Language and literacy are among mankind’s greatest inventions. Evolving and even dying over the course of human history, languages are a reflection of our cultural and societal attitudes. Today, surrounded by social media, television, movies, billboards, and, of course, books, the ability to read and write is crucial to forming an identity and expressing one’s feelings.

語言和讀寫能力是人類最偉大的發(fā)明。人類歷史在演變甚至是滅絕的過程中，語言都是對我們的文化和社會態(tài)度的反應(yīng)。時至今日，當(dāng)我們被社會傳媒、電視、電影、廣告牌當(dāng)然還有書本包圍時，讀寫能力對于我們形成一種特征和表達(dá)自己的感受是至關(guān)重要的。


Most humans acquire language in early childhood and speak fluently when they are about three years old, but our continued relationship with language gives shape and meaning to our lives. Here are 5 ways to become a better reader.

大多數(shù)人都是在幼兒的時候?qū)W習(xí)語言然后在三歲的時候就能很流利地說話了，但我們對語言進(jìn)一步的學(xué)習(xí)將會對我們的生活產(chǎn)生很大的影響，具有深遠(yuǎn)的意義。下面五種方法可以教你成為一名更好的讀者。

1. Take it slow.

放慢速度

Many readers feel that they read too slowly, especially compared with others, but the truth is that the faster you read, the less likely you are to comprehend fully what you’re reading. The best readers are flexible—slowing down when needed, especially if weighty concepts or unknown words are grouped closely together—and always have a dictionary at hand.

許多讀者覺得他們讀得太慢了，特別是相對于其他人而言，但是事實上你讀得越快，你就越可能不能完全理解你讀的內(nèi)容。最好的讀者是靈活多變的——需要時他們就讀得慢，特別是當(dāng)一些繁瑣的概念或者是不認(rèn)識的字都混在一起時，他們往往都讀得慢——而且常常會帶一本字典在身邊。

If you get to the end of a paragraph and realize you haven’t absorbed any of the information, do not hesitate to re-read the passage. Reading is a lifelong process: learning to read closely and slowly will help you become faster over time without missing anything.

如果你快讀完一段話了卻不知道大概的意思，不要猶豫，再 去重新讀一遍。閱讀是一個終身的過程：嘗試著深入且慢速地閱讀將會幫助你理解得更快而且不會漏下任何的內(nèi)容。

2. Read aloud.

大聲朗讀

When humans first began reading written words, it was unusual to read in silence. Though generally inappropriate for commuters or for late-night adventurers, reading out loud is one of the best ways to improve your reading ability.

當(dāng)人類第一次閱讀書面文字時，默讀是不常見的。雖然這不適合上班族或者是夜貓子，但大聲朗讀確實是提高你閱讀能力最好的方法之一。

You may feel silly reading to your cat (or to no one at all), but once you get into the rhythm of the author’s voice, you will begin to read more accurately and with better vocal expression. Try listening to the author reading their own work—you’ll be surprised to find how clearly it comes through on the page.

你可能覺得對著你的貓閱讀有點傻（或者是一個人也沒有），但是一旦你進(jìn)入了作者的聲音的韻律中去，你將會開始閱讀得更加準(zhǔn)確，而且會有更好的聲音表現(xiàn)力。試著聽聽作者閱讀他們自己的文章——你會驚訝地發(fā)現(xiàn)，書上的文字被這樣讀出來是多么地清晰。

3. Feel it.

感受它

Can you remember the first piece of writing that transported you to another world? One of the most powerful moments in a young, fluent reader’s life is learning to enter into the lives of imagined heroes and heroines.

你還記得你第一次寫字的情景嗎，那個將你帶到了另一個世界的情景。在一個青春洋溢、表達(dá)順暢的讀者的生命中，最重要的時刻之一就是學(xué)習(xí)進(jìn)入想象中的主角的生活中。

Subtleties of language and perspective become potent clues to deeper underlying meanings, and are easy to miss for even the most seasoned readers. As you read, let the language inform your pace, give pause to important gestures and dialogue, and allow striking ideas to simmer. In no time, you’ll be appreciating novels like fine wine.

語言和視角之間微妙的關(guān)系，是具有更深意義內(nèi)涵的強有力的線索，而且即使對于最有經(jīng)驗的讀者來說都是很容易忽視的。當(dāng)你閱讀時，讓語言支配你的步調(diào)，在重要的手勢和對話時停頓，對于那些難理解的想法要給予足夠的時間思考。過不了多久，你就會像品賞美酒那樣去喜歡小說了。