What techniques have been studied to suppress mental subvocalization and what were the findings?

Two techniques studied are counting while reading and tapping fingers on a table while reading. Counting may almost completely eliminate subvocalization but at a high cost to comprehension. Tapping fingers seems to allow for faster reading with less subvocalization and better retained comprehension.

Why might counting while reading be less effective in retaining comprehension compared to other techniques?

Counting while reading might be less effective because it creates a 'mental dispute' where the counting and the reading compete for the same cognitive resources, potentially reducing comprehension.

What does the script suggest about the relationship between reading speed and comprehension?

The script suggests that while increasing reading speed by suppressing subvocalization can be beneficial, it's crucial to balance speed with comprehension, as some techniques may sacrifice understanding for speed.

What advice does the script give regarding when to suppress subvocalization and when not to?

The script advises that one should make decisions about suppressing subvocalization based on the situation and the importance of comprehension. It suggests that for general reading, mental subvocalization might already be at a reasonable speed, and suppressing it further is situational and should be done with awareness of the potential comprehension cost.

How does the script define 'mechanical subvocalization' and why is it suggested to eliminate it?

Mechanical subvocalization is defined as the physical act of moving the mouth or tongue while reading without making sound. It is suggested to eliminate it to focus on the meaning of the words rather than the act of reading them, which can improve reading efficiency.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Subvocalization in Reading

This paragraph introduces the concept of subvocalization, which is the silent repetition of words while reading. It explains that subvocalization can be done in various forms, such as whispering, mouth movement without sound, or internal repetition. The paragraph emphasizes that while subvocalization can slow down reading speed, it's not inherently problematic. However, it suggests that excessive focus on words rather than meaning might be an issue. The speaker proposes to explore different types of subvocalization and methods to eliminate them based on scientific evidence, allowing viewers to make informed decisions about when to suppress subvocalization.

Keywords

💡Subvocalization

Subvocalization refers to the silent repetition of words as we read them, either in our minds or through physical mouth movements. It is a key concept in the video as it discusses how this internal speech can impede reading speed. The script mentions different forms of subvocalization, such as whispering words, mouthing without sound, or even active tongue movement without vocal output.

💡Reading Speed

Reading speed is the rate at which a person can comprehend and process written text. The video's theme revolves around improving reading speed by addressing subvocalization. It suggests that by reducing or eliminating subvocalization, one can read faster, although this may come with trade-offs in comprehension.

💡Comprehension

Comprehension in this context is the understanding and interpretation of the text being read. The script warns that while suppressing subvocalization can increase reading speed, it may also decrease comprehension. It is a critical aspect of the video's message, as it highlights the balance between speed and understanding.

💡Mental Subvocalization

Mental subvocalization is an internal form of subvocalization where the reader 'hears' the words in their mind without any physical articulation. The video discusses this as a type of subvocalization that can still occur even when physical mouth movements are absent, and it is the focus of the techniques for improving reading speed without loss of comprehension.

💡Mechanical Subvocalization

Mechanical subvocalization involves physical mouth movements, such as whispering or mouthing words, while reading. The script suggests that this type of subvocalization can be completely eliminated, such as by keeping the mouth occupied with chewing gum, to focus more on the meaning rather than the words themselves.

💡Suppression

Suppression, in the context of the video, refers to the act of reducing or eliminating subvocalization to increase reading speed. The script explores different techniques for suppressing subvocalization and the potential costs to comprehension that may result from these techniques.

💡Counting Technique

The counting technique is a method discussed in the video for suppressing subvocalization by counting numbers aloud or in one's head while reading. The script notes that while this technique can almost completely eliminate subvocalization, it may also significantly reduce comprehension.

💡Tapping Technique

The tapping technique is another method presented in the video for reducing subvocalization. It involves tapping fingers on a surface while reading. The script suggests that this technique is more effective in maintaining comprehension levels compared to counting, as it prevents the 'mental dispute' for speech resources.

💡Speech Resources

Speech resources refer to the cognitive and physical mechanisms involved in speech production. In the context of the video, the term is used to explain why certain techniques, like counting, may reduce comprehension by competing for these resources with the reading process.

💡Inner Narrator

The 'inner narrator' is a metaphor used in the script to describe the internal voice that readers 'hear' when they subvocalize text. The video suggests that by suppressing this inner voice, one can read faster, but at a potential cost to comprehension.

💡Trade-off

Trade-off in the video refers to the balance between reading speed and comprehension. It is highlighted that while techniques to reduce subvocalization can increase speed, they may also decrease the reader's understanding of the text, thus creating a trade-off that readers must consider.

Highlights

Subvocalization can be eliminated to increase reading speed, but it may come at a cost.

Different types of subvocalization include whispering words, mouth movements without sound, and active tongue movement.

Mechanical subvocalization hinders reading speed without necessarily improving comprehension.

Mental subvocalization is the internal repetition of words and is different from mechanical subvocalization.

Suppressing mental subvocalization can lead to a faster reading speed but may reduce comprehension by 10 to 20%.

Chewing gum or keeping the speech apparatus occupied can help eliminate mechanical subvocalization.

Mental subvocalization is already at a reasonable speed and suppressing it further is situational.

Counting while reading can almost completely eliminate subvocalization but at a high cost to comprehension.

Tapping fingers on the table while reading is a more promising technique with less impact on comprehension.

The trade-off between reading speed and comprehension varies with different suppression techniques.

The 'inner narrator' can be suppressed to reduce mental subvocalization and increase reading speed.

The cost of suppressing mental subvocalization on comprehension may be higher or lower depending on the technique used.

Eliminating mechanical subvocalization helps focus on reading for meaning rather than words.

The transcript provides insights into the science behind subvocalization and its effects on reading speed and comprehension.

The transcript suggests that the decision to suppress subvocalization should be based on individual needs and the context of reading.

The transcript encourages viewers to make informed decisions about when to suppress subvocalization based on current scientific understanding.

The transcript concludes by summarizing the key points about subvocalization, its types, and the implications for reading speed and comprehension.

Transcripts

all right chances are that you're

interested in socialization because you

want to read faster you read somewhere

or someone told you that by eliminating

some vocalization

you can actually do that and that is

correct you can suppress the

vocalization

in doing so getting to read faster

however you may not always want to do

that because

this does come at a cost which not

necessarily everyone wants you to be

aware of so we're going to look into

different types of equalization

how to eliminate each and every one of

them and to what extent

it is a good idea to do so all based on

the current science that we have

available so you can make your own

decisions

when to actually do it and when maybe

not all right so just we're on the same

page let's get a definition for what

subvocalization is we can define

civicalization by

repeating the words that we're reading

silently to ourselves and this silent

repeating of words may come in very

different forms meaning that there are

different types of localization you may

be actually saying or whispering all the

words that you're reading or you may be

whispering

every other word you may be also moving

your mouth without uttering an actual

sound

or even keeping your mouth shut but your

tongue

being very active and all these

different types of survivalization and

more

scientists have actually observed and

it's true that by mechanically

reproducing each and every word that

you're reading

you are hindering unnecessarily your

ability to read faster and you should

understand that this is not necessarily

a problem however

it's not doing much for you either the

reason being is that you may be actually

focusing too much

on reading the words instead of focusing

on the meaning of those words the good

thing is that this type of

self-equalization is easily untrainable

just

using a chewing gum while reading or

something sweet something to just keep

your speech

apparatus occupied while reading will

help you a lot

once you take care of that you may

notice that although you're not

whispering words or you're not doing any

apparent mechanical movements with your

mouth or your tongue

you're still so vocalizing but now it's

all in your head

this is the type of cervicalization that

is referred to as mental subvocalization

and this is the type of cervicalization

that we're going to talk about from this

point on and you should know up front

that if this is the type of civilization

that you're doing

you're already probably reading at a

reasonable speed so any additional

suppressing or elimination of

supervisation from this point on

is just a bonus or it's just situational

if you actually push things too hard

this may start costing you comprehension

of the text that you're reading and

there's not a lot of space for debate

around that because we already have the

science to back this up in fact it may

cost you anywhere between 10 to 20

of your comprehension and this is

specifically based on studies

designed to explore exactly that that

being said it's interesting to know that

depending on the way we suppress the

vocalization and the degree to which we

do

that the trade-off in comprehension may

also vary dramatically so

let's take a look at some different

methods that have been studied for

suppressing mental sufficient one way to

do that is by counting while reading so

while reading

you repeatedly count one two three four

one two three four

maybe a little faster maybe a little

slower maybe in your head maybe

out loud in the research that we have

and that was performed it was out loud

and with practice this particular

technique may allow you to

almost completely eliminate

civicalization but what research shows

is

that this one technique may cost you the

most comprehension in return

that's the bad news the good news is

that there was another technique that

was put to the test which seemed

a lot more promising and the technique

is very simple instead of counting while

reading you just

tap your fingers on the table and the

results were surprisingly good

the explanation as to why this works so

much better than counting

is that when counting it's as if two

people are talking over one another and

arguing on which one gets to talk on a

mic the mic representing our speech

resources on the other hand

tapping our fingers while reading seems

to prevent most of this mental dispute

so we get to read faster to

cervicalize less and yet retain higher

comprehension so let's put into

perspective everything that we've

learned first of all we have mechanical

cervicalization which we can totally get

rid of

not because of some other reason but to

make sure that we're focusing on reading

for meaning instead of reading for words

and then we have mental suffocalization

which

if you want to get a better grasp of

what it feels like to read without

listening to that inner narrator all the

time you can suppress that and in doing

so read

faster however you should know that this

comes at the expense of comprehension

that cost may be higher or lower

depending on the technique that you're

using

that is all i have for you today thank

you sincerely for watching

keep it bright and i'll see you next

time