4 ms·

I think in written english. For me written english and spoken english are separate languages. I have extreme difficulty translating english words into their spo

I think in written english. For me written english and spoken english are separate languages. I have extreme difficulty translating english words into their spoken equivalents. The reverse is easier only because I have far more practice with it. I have to memorize the spoken words that associate with the sounds. (Part of this may be because written english has a dozen possible sounds for each letter combination) This is horrible obvious when I try to work with numbers. I've never worked with math higher than two digits in spoken language. In order for me to do any more complex math I first need to translate the spoken numbers into written form. Translating between written and spoken forms is painful for me. It can take me two or three seconds per character to comprehend spelling, phone numbers, or math. Writing down a phone number is almost impossible unless one of the parts is one I have memorize. 414, 920, and 644 are numbers I can instantly convert between their written or spoken forms because they are parts of numbers I've memorized. It is frustrating for me because no one I've encountered seems to have this issue and therefore I'm a special kind of moron for not being able to keep up. The only reason this hasn't caused me horrible problems in life is I'm able to memorize enough to compensate. > And our brain is faster and more optimized at processing mass volume visual stuff(especially pattern recognition), does anyone else think in pictures? I'm pretty sure I think at one level of abstract above imagery most of the time. I'm currently reading through Lord of the Rings and I'm finding myself not thinking in imagery at all but simply absorbing information and forming mental maps of the terrain instead of experiencing it visually. Some of it is definitely Tolken's writing style, it readily lends itself to abstraction in my mind. When reading Lord of the Rings, I force myself to experience it at a lower level of abstraction. At a lower abstraction my brain has to work much harder to form original imagery (not just dropping in stuff from the movies) and my reading drops to a fifth of my normal speed. The experience is much richer and well worth it.

est 16y ago
Just curious, are you also a non-native speaker? Or from a Chinese language background?
- epochwolf 16y ago
  I'm a native speaker. Born and raised in the United States with American parents.
todayiamme 16y ago
I have an analogous problem. I cannot spell words which are spelled differently than the way they are pronounced like resteraunt and other stuff like that. I also have weird quirks with numbers and somehow calculation takes me a long time and I tend to make idiotic mistakes unless I am 100% in the moment (we all do, but these mistakes are different from what other people make. It's the same pattern over and over again). I think that you might have some degree of dyslexia and other co-morbidities. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyslexia#Comorbidities http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyslexia#Comorbidities). Have you ever gotten it checked? An accurate diagnosis can go a long way in formulating a response and finding a solution to this. I can't even begin to imagine how bad it must be for you, but I do know that if you work at it with some professional help then it will improve in subtle ways. Miracles won't happen due to age, but you will be the richer for it. Take care.
- david 16y ago
  >> I cannot spell words which are spelled differently than the way they are pronounced like resteraunt Sure can't ;)
- epochwolf 16y ago
  > I think that you might have some degree of dyslexia and other co-morbidities. I don't know if I was clear enough. I only have difficultly converting between spoken and written language. My reading and math skills are fine. I can keep a running total of groceries in my head during a trip to the store. I do have trouble remembering proper spelling but that's what spell checking for. (OSX 10.6 added automatic spelling correction to TextEdit. I love it!)
TheAmazingIdiot 16y ago
Heh, you sound like my girlfriend. She has a similar problem in which all letters appear as they do to you with numbers. I've had her sit down and explain what she sees, along with drawing what she sees. She's also the only one she knows that has her type. And she also thinks she's stupid. Btw, she has 4 bachelors, 2 masters, and a phd. Her intellect is through the roof. But because counsellors in her high school had no experience in her learning style, they simply said it was "not applying" or "stupidity" or some such tripe. She also has a photographic and phonophonic memory, so those voices appear in her head telling her how stupid she is. So yes, even as a SO, I understand. And judging from your writing style and comprehension, you're not stupid... Just different. There's a few other things you'd be good at, but those would be best to take private.

est 16y ago

Just curious, are you also a non-native speaker? Or from a Chinese language background?

epochwolf 16y ago
I'm a native speaker. Born and raised in the United States with American parents.

todayiamme 16y ago

I have an analogous problem. I cannot spell words which are spelled differently than the way they are pronounced like resteraunt and other stuff like that. I also have weird quirks with numbers and somehow calculation takes me a long time and I tend to make idiotic mistakes unless I am 100% in the moment (we all do, but these mistakes are different from what other people make. It's the same pattern over and over again). I think that you might have some degree of dyslexia and other co-morbidities. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyslexia#Comorbidities http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyslexia#Comorbidities). Have you ever gotten it checked? An accurate diagnosis can go a long way in formulating a response and finding a solution to this. I can't even begin to imagine how bad it must be for you, but I do know that if you work at it with some professional help then it will improve in subtle ways. Miracles won't happen due to age, but you will be the richer for it. Take care.

david 16y ago
>> I cannot spell words which are spelled differently than the way they are pronounced like resteraunt Sure can't ;)
epochwolf 16y ago
> I think that you might have some degree of dyslexia and other co-morbidities. I don't know if I was clear enough. I only have difficultly converting between spoken and written language. My reading and math skills are fine. I can keep a running total of groceries in my head during a trip to the store. I do have trouble remembering proper spelling but that's what spell checking for. (OSX 10.6 added automatic spelling correction to TextEdit. I love it!)

TheAmazingIdiot 16y ago

Heh, you sound like my girlfriend. She has a similar problem in which all letters appear as they do to you with numbers. I've had her sit down and explain what she sees, along with drawing what she sees. She's also the only one she knows that has her type. And she also thinks she's stupid. Btw, she has 4 bachelors, 2 masters, and a phd. Her intellect is through the roof. But because counsellors in her high school had no experience in her learning style, they simply said it was "not applying" or "stupidity" or some such tripe. She also has a photographic and phonophonic memory, so those voices appear in her head telling her how stupid she is. So yes, even as a SO, I understand. And judging from your writing style and comprehension, you're not stupid... Just different. There's a few other things you'd be good at, but those would be best to take private.