Defining Reading
Most of us were very much familiar with reading. We immediately associate reading into books, magazines and print outs. Yeah, reading is a process of communication.
Reading is considered as one of the most valuable skills every person must develop. It means that we must acquire the ability to read.
Reading means many things to many people. We perceive it differently; define it differently according to our perspective in life. Reading could be one of the most rewarding preoccupations of an individual in expanding his or her life’s horizon.
Many specialists had given their own definition of the word reading.
Reading is a tool. It is one way of obtaining something one wants. We read for different reasons-getting information, entertainment to deal with problems and etc. Reading is both sensory and mental process(Ahuja,1979)It is considered so because we use our eyes and mind in this routine. We need to experience, learn and think to make reading effective.
Reading is an interaction between the reader and the written language(Goodman,1968)Reader attempts to reconstruct message conveyed by the writer is already an interaction between the writer and the reader.
Reading is an evaluative process (Betts,1957).Development of efficient and versatile habits of reading and study is a continuous process. it requires a specialized type of integrated action. Every reader is responsible for the development of efficient reading habits. Reading is transaction with a text (Galda ,et al.,1993).It means bringing meaning to a text in order to create meaning from it. Reading is a very complex process. The recognition and comprehension f the written symbols re influenced by the readers perceptual skills, word analysis skills, comprehension skills, language background and mind –set.Mile Zints (1972) Illustration of the Reading Process
The Reader
Word perception a. recognizes the words and grasps the ideas presented
Comprehension b. understands the ideas of what he or she reads, reflects on them, and sees implication;
Reaction c. acts in response to what he or she reads by weighing its values and the soundness of judgments or conclusions, or apprehends the context as to its value and significance;Integration d. applies the ideas acquired to solve problems or to direct his or her activities.
