Reading to oneself is modern activity which was almost unknown to the learned in the early days of the history, while during the fifteenth century the term "reading" undoubtedly meant reading aloud.
Reading
to
oneself
is
modern
activity
which
was
almost
unknown
to
the
learned
in
the
early
days
of
the
history
,
while
during
the
fifteenth
century
the
term
``
reading
''
undoubtedly
meant
reading
aloud
.
Only during the nineteenth century did silent reading become popular.
Only
during
the
nineteenth
century
did
silent
reading
become
popular
.
One should be careful, however, of supposing that silent reading came about simply because reading aloud is distraction to others.
One
should
be
careful
,
however
,
of
supposing
that
silent
reading
came
about
simply
because
reading
aloud
is
distraction
to
others
.
Examination of reasons connected with the historical development of silent reading shows that it became the usual mode of reading for most adult reading tasks mainly because the tasks themselves changed in character.
Examination
of
reasons
connected
with
the
historical
development
of
silent
reading
shows
that
it
became
the
usual
mode
of
reading
for
most
adult
reading
tasks
mainly
because
the
tasks
themselves
changed
in
character
.
The last century saw a gradual increase in literacy and thus in the number of readers.
The
last
century
saw
a
gradual
increase
in
literacy
and
thus
in
the
number
of
readers
.
As readers increased, so the number of listeners dropped, and thus there was some reduction in the need to read aloud.
As
readers
increased
,
so
the
number
of
listeners
dropped
,
and
thus
there
was
some
reduction
in
the
need
to
read
aloud
.
As reading for the benefit of listeners grew less common, so came the popularity of reading as a private activity in such public places as libraries, trains and offices, where reading aloud would disturb other readers in a way.
As
reading
for
the
benefit
of
listeners
grew
less
common
,
so
came
the
popularity
of
reading
as
a
private
activity
in
such
public
places
as
libraries
,
trains
and
offices
,
where
reading
aloud
would
disturb
other
readers
in
a
way
.
Towards the end of the century there was still heated argument over whether books should be used for information or treated respectfully, and over whether the reading of material such as newspapers was in some way mentally weakening.
Towards
the
end
of
the
century
there
was
still
heated
argument
over
whether
books
should
be
used
for
information
or
treated
respectfully
,
and
over
whether
the
reading
of
material
such
as
newspapers
was
in
some
way
mentally
weakening
.
Indeed this argument remains with us still in education.
Indeed
this
argument
remains
with
us
still
in
education
.
However, whatever its advantages, the old shared literacy culture had gone and was replaced by the printed mass media on the one hand and by books and magazines for a specialized readership on the other.
However
,
whatever
its
advantages
,
the
old
shared
literacy
culture
had
gone
and
was
replaced
by
the
printed
mass
media
on
the
one
hand
and
by
books
and
magazines
for
a
specialized
readership
on
the
other
.
By the end of the century students were being advised to have some new ideas of books and to use skill in reading them which were not proper, if not impossible, for the oral reader.
By
the
end
of
the
century
students
were
being
advised
to
have
some
new
ideas
of
books
and
to
use
skill
in
reading
them
which
were
not
proper
,
if
not
impossible
,
for
the
oral
reader
.
The social, cultural, and technological developments in the century had greatly changed what the term "reading" referred to.
The
social
,
cultural
,
and
technological
developments
in
the
century
had
greatly
changed
what
the
term
``
reading
''
referred
to
.
Reading to oneself is modern activity which was almost unknown to the learned in the early days of the history, while during the fifteenth century the term "reading" undoubtedly meant reading aloud. Only during the nineteenth century did silent reading become popular.  One should be careful, however, of supposing that silent reading came about simply because reading aloud is distraction to others. Examination of reasons connected with the historical development of silent reading shows that it became the usual mode of reading for most adult reading tasks mainly because the tasks themselves changed in character.  The last century saw a gradual increase in literacy and thus in the number of readers. As readers increased, so the number of listeners dropped, and thus there was some reduction in the need to read aloud. As reading for the benefit of listeners grew less common, so came the popularity of reading as a private activity in such public places as libraries, trains and offices, where reading aloud would disturb other readers in a way.  Towards the end of the century there was still heated argument over whether books should be used for information or treated respectfully, and over whether the reading of material such as newspapers was in some way mentally weakening. Indeed this argument remains with us still in education. However, whatever its advantages, the old shared literacy culture had gone and was replaced by the printed mass media on the one hand and by books and magazines for a specialized readership on the other.  By the end of the century students were being advised to have some new ideas of books and to use skill in reading them which were not proper, if not impossible, for the oral reader. The social, cultural, and technological developments in the century had greatly changed what the term "reading" referred to.