Reading is defined as:-

the ability to examine words

and absorb the information within

• The cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message i.e."he enjoys reading books".
• To examine and grasp the meaning of written or printed characters, words or sentences.

We all know this. What we often fail to understand is what reading actually achieves.

Human societies were founded on the ability to speak to each other and communicate, to pass information and learn from each other. The problem with communication solely by speech is that the audience is limited to the number of people within hearing distance of the speaker at the time.

Reading and writing changed this. When something is written, it can be read..

• by a vast number of people
• at a later time
• in another place

In effect this allows us to 'speak' and others to 'listen' to our messages over both time and space.

Reading and writing are the original force multipliers, or evolution of our communications.

They have become the fundamental building blocks for the development of our modern civilizations.

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