Final answer:
Proficient word reading relies on automatic processing, which is influenced by visual, acoustic, and semantic encoding of information, and is strengthened by top-down processing. Semantic encoding creates more durable memory traces, important for reading proficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proficient word reading requires rapid recognition of all relevant layers of word structure in a mental process called automatic processing. This process allows individuals to encode details such as time, space, frequency, and the meaning of words often without conscious awareness. Elements like top-down processing, where experience and expectations guide recognition of stimuli, play a crucial role in how proficiently one can read and understand text.
When engaging with text, various types of encoding are at play, such as visual, acoustic, and semantic encoding. The ability to connect images with words (visual encoding), sounds with words (acoustic encoding), and the meanings of words (semantic encoding) contributes significantly to the depth of processing and retention in memory. According to Craik and Tulving, semantic processing of words tends to create stronger and more enduring memories compared to visual or acoustic processing.
Hence, building proficiency in reading involves not just recognizing the structure of words but also integrating them into existing cognitive frameworks for more effective comprehension and retention.Additionally, language functions such as praxis and gnosis illustrate how the brain processes and encodes sensory information, transforming verbal commands into motor responses or associating names with objects, which can further underpin the development of proficient reading skills.