Hacker News Reader

Comment by idiotsecant | Hacker News Reader

I think you're conflating different things. Many people do not have an internal 'narrator'. I am one. I don't have a voice in my head saying words, ever. I do definitely have something like a playback of other people saying things, though. Words are still in there in the form of recall, they are just not part of the executive layer in a way I have access to.

View on HN

What about when you're reading? You don't have a voice in your head saying the words?

Only if it is a very hard text that I have to move slowly thru. For normal reading, no not at all. If I am trying to read something faster than is comfortable, I will periodically emphasize the thing, the idea, behind a key word, so I am more likely to remember it at the useful time. Not verbal and there are many many times when I can describe the thing but not recall the normal word. Like the flat thing with keys in it instead of keyboard. Or even weird quasi-synonyms that serve to muddy the waters as far as sharing my thoughts with others goes.

No. Do you? Like you hear words in your head?

Obviously there is a language layer in there somewhere, but my 'driver' doesn't access it. I don't think in words, I don't have an internal narrative, and when I'm reading I don't even 'see' individual words, in the same way you aren't thinking about your ankle muscles when you're hitting the brakes while driving.

I definitely can consciously make words, but it's 'me' deliberately deciding to make them and hold them in my head. It wouldn't happen naturally.

Yes, which maybe is a disadvantage because it limits the speed I read to the speed I can articulate the words in my head. But most of the time I'm not consciously aware of it, just like people who go one step further and move their lips are usually not aware (I assume).

Reply on news.ycombinator.com