Try looking at words and NOT reading them--seeing them just as they are--shapes. It's impossible. amirite?

If you blur your vision a little, like unfocus your eyes, you kinda can.. haha

by Anonymous 14 years ago

I don't read by reading. I read because I remember what words look like. That's why spelling and proper grammar are so important to me, I hate having to waste time by actually reading.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

That's actually how most people read. The mechanics of how we read are fascinating, really. For example, not only do we recognize the shape of the word, we also recognize familiar sentence structures. In other words, we have an internal catalogue of what words usually follow certain other words. That would explain why reading uncommon or archaic sentences (such as Shakespeare's works) will sometimes trip us up, even if the spelling is all correct. It's because we're expecting certain words, but reading others. This discrepancy is what causes a person who has mostly read contemporary works to stumble over older ones, even if said person is usually a fluent reader.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

That is pretty interesting. I never would have guessed. Maybe that's just because I go to a public high school in a not-so-reputable area. Most kids in my English class still have to sound out and pause between every word. I'm one of the few who can read with a good flow, and put an inflection in my reading based on punctuation.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

Ah, I know what you mean. Have you attempted getting into AP or Accelerated English classes?

by Anonymous 14 years ago

I managed to be placed in an AP English class once, based purely on how smart I am. It was so much better, and I had many more of my friends in it. Other than that, I'm horribly lazy and could never dream of getting into anything advanced with my work ethic.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

Wtf, you just described me. GTFO impostor! No but seriously, it's not that hard. Of course, my AP English teacher is extremely lenient so that's probably part of it.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

This is a very intelligent conversation we are having. I like it =)

by Anonymous 14 years ago

A wise donkey once said: To the uneducated person, the letter A is just three sticks.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

Thank a teacher (:

by Anonymous 14 years ago

If the word is a chinese symbol then it would not look like a word, just random lines. Unless you can read chinese then letters would look weird to you.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

O is a circle

by Anonymous 14 years ago

o is a circle, O is an oval

by Anonymous 14 years ago

That would depend on one's font or handwriting.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

Its possible for people who can't read...

by Anonymous 14 years ago

I think it might be possible under certain circumstances, such as when in a semiconscious or altered state of mind. Or if the letters are large and thick enough. Or if it's a large wall of text. Or if it's a foreign language that does not use the Latin alphabet. But yes, in most cases it is impossible for a literate person -- or, at the very least, extremely difficult. I've thought about this many times before. I'm not really sure if I should vote up or down, so I'll remain neutral.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

It's like how it's almost impossible to imagine seeing our language through a foreigner's eyes who can only see the letters as symbols without meaning.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

There's a few learning disabilities that makes words look like pictures and shapes. For example, my friend that has dyslexia thinks the word 'cook' looks like a bicycle.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

Unless it's a language you don't know.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

Some people actually know how to read by the shape of words, not their letters.

by Anonymous 14 years ago

白人读不懂。

by Anonymous 14 years ago

Sometimes I look at signs and think, when I was a really little kid, these shapes had no significance. I had no clue what they said. It's really hard to imagine

by Anonymous 14 years ago