The Silent Reader: Do You Hear a Voice?

Did you know?

You are now reading these words. What goes on in your mind? Do you hear a voice? Many people do. It sounds like their own voice. This is commonly referred to as subvocalization. It’s like whispering to yourself. Some people have this voice permanently. A surprise for many readers. It makes us wonder what we actually know when it comes to reading. So, let’s analyze this inner voice further.

The Inner Reader: What is subvocalization

While reading silently, your brain is still busy. Sometimes your vocal cords will even move a little. Your tongue might twitch a bit, too. These small movements won’t make any noise. It’s a fairly quiet operation. This is called subvocalization, and it is a normal part of the reading process. Many people use subvocalization as a normal part of their reading process. So they “hear” the word, which allows them to understand, or to help them concentrate as they’re processing a sentence. And some people will even mouth the words as they read silently.

This subvocalization habit usually begins fairly early in a person’s development. They usually learn to interpret text first by reading aloud, then later they learn to read silently, which means they slowly stop using their vocal cords when processing text, but that ‘voice’ is often left over. Subvocalization can enhance reading comprehension because it connects sound to meaning for someone reading. Therefore, it is considered a highly useful reading tool because it helps to process text efficiently.

Read more: How 1 Minute of Anger Impacts Your Health

Not Everyone Hears It: Different Reading Styles

Not everybody uses subvocalization. Some readers do not hear a voice. They read visually. They scan a word with their eyes very quickly and grasp the meaning at a glance. This is photoreading. It is much quicker. They see the words as pictures and comprehend without sound. Photoreading is usually done with speed reading.

There are many differences between readers. Some hear their voice loud. Some hear a gentle hum, and some do not hear anything. This shows that we are all very different, and our brains work differently. Each person thinks differently. Both methods are proper ways to read. Neither is better than the other; they are just different styles.

The Brain’s Symphony: A Psychological Perspective

Subvocalization is an access point to the language centres of our brain. When we speak, our brains’ language centres are turned on. When we read aloud, our brains’ language centres are activated. Also, when we subvocalize, our brain’s language centres are also turned on. Subvocalization is like a little rehearsal in your head that can activate your brain to decode words and better understand complex sentences. So, this can even be to your advantage if you’ve read a complicated scientific paper; then you most likely will be subvocalizing even more to break down difficult ideas. Subvocalization plays a role in memory retention.

In addition to the above, this inner voice (or inner reader) impacts our emotional reaction to the text. If we “hear” a character’s dialogue, it feels more real to us, and we can actualize what the character’s tone may be. Then we can connect to their emotion, which immerses us deeper into the text and into the character. Yes, as a result, we (the reader) are left more connected and empathetic. Hence, a thrilling novel feels more thrilling, a sad tale feels more sad. This psychological involvement adds to our reading experience. It produces a visceral sensation of storytelling coming alive within us.

When it helps and when it hinders – advantages and disadvantages

Subvocalization has advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages (when it helps):

1. It helps with comprehension.
2. It helps with memory.
3. Also, it helps in understanding complex text.
4. It helps us appreciate stories more.
5. It does a great job of reducing distractions.
6. Many students rely on it for studying.
7. They find it to be helpful for their learning.

Disadvantages (when it hinders):

1. It can hinder reading speed.
2. Your reading speed is your speaking speed.
3. This slows down the overall pace at which you can read.
4. Speed readers often attempt to stop it.
5. They quickly learn to process words in their mind visually.
6. They attempt to “turn off” the inner dialog and voice.
7. Then they can read much faster.
8. So, its usefulness depends on your objective.
9. Subvocalization is a tremendous benefit for deep study.
10. Also, subvocalization is a tremendous disadvantage for reading to scan.

Read more: Shedding Roles: Uncover Your Core Identity

The Science of Sound: New Research

Researchers use special instruments to investigate reading. They use fMRI scans to assess brain activation. They study eye movements. Also, they even assess tiny muscle twitches. Recent research from 2023, at the University of Cambridge, shows vocal cord activity in silent readers. Not all readers utilize the same level of vocal cord activity. So, this is proof that subvocalization is a real process in the brain; it is not something that we make up in our minds.

Another recent study, in 2024, used eye-tracking data. This report found that readers who subvocalize will often read at a somewhat slower reading speed than those who do not subvocalize, but they tend to have better recall of richer, more detail-laden content. This indicates that there may be a trade-off: speed versus depth of comprehension. When we understand this, we can make better decisions to reflect how we want to read.

Why Does It Matter to Understand Your Reading Style

Understanding how you read is helpful. If you subvocalize while reading, that is okay. It helps you understand what you are reading. If you’re reading faster, you may want to eliminate this. So, here are a few suggestions:

1. Chew Gum – Chewing gum keeps your mouth busy. It makes it impossible to subvocalize.
2. Read Faster – By forcing your eyes to move faster, you are giving your inner voice less time.
3. Use a Pointer – Using your finger or pointer to guide your eyes down the page means you focus on moving your eyes forward.
4. Practice Mindfulness – While reading, notice when the voice comes in. Try to consciously quiet it down, but only if that practice is helpful to you.

In the end, your reading path is unique. What works for one person may not work for you. Accepting your reading style is vital. Understanding the benefits of your particular reading style will help, but experimenting with new ways of reading will improve the efficiency of your reading and will ultimately make it a more enjoyable experience.

YOUR INNER WORLD – The Ongoing Discovery

The human mind is truly fascinating. Reading is a multi-functional activity. Reading is a complex activity involving multiple parts of the brain. The inner voice is a fraction of the reading process relating to how our brains function, espousing connections between sound, meaning, and comprehension. Hence, whether you hear it or not, your brain is reading. It is getting stimuli into the brain and then processing the information, and actively building your understanding. So, keep reading! Keep discovering; keep learning about the amazing mind you possess!