Was Silent Reading Unusual During Augustine's Time?
8 hours ago
- Augustine's account of Ambrose reading silently in the Confessions suggests that silent reading was unusual and noteworthy in his time.
- Augustine describes Ambrose's eyes moving over the text while his voice and tongue remained at rest, indicating reading was normally done aloud.
- Augustine speculates that Ambrose read silently to avoid interruptions, to avoid explaining difficult passages, or to preserve his voice, which was prone to hoarseness.
- William A. Johnson's article 'Toward a Sociology of Reading in Classical Antiquity' uses Augustine's passage as evidence that reading was primarily oral in the ancient world.
- Alberto Manguel's 'A History of Reading' includes a chapter on 'The Silent Readers' and argues that reading aloud was likely the norm since the beginning of the written word.
- The first printed edition of Augustine's Confessions was issued by Johann Mentelin of Strasbourg no later than 1470, with a digital facsimile available from the Bavarian State Library.
- A 2010 German biographical film about Augustine's life was noted for its authentic depiction of book rolls and early codices during the transition from roll to codex.