Inner Reading Voices (IRVs): Includes voices readers cannot control, which may mean reading process employs alternate personalities

In a recent post, I revisited the issue of writer’s inner voices (which I view as alternate personalities, to the extent that they seem to have minds of their own).

But now I see that there are also studies of inner reading voices (1), by which they apparently mean something more than just subvocalization (2).

Inner reading voices (IRVs) “were reported in participants' own voices, as well as in the voices of other people. Some respondents reported being unable to control any aspect of their IRVs” (1). And to the extent that IRVs have minds of their own, they may be alternate personalities.

I have often wondered why substantial numbers of readers enjoy literature that I find exasperating and even difficult to follow. Is it because their reading process employs alternate personalities?

1. Vilhauer RP. “Characteristics of Inner Reading Voices.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28582587

2. Wikipedia. “Subvocalization." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subvocalization