Reading

Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of the symbols of a written language, by means of sight or touch.

The ability to read (and write) is called literacy.

For educators and researchers, reading is a multifaceted process involving such areas as word recognition, orthography (spelling), punctuation, alphabetics, phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and motivation.

Other types of reading and writing, such as pictograms (e.g., a hazard symbol or an emoji), are not based on speech-based writing systems. The common link is the interpretation of symbols to extract the meaning from the visual notations or tactile signals (e.g., braille).

There is a growing body of evidence which illustrates the importance of reading for pleasure for both educational purposes as well as personal development.

Overview

Reading is generally an individual activity, done silently, although on occasion a person reads out loud for other listeners, or reads aloud for one's own use (e.g., for better comprehension). Before the reintroduction of separated text (spaces between words) in the late Middle Ages, the ability to read silently was considered rather remarkable.

Major predictors of an individual's ability to read both alphabetic and non-alphabetic scripts are oral language skills, phonological awareness, rapid automatized naming and verbal IQ.

As a leisure activity, children and adults read for enjoyment and interest. In the US, it was reported in 2022 that less than half of adults reported reading a book in the past 12 months.