Reading not listening

Monday, October 25, 2021 Permalink

I’ve talked before about the fact I’m not very visual. Thanks to author Emma Visckic I recently discovered this is called aphantasia, which means we don’t ‘see’ what’s referenced when we hear things. So – when I read – I never picture scenes and never ever visualise characters. In fact I’m often disappointed when a character is described as I can’t quite grasp the concept that I should be able to see them.

I assumed this was because I’m an auditory thinker; because I ‘hear’ the words rather than picture what they represent. However….

For years now I’ve been watching television, movies and anything I have control of (ie. streaming services) with subtitles on, as well as the sound. I don’t notice I do it but must read more than I listen because I have to pause a show if I’m getting up for a second because (apparently) ‘hearing’ what happens isn’t enough.

I’m more than happy to watch foreign language films in the original language and read subtitles and hate the idea of shows dubbed in English. I did however watch something with my godson yesterday. It was Japanese anime and obviously he wanted the audio in English. I requested subtitles as well and spent most of my chuckling at the differences between the dubbed dialogue and the subtitles.

reading not listening

I know this is a particularly inane topic for a blog post but one I’ve been thinking about because I went to a play on the weekend; a performance of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. The play was great though the sound not always as clear as it could be. And… without being conscious of it, I kept looking to the bottom of the stage for the subtitles and being surprised not to find them.

I should mention I’m not at all worried about my inability to ‘see’ what I read or my preference to read rather than listen. The most fascinating thing about it is others’ reactions. Subtitles (when not required) can be distracting for many and yet I know others who also keep them on. Similarly, while there are others struggle with mental imagery, some cannot comprehend how we are unable to picture something described to us.

I’m not at all sure if the two peccadillos are related and far too lazy to do any research but am always intrigued where others fall on the visualisation and reading-not-listening scale.

Photo via Immo Wegmann via Unsplash
28 Comments
  • Suzie
    October 25, 2021

    It’s an incredibly interesting topic. I visualise most things while I’m reading, but not fight scenes. Sometimes I find myself doing such a good job I wonder when the movie is coming out. I struggle to work with a quiet office so I often have something going while I’m working. Some movie or TV series on my second monitor helps keep me sane. But I can’t have subtitles on during that time as I find myself reading the subtitles instead of getting stuff done.

    • Debbish
      October 25, 2021

      Ahhh… I can’t ‘do’ anything else when I watch TV (not read or play on my phone – anything but eat / drink) and when I’m on my computer I don’t have sound going on in the background. I definitely don’t have music on and couldn’t have something playing that I was supposed to concentrate on.

  • Retirement Reflections
    October 25, 2021

    I agree with Suzie — this is a very interesting topic. My husband likes to keep subtitles on when he’s watching a movie. I’m not much of a tv watcher but when I am watching, subtitles on a show that is already in Engiish drive me crazy. My husbands suggest I simply not look at them, but I can’t not see them. Your post helps give a new perspective of why he likes having them on.

    • Debbish
      October 25, 2021

      Oh yes, I’ve had this conversation on Twitter before. I thought I was unusual in wanting them on all of the time so was surprised when others agreed.

      I’ve done it for years now but I found it baffling that I was looking for them when watching a live play. (Shows I don’t go to the theatre much!)

  • leannelc
    October 25, 2021

    I love subtitles and my husband hates them (he finds them distracting) I like them because I don’t miss dialogue while I’m caught up in the story. I also don’t like novels that have pictures of the characters on the cover – they never look like I picture them (and are always over glamourized). The only exception to this was the Outlander TV series – the characters look like they should and it makes me happy (even though I don’t watch it!) I also learn better by writing things down – note taking was a big one for me when I was studying.

    • Debbish
      October 25, 2021

      I took out part of this post where I talked about the way I learned things Leanne because I did a test (thing) years ago suggesting I’m an auditory thinker, but when learning things often prefer to just do them (rather than listen how or read how).

      Also I’m not sure how that fits in with the reading. Perhaps I read aloud in my head? Who knows?

  • Debbie
    October 25, 2021

    This was really interesting Deb and a great conversation starter! I do have a slight hearing problem and probably should use the subtitles as i miss so many bits on TV, but I just find them annoying and as Donna said, I can’t not see them! It just means my husband gets exasperated when I keep asking him ‘what did they just say’? or I don’t ask him and lose the track of some important issue. #lifethisweek

    • Debbish
      October 25, 2021

      I recently watched a TV series that didn’t have subtitles and found it frustrating. It wasn’t that I didn’t understand or hear the characters, I think it was because I love words and language and want to know exactly what they say.

  • Lydia C. Lee
    October 25, 2021

    I thnk there was a study and people only jus wrked t that half the world don’t visualise their thoughts. I read a Tennesse William play once and the scene struck me so strongly that when I actually saw the play I thought ‘oh, the wall paper is wrong’ (and it was when I went back to check). I was also telling someone about Natural History of the Dead (a brilliant Hemingway story) and I was explaining the picture of the battle field, and then realised there was no photograph because I listned to Stacy Keech read the audio version. But I can seethe image as clear as a photo, and it took a few moments of confusion of trying to work out if I’d seen a photo or not, then realised it wasn’t possible. That all said, I prefer to read blogs than watch vlogs. So I’ve no idea what that means #Lifethisweek

    • Debbish
      October 25, 2021

      Oh yes, every so often the study re the visual images thing appears (often referencing those who can picture an apple or not). I’d never heard the name before Emma used it on Twitter recently.

      I think if you’re one way or the other you don’t realise everyone isn’t. I know each time it’s discussed there are some people blown away when learning about the other.

      And yes, I’ve had that experience where someone’s described in a book or on a cover and I think, “That’s not how I saw them!” even though I might not have visualised them in a particular way myself!

  • Vanessa
    October 25, 2021

    I’ve used subtitles for everything for years now so I totally relate. And it’s funny (weird not haha) when you go back to something you saw decades ago but can watch it with subtitles now and go “WOAH that’s what they were saying!?”.

    I also prefer original language and English subtitles rather than dubbed English. I want the actors performance and their voice is part of that to me.

    • Debbish
      October 25, 2021

      Oh dubbed English is the worst – mouths and sounds not matching is very disturbing. When we were watching the Japanese anime thing yesterday I explained to my godson that it occurred to me that it’s okay for ‘cartoons’ or anime because the mouths aren’t really making the correct shapes etc anyway, so the language didn’t matter.

      It was funnier that the audio and subtitles didn’t match. Obviously completely different translators given the way they appeared.

  • Jo
    October 25, 2021

    It’s a really interesting concept. I’m super visual and can picture entire scenes and locations in my mind. They play out like a movie, yet my daughter says that’s a problem she has when reading, actually picturing the scene. Another male friend said the same. I can’t be doing with subtitles though – unless I’m at the opera.

    • Debbish
      October 25, 2021

      I remember going to a creative writing class once (well, one of the many I’ve been to) and the first task we were set was to write a descriptive scene of some sort. And I was hopeless. I can recognise the beauty in the words authors use or their phrasing but see nothing.

  • Sue from Women Living Well After 50
    October 25, 2021

    Hi Deb, I’m like you and I’ve learned from your post a new word – aphantasia. Perhaps we should start our own club! When I read I find it difficult to picture what is being described and also the same if for example doing renovations. I need to actually see a photo of what it will look like. This was an interesting topic for a blog post. Have a great week #lifethisweek

    • Debbish
      October 25, 2021

      Oh yes, that’s interesting. I know I struggle with spatial awareness sometimes. Not in terms of directions or maps or plans as such but amounts. I often misjudge the sizes of containers I need and have to ask someone if ‘this’ will fit in ‘that’.

  • Susanne
    October 25, 2021

    This is so interesting, Deb! I’m extremely visual and when I read books I visualise everything. I find it very difficult to keep focus on audiobooks (in my Italian class when we read books we always have to listen to the audio version in class, it’s very annoying to me!), and I really dislike video tutorials, I want to read an article instead of listening to a video because I read faster than people speak, and in tutorials I want to quickly just browse to the part that is relevant to me. I’m a trained nurse (but left my profession) and when I did my basic training, I remember I learned how the optical nerves and eyes function only by the picture the teacher drew! But at the same time, when learning music I do it mostly by ear. In the past I used sheet music a lot but after I started learning to play by ear, I find that learning by ear comes much easier, and I only use sheet music sometimes as support in more complex parts when learning a tune or song. And I love subtitles… I always miss details if I don’t have them, at least if it’s in any other language than Swedish.
    I find it very interesting how you can be sort of both? You don’t visualise, yet you prefer to read! And I’m sort of mixed depending on the context (like music vs everything else). My husband prefers to learn by hearing – I’ll have to ask him if he visualises things when he listens to audiobooks!

    • Debbish
      October 26, 2021

      It is intriguing Susanne. I’m the same with video tutorials. I’ve started some casual work and had to do induction training with video tutorials. Thankfully they have subtitles (for hard of hearing) so I put them on and then change the speed to 1.25x or something so I can get through them quickly and I turn the audio completely down.

      Perhaps if I was younger I’d return to my original undergrad studies in psychology and pursue it as I’m interested in the way we learn or think.

  • patwdoyle11
    October 26, 2021

    So, this made me go in a totally different direction! [Although I’m pondering if I visualize characters when I read…I’m pretty sure I do, a bit.] I never thought about putting subtitles on the TV to not miss dialogue… for my hubby who is slightly hearing impaired and just raises the volume to hear low dialogue! Going to suggest that to him!

    • Debbish
      October 26, 2021

      I think if your eyesight is okay it’s a good option Pat as it does mean you don’t miss things and there can be nuances I ‘read’ that I don’t hear. (And yet my hearing is fine!)

  • Lisa
    October 26, 2021

    That is really interesting! I’m very obviously the opposite, I won’t watch anything with subtitles, mostly because I’d miss everything. I cross-stitch while I “watch” TV, and definitely listen more than watch. Its funny because I will recognise an actor quickly by voice rather than looking at them. I briefly read the comment above about audio books, and difficulty focusing on them. I’ve only just discovered audio books and will usually listen to non-fiction thinking I would struggle with fiction, but started listening to the Seven Sisters series rather than trying to fit the books into my never-ending want to read pile. I’ve found (surprising myself) that I’ve really enjoyed listening to them, and I think that is partly because it is similar to TV where I’m picturing everything in my head rather than “watching”. Interesting topic/concepts for sure!

    • Debbish
      October 26, 2021

      Oh yes, I mentioned in another comment I can’t ‘do’ anything else (other than eat or drink) if I’m watching TV. My mother does puzzle books or reads magazines but then misses stuff cos she doesn’t ‘see’ something happen on the screen.

      I know a lot of people who like audio books to listen to while they’re doing other things but again I’ve only ever listened to audiobooks when I used to drive long distances for work. They certainly helped pass the time but I couldn’t listen to them while I was needing my brain to focus on other detail. (Driving mustn’t count obviously!)

  • Jennifer Jones
    October 27, 2021

    This is so interesting Deb. I’m definitely visual and find I’m constantly forming pictures in my head when reading, of people as I imagine them or scenes. Sub titles don’t bother me at all but my partner can’t watch anything with them. He misses out on so many great movies and TV series because of subtitles. I didn’t realise it was a ‘thing’ I thought he was just being stubborn and frustrating.

    • Debbish
      October 27, 2021

      I remember in the era of video and DVD I had a bad habit of watching foreign films (with subtitles) on fast-forward as I could read pretty quickly and it saved time. I realised at the time that was terrible given the time and effort that had gone into the making of the film, but…. what can I say, I’m impatient?!

  • Tailorsmeasure
    October 27, 2021

    Interesting! I would say I’m not a very visual person either and don’t picture characters in books and always skip graphs and infographics and often images in reports, but subtitles in English shows absolutely drive me to distraction. It means I’m looking at the words and miss out on so much of the clues happening on the screen. It’s especially annoying when the text doesn’t match the audio exactly. I guess it’s just a habit you form but it’s certainly not for me. Okay for foreign films though but there’s still less time to observe what’s happening on the screen.

    • Debbish
      October 27, 2021

      Yes, I’m in the habit now of having both the audio and subtitles as options but I do get annoyed when they don’t match as I suspect I ponder which version best reflects the original script.

  • Denyse Whelan Blogs
    October 27, 2021

    I knew you had said you were like this and its been so interesting to read others’ comments too. I recall the day I found out not everyone ‘sees pictures’ in their heads when I was making plans with the school secretary as principal. It was a very small group meeting, and I spoke and perhaps I showed something..can’t remember (over 20 years ago) and she said “what do you mean, I don’t see anything when I am thinking”. Interesting to have a name for it too. You have done exceedingly well career and study wise and this would be in part due to your intense way of study/concentration perhaps. Me? I can try to do a few things at once, and no it’s not true about multi-tasking. I admit I am far more impressed with seeing to learn and not by listening. We sure are all different. I rarely watch TV other than 10 mins of news and maybe a fave program but always have ipad in hand too. Husband tells me I don’t listen…lol…

    It’s been great to have you share your post this week for #lifethisweek on Denyse Whelan Blogs. Thank you. I hope you will be back next week, where the optional prompt is “young” but my guest poster, Mr Whelan, is sharing his thoughts for the final time on the blog in 2021 on a different topic. See you there, Denyse.

    • Debbish
      October 28, 2021

      It’s interesting Denyse as I saw someone comment on Twitter yesterday about another thought-processing-nuance that comes up every so often… the fact that some people don’t hear their thoughts. Perhaps more fodder for my blog.

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