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How to Genius - Subvocalization | Things About Speed Reading Nobody Tells You

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Author: How to Genius
Categories: Education
Tags: education
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 03:06 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: eliminating mechanical subvocalization helps you focus on meaning, while suppressing mental subvocalization can increase speed but may cost comprehension. Of the techniques studied, finger tapping preserved more comprehension than counting.

Key Points

  • Subvocalization means silently repeating the words you read; it takes mechanical forms (whispering, mouthing, active tongue) and mental forms (an inner voice).
  • Mechanical subvocalization is easily trainable, and the video suggests chewing gum or something sweet to keep the speech apparatus busy.
  • If you already read at a reasonable speed, suppressing mental subvocalization is only a bonus or situational.
  • Pushing suppression too hard can cost 10 to 20 percent of comprehension, according to studies the speaker cites.
  • Counting while reading nearly eliminates subvocalization with practice but costs the most comprehension; tapping fingers performed better.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions: Chew gum or eat something sweet while reading to occupy the speech apparatus and reduce mechanical subvocalization.
  • Concrete instructions: To suppress mental subvocalization, tap your fingers on the table while reading instead of counting aloud (counting one, two, three, four in the studies was done out loud, and practice may nearly eliminate subvocalization).
  • Concrete instructions: Decide per situation whether to suppress subvocalization, weighing faster reading against the comprehension cost.
  • The video explains that counting creates a "two people talking over each other" conflict over the speech resources, while finger tapping avoids most of that conflict.
  • The 10 to 20 percent comprehension figure comes from studies designed to test that trade-off; the speaker notes the cost varies with the technique and degree of suppression.

Bottom Line

Eliminating mechanical subvocalization is a low-cost habit, but suppressing mental subvocalization trades some understanding for speed, so use finger tapping if you try it and stop if comprehension suffers.