The 20 most important types of reading

Reading is a pleasure for millions of people in the world, and it is together with writing one of the cognitive skills that has allowed being has begun to be able to register and understand what has happened before his own existence: the invention of writing and with it of the Reading supposes the passage from prehistory to history, and even before this there were already communicative acts at the pictorial level that could be "read".

But reading is an activity that can be carried out in different ways and for different purposes, something that allows us to talk about a lot of reading types. Throughout this article we are going to give an account of them.

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Main types of reading (and their characteristics)

There are many different ways that we can find to read and understand written material. Although we are not going to indicate all the existing types of reading, we will now see the main ones that can be carried out.

1. Oral reading

We know as oral or vocal reading that type of reading in which the subject expresses through the voice what is read. In other words, oral reading is what we do when we read aloud.

It is commonly used when reading something to another person or when we intend to use sound as a clue memory or as a method to be able to concentrate on the content of the reading even in poor conditions optimal.

2. Subvocal or silent reading

It is called silent or subvocal reading that which is carried out silently and internally. We do not produce any sound, although we reproduce it mentally.

It is a type of reading that requires the ability to concentrate and requires a certain mastery of the ability to read fluent, since the visual material is interpreted directly without translating it externally into sound (passing it directly at the internal).

3. Fast reading

Fast or superficial reading is characterized by being carried out quickly but without stopping or delving into what was read. It allows to get an idea of ​​what we are reading, the theme and perhaps the basic structure, but in a general way and without taking into account more profound or complex aspects.

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4. Sequential reading

A reading that is carried out without haste and taking into account the entire text, without skipping anything but without stopping to reflect in depth on any of its sections.

5. Intensive reading

Another type of reading is intensive, which implies that an extensive and conscientious reading of the entire text is carried out and in which every detail has been thoroughly reviewed.

6. Involuntary or unconscious reading

The involuntary reading, as the term tells us, is the one that occurs unconsciously and without the will of the subject to read the content.

This reading implies a certain capacity for reading comprehension, since requires being able to process the written message before we even realize we are reading. This is what happens when we read something by accident. An example can be found in almost any advertising product, since it is something that is used in marketing with outgoing stimuli and with little letter.

7. Mechanical reading

We call mechanical reading that which is carried out automatically but voluntarily, transforming symbols and written messages into sounds. It goes from graphemes to phonemes. However, there need not even be an understanding of the message. It would be the first of the types of reading to be learned, since it is the necessary previous step to be able to understand what is read.

8. Comprehensive or responsive reading

Comprehensive reading is characterized by the fact that the material read is understood by the reader, such that the act of reading implies the integration of knowledge and a valid interpretation of the material read. Understand supposes be able to draw conclusions from the material extracted from the text after grouping the read material and extracting the main ideas from the text. It also requires having sufficient mechanical reading capacity to exist.

9. Selective reading

Similar to speed reading, selective reading is characterized by the fact that the reader does not analyze the entire text, but instead performs a reading saltatoria based on the most relevant parts such as the concepts considered key, the titles or elements that the reader is searching so direct.

10. Reflective reading

Reflective reading is characterized by the fact that, through reading the text, the person who reads it is capable not only of drawing conclusions and assessing the adequacy of the text, but also it can also allow you to think and reflect on your own knowledge, weaknesses and strengths beyond what can be extracted and valued from the material itself.

11. Literal reading

This type of reading is characterized by the fact that the information extracted from the text is processed without performing any kind of inference, so that only what the words mean directly is taken into account written. The possible existence of double meanings or different interpretations is not valued beyond what the message explicitly means.

12. Inferential reading

Unlike what happens in literal reading, inferential reading starts with the material that is implicit in the text, even if it does not appear directly in the text.

The ideas and meanings obtained not only from the direct text but from the context in which it occurs are used the material, the possible intentions of the writers or the knowledge that the reader has when respect. It allows to establish conclusions that are not found in the text itself, as well as interpreting double meanings and other meanings of the content.

13. Critical reading

Critical reading implies an inferential reading of written material to which in turn an evaluative nuance is added by the reader: it is not only about reading but also about analyzing the text. In addition to interpreting the written information, not only what is written but also what can be extract from it, and especially if what is read is valid and reliable according to the point of view and the criterion of the reader.

14. Informative reading

We consider informative reading to be one whose main objective is to obtain and / or transmission of knowledge, the purpose of the reading act being to incorporate the data obtainable of the material. It is not intended to be entertaining or enjoyable, although it may be secondary.

15. Recreational reading

Recreational reading is mainly characterized by the fact that is carried out for the sole purpose of entertainment and enjoyment, without pretending to receive real information or improve knowledge (although this may be achieved, it will not be the real purpose of the act of reading but a secondary benefit).

16. Scientific reading

We can call scientific reading that which is intended to be of interest and application at a scientific level, which implies a comprehensive and critical reading in addition to the realization of an extensive search for information that can be verifiable. It also aims to obtain knowledge, usually on a specific topic previously identified. It can include the reading and interpretation of statistical data and formulas typical of the different scientific disciplines.

17. Phonetic reading

Phonetic reading is characterized by not being based so much on the search for a meaning to the content and material written but is based more on working with the sound, articulation and phonetics with which the words.

18. Musical reading

Music reading is a type of reading that differs from the rest in the fact that in its case the symbology that is interpreted does not focus on seeking a meaning at the concept level, but mainly provides information about a sound, in addition to its rhythm and the melody in which it should be read. It's the kind of reading by which musicians interpret scores.

19. Reading braille

Braille reading is a type of reading that has the peculiarity that it is not based on the interpretation of symbols perceived through vision, but the symbolism used to read is perceived through the touch. This system is the main reading mechanism of the blind population.

20. Pictographic reading

Pictographic reading is called that reading activity in which the subject does not interpret graphemes in the form of letters, but reads from pictures and pictorial symbols that represent ideas concrete. In fact, the first written forms of communication were of the pictographic type, since examples of it could be found practically from prehistory.

Bibliographic references:

• Weaver, C. (1994). Reading process and practice: from socio-psycholinguistics to whole language. Portsmouth (New Hampshire): Heinemann.