The 20 most important types of reading

Different ways of reading graphic sign patterns, whether they are texts with letters or not.

Reading is a pleasure for millions of people in the world, and is, together with writing, one of the cognitive skills that has allowed human beings to begin to record and understand what has happened before their own existence: the invention of writing and with it of reading represents the passage from prehistory to history, and even before this there were already communicative acts at a pictorial level that could be "read".

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

Main types of reading (and their characteristics)

There are many different ways of reading and understanding written material. Although we are not going to indicate all the existing types of reading, below we will 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 externalizes 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 the sound as a memory clue or as a method to concentrate on the content of the reading even in less than optimal conditions.

2. Subvocal or silent reading

Silent or subvocal reading is that which is carried out silently and in an internalized manner. We do not produce any sound, although we reproduce it mentally..

This is a type of reading that requires the ability to concentrate and that requires a certain mastery of the ability to read fluently, since it goes directly to interpreting the visual material without translating it externally to sound (passing it directly to the internal level).

3. Fast reading

Fast or superficial reading is characterized by the fact that it is carried out in a fast way but without stopping or going deeper into what is being read. without stopping or going deeper into what has been read. It allows us to get an idea of what we are reading, the subject matter and perhaps the basic structure, but in a general way and without taking into account deeper or more complex aspects.

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

6. Involuntary or unconscious reading

Involuntary reading, as the term says, is that which is produced unconsciously and without the subject's will to read the content.

This reading implies a certain capacity for reading comprehension, since it requires being able to process the written message. It requires being able to process the written message before we are even aware that we are reading.. This is what happens when we read something by accident. An example can be found in almost any advertising product, as it is something that is exploited in marketing with salient stimuli and small print.

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, it is not necessary that there is even an understanding of the message, it is not necessary that there is even 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 receptive reading

Comprehensive reading is characterized by the fact that the material read is understood by the reader, in such a way that the act of reading implies the integration of knowledge and a valid interpretation of the material read. Comprehension implies being able to draw conclusions from the material extracted from the text after grouping the material read and extracting the main ideas from the text. It also requires sufficient mechanical reading ability to be able 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 rather performs a skipping reading according to the most relevant parts such as the concepts considered key, the headings or elements that the reader is looking for directly.

10. Reflective reading

Reflective reading is characterized by the fact that through the reading of the text the reader is able not only to draw conclusions and assess the adequacy of the text, but also to think and reflect on the text. can also allow him/her to think and reflect on his/her own knowledge, shortcomings and strengths beyondThe reading of the text allows the reader to think and reflect on his/her own knowledge, shortcomings and strengths beyond what he/she can extract and evaluate 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 making any type of inference, so that only the direct meaning of the written words is taken into account. The possible existence of double meanings or different interpretations beyond what the message intends is not valued. beyond what the message explicitly means.

12. Inferential reading

Contrary to what happens in literal reading, inferential reading starts from the material implicit in the text, even if it does not appear directly in the text.

It uses the ideas and meanings obtained not only from the direct text but also from the context in which the material is produced, the possible intentions of the writers or the reader's knowledge about it. It allows conclusions to be drawn 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. an evaluative nuance is added by the reader: it is not only a matter of reading but also of analyzing the text.It is not only about reading but also about analyzing the text. In addition to interpreting the written information, one evaluates and judges not only what is written but also what can be extracted from it, and especially if what is read is valid and reliable according to the reader's point of view and criteria.

14. Informative reading

We consider informative reading to be that which has as its main objective the obtaining and/or transmission of knowledge, the purpose of the reading act being to incorporate the data obtainable from the material. It is not intended to be entertaining or entertaining, although it may be so in a secondary way.

15. Recreational reading

Recreational reading is mainly characterized by the fact that is carried out for the sole purpose of entertainment and enjoymentwithout seeking to receive real information or improve knowledge (although this may be achieved, it will not be the real purpose of reading, but a secondary benefit).

16. Scientific reading

We can call scientific reading that which pretends to be of interest and application at a scientific level, which implies a comprehensive and critical reading, as well as the realization of an extensive search for information that can be used in a scientific context. an extensive search for information that can be verifiable.. It also aims at obtaining knowledge, usually on a specific topic previously identified. It may include the reading and interpretation of statistical data and formulas of the different scientific disciplines.

17. Phonetic reading

Phonetic reading is characterized by the fact that it is not so much based on the search for meaning in the content and written material, but rather on working on the sound, articulation and phonetics with which the words are read.

18. Musical reading

Musical 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 searching for a meaning at the concept level, but mainly provides information of a sound, in addition to its rhythm and the melody in which it should be read. It is the type of reading by means of which musicians interpret scores..

19. Braille reading

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 symbology used for reading is perceived through touch. This system is the main reading mechanism possessed by the blind population.

20. Pictographic reading

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

Bibliographical references:

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