Reading on the lips. How to learn the technique of reading on the lips?

The ability to read on the lips is called art. In fact, this is a valuable skill that anyone can master. This skill is a hidden ability of a person, which, if desired, can be developed and used.

Why should we study reading on the lips? What is the name of the person who has mastered this skill? In Western practice, they are called lip-readers (lip-readers). In Russian, this term is not used.

Who can use the reading skill from the lips

To study reading on the lips people start for different reasons. Some interested in books and films about spies, where the main characters used this skill to "eavesdrop" important information. Others chose this way on the path to self-improvement. And the third such skill is simply vital. For the deaf and hard of hearing people reading on the lips - this is the only way to perceive information.

Even if you do not have an acute need to know the perception of speech from your lips, you can say that in life such a skill can be useful to everyone. This makes it possible to easily communicate in situations where you need to behave silently and do not ask again when something is not heard in a noisy place. In general, this skill will help to better understand others.

How to learn to read on the lips?

Reading from the lips is a skill that a person can develop in himself by training and training. Naturally, someone has a predisposition to develop this skill, and someone has less, but you can safely say that everyone can read the lips. Depending on the presence of an innate propensity to this kind of perception, different people for this may require a different amount of time and effort.

What is the complexity of learning?

It would seem that the difficult thing is to remember the movements of the lips when you pronounce each letter and syllable? Not so simple. The lip pattern is different when you are pronouncing different letters. But there are some letters that are pronounced differently, but "look" the same. For example, it is difficult to distinguish consonants "F" and "B". It is almost impossible to distinguish, pronounced "B", "M" or "P". And, finally, hissing sounds: "Sh", "F", "H" - a problem for perception. Among the vowels there are pairs of such sounds: "O" - "Y", "U" - "U", "A" - "I". These letters are called invisible.

Learning to perceive such sounds is possible by placing them in syllables and connecting logic and guesswork.

Exercises for self-study

The first assistant in the independent study of the technique of reading on the lips is a mirror. That it is necessary to make - before a mirror consistently to pronounce letters, then syllables and words, further word-combinations and expressions. Pay special attention to your reflection. Your main task is to remember the movements of your lips when you are reciting the most used syllables.

Further in the training we will be helped by the TV. Take your favorite movie, which you reviewed several times. It is advisable that you remember what the dialogues in this film are about. We turn off the sound and look, trying to perceive the conversation visually. At the next stage, you can watch news or unfamiliar films and TV shows in the same way. It will be noticeable that if you do not know what is being said on the television screen, it is more difficult to perceive information on the lips. But the main thing is practice.

Can be your friends and relatives on the path of studying the technique of reading on the lips. Ask them to "talk" with you without sound and try in everyday conditions to catch the meaning of such a speech.

Arrange the "hunt". You can just sit in the park on the bench watching the campers and practice reading on the lips.

Problems that you may encounter

There are also some nuances that can complicate the learning process :

• An unknown topic of conversation - this can be a problem in the early stages of learning. It disappears when practical skills of speech perception from the lips appear. In rare cases, when the conversation goes on narrowly specialized topics, using terms, speech may not be perceived even by professional lip-readers.
• Fuzzy articulation is an individual feature of each person. One can pronounce words, clearly fixing the mimic muscles of each syllable, while the other will use facial expressions less, which complicates understanding.
• Rapid pace of speech - can complicate perception, because with high-speed conversation changes articulation. A very quick speech can be understood only after long practical training.

Special courses or computer program - what to choose?

There are several options with which to master the technique of reading on the lips. We have already examined how you can get this skill yourself. But if there is a choice: studying at home, applying a computer program, or enrolling in specialized courses, what will be more effective? In what way can you reach your goal faster and master the reading on your lips?

Training with a computer program is a "communication" with a synthetic face. It pronounces the text, your task is to perceive this text without sound accompaniment. There are different settings and tips. Those who used this program to learn lip-reading, say that it is very easy to understand such a robot, it has a bright facial expression and expressive articulation. But the problem is that, having got used to such ideal conditions, then it is very difficult to adjust to the perception of living people, each of which is individual.

That is, to master the theory and the basics of perception, such a program can be useful, but for the practice of reading lips one must choose and study human speech, although this is more difficult.

At the same courses, the training takes place in a group. In the process of studying it is possible to see the articulation of many people and compare the features of their facial expressions. This immediately gives the practical experience of owning a skill. Although this training can last longer, it is definitely more effective. In addition, the lessons are conducted by qualified surdopedagogists who are able to explain all the incomprehensible and controversial points.