this goes to explain why I like words so much

[novapsyche]

I'm an audile--someone whose mental imagery is auditory rather than visual or motor, according to my old dictionary.

This explains why dreaming--or, rather, the act of falling into the dream state--is so novel to me. Seeing pictures before my closed eyes is not something that happens very often. Except for dreams, I'd say 90% of my thoughts are auditory.

Comments

[theonewhospeaks.livejournal.com]

Hey! I just joined grammarpolice and was looking at its friends list, and saw this post, and I just had to respond and say that I totally hear you on this one! I have no visual imagery whatsoever and it baffles me how some things that I write pull visual images from other people. I do have some images in dreams, but dreams for me are mostly auditory.

So, I just thought I'd let you know that. See you around. :^)

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

*nod* That's been one of my biggest challenges, writing imagery that would translate into something visual. For me, it's just playing around with words, not actually trying to accurately describe an image I've already seen.

[missprune.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean! I'm amazed by people who have visual imagery going on behind their eyes. And I envy them - it seems so entertaining. People who talk about seeing all these different colors in meditation... I do enjoy watching for that moment of the edge of sleep when finally some spontaneous image shows up. Otherwise, it only happens with a fever.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

I even envy those with fevers! :)

When I recall memories, those are visual--but they last for less than a second. Those are really my only visual thoughts.

It's weird, trying to look at your dreams as they appear. Sometimes I'll realize what's going on, and I'll start to come back up to wakefulness. The pictures will break into blackness. The trick is watching the show without being too aware of it. :)

[missprune.livejournal.com]

I wonder if non-visualizers like us should practice writing descriptions of things we are actually looking at, while we write... hmmm.

[vaxjedi]

I can undersdtand that. I'm particularly verbally and semantically oriented, which is why I tend to express myself better via the net and play with words a lot.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Are you semantically oriented, or are you just happy to see me? ;)

[sourcebook.livejournal.com]

I hear you.

I love wordplay.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

*giggle*

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

nod. I'm the opposite. Very visual. It's why I try to avoid arguments about what was said two minutes ago, and why writing something down will help me remember it whether or not I keep the pice of paper I wrote it down on. it's also why I can count and multiply and sing at the same time but have a harder time counting and reading at the same time. My short-term memory uses visual signifiers to keep track of what number I'm on.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

I also retain information better if I write it down... but I think that's because when I read (at least when I read closely), the words sound in my head. Writing is a stronger form of that. And the act of retaining the sentence from source to paper is a third occasion of the words sounding internally, so I get a thorough exposure of whatever it is I'm taking notes on.

I don't know if I could count and read at the same time either. :) Sounds tough.