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Although I agree with the main point of this opinion piece ("Reading Aloud" is a Good Thing), the author comes across as a bit pretentious when he tries to capture the magical "je ne sais quoi" about reading aloud, and how young people (students) can't seem to do it right. (1) "If the work is their own, they are usually trying to read the intention of the writer." ummm, if it is their own work, then they are the writer. The words express their intention, so reading "the words" and reading "the intention of the writer" are the same thing. (2) "It’s as though they’re reading what the words represent rather than the words themselves." ummm, actually, when I read a story to my niece or nephew I don't just "read the words" (if that is all we wanted, we could have a text-to-speech program do it for us). Instead, I often read what the words represent. "Who goes there?!" shouted the witch, angrily. "No, no, you're doing it all wrong", whispered the grey-haired professor, almost inaudibly as he shook his head. "No young man", his deep voice admonished loudly, "Just read the words! Read the damn words." |