Word, Text and Reading in the Digital Age

Abstract

The paper discusses the problem of reading in the digital environment among the young generation. The point of departure is the observation that young people’s reading practices have changed over the last decade. It was hypothesized that the reason for this change is that young people increasingly read electronic texts instead of printed texts. For the study, a literature review was performed, and five focus group discussions with secondary school and university teachers were conducted. Focus group discussions provided empirical material for the analysis of contemporary reading practices and the related problems of the learning process. The literature review and focus group discussions show that reading from screen devices has affected reading strategies and the text decoding and comprehension process. The participants of the discussions pointed to the crucial role of the internet in forming the attitude towards reading and the development of new reading practices among young people. The teachers were generally critical towards the effects of the information and communication technologies and expressed concern about the quality of reading from digital devices. It was pointed out that students now prefer to read shorter pieces of text, they often lack the necessary concentration and, as a result, do not achieve a satisfactory understanding of the text. Reading tends to become a practice of extracting information. Literature review points to the same tendency. The technological embeddedness of reading in the digital age brings about a change in the approach to reading. The internet allows quick access to vast volumes of information and provides the possibility of getting to know many facts, but it fosters extensive rather than intensive or deep reading.