Several Benefits of Reading Aloud

Reading Aloud has been a practice that has gone on for centuries. It has many benefits such as:

• It tracks frequent errors that affect the flow of the writing.
• This will allow readers to find the language of the writing more inviting and clear.
• And it will allow the writer to ensure the meaning of the writing gets across to the reader.

                                                                         The Tracking of Errors That Affect Writing Flow

In reading aloud, one can avoid roundabout language or long-winged language. “The tongue will naturally look for ways to break it down and ‘spit it out.’ “according to Peter Elbow, an English professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and author of “Revising by Reading Aloud: What the Mouth and Ear Know.” Reading aloud will allow the writer to hear what they are writing and ensure the message is brought across plainly and straight to the point.

It can also help avoid the use of “Clang.” “In writing (and especially in revising when we work at the micro-level and lose perspective).” Meaning “we can easily fall into using the same word or phrase too often,” according to Professor Elbow. Therefore, a good ear would be beneficial for hearing and catching the “annoying clang of repetition.”

In addition, interruptions can impact the natural flow of syntax, which is the arrangement of words and phrases that form a sentence, and understanding of the piece of writing can be caught through Reading aloud. “Sometimes it’s mere thoughtlessness that lets us put an interruption wherever it first occurs to us. Or sometimes our sense logic makes us insert qualifications or parentheses right ‘where they belong’ –right next to what they pertain to.’

However, a person’s “tongue and ear know better: our mouths need to finish chewing the syntactic bite before taking on another bite–even if it is small.”, according to Professor Elbow, who asserts another one of the errors reading aloud can track.

More Clear And Inviting Language

Readers tend to find one’s writing more clear and inviting to understand if the writer reads aloud first and ensures it is comfortable to speak aloud. “When it is, readers don’t have to work as hard to understand your words. They seem to hear the meaning come up off the page. “, according to Professor Elbow.

The Hearing of More Meaning In Writing

When reading aloud, the writer can hear and put meaning into whatever it is they are writing. As a result, it can stimulate and motivate one’s neurological thought processes “and improve other key areas such as verbal skills, self-confidence, and editing” according to Doneisha Jackson’s article, “Reading Aloud Gives Written Words Power.” It can also allow the writer to write similar to how they speak. In this case, it will enable the message to be brought to the reader more precisely and meaningful because it is as if someone is speaking. In addition, Professor Elbow adds that “When they have to read their writing aloud frequently and thus hear it, they tend to listen more as they write–and readers hear more meaning as they read.”

The benefits of Reading Aloud are proven to truly improve one’s writing as the writer can authentically listen to what they are writing and make corrections when needed. In addition, it is a practice that has positively shaped the meaning of writing people see today.

Written By Ke’Lena Thomas

Edited by Sheena Robertson

Sources:

Guardian Liberty Voice: Reading Aloud Gives Written Words Power; by Doneisha Jackson

Guardian Liberty Voice: Revision Made Easy Reading Aloud; by Jeanette Smith

Peter Elbow-University of Massachusetts, Amherst: Revising by Reading Aloud. What the Mouth and Ear Know; by Peter Elbow

Top and Featured Image Courtesy of Nenad Stojkovic’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons

Inset Image Courtesy of Alan Levine’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons