Lost In Translation

So, Kiki is learning to speak, which is kind of great for us since we now have a clue what she wants rather than guesswork.  She is also learning Japanese from my wife.  Which is also kind of great.  The only problem is that I, alas, do not know Japanese.  Thus, when we were reading a book together (okay, I was reading the book and Kiki was chiming in at times) and came across a picture of a monkey, Kiki broke in with "Saru."  Naturally, being an ignorant gaijin, I corrected her with "Monkey" (also accepting baboon, primate, and capuchin), only to be informed by my wife that I was a jerk and an idiot, and Kiki was right.  So, basically, my daughter, at 17 months, is smarter than I am.  Awesome.  So now I'm afraid to correct her, since I now assume she is just speaking Japanese.  So now we'll read a book and whenever she chimes in with, well, anything really, I just tell her she's right, brilliant, and wonderful.  So, basically my wife is teaching her Japanese and I am teaching her gibberish.  And that is why it takes a village to raise a child, because the father is just fucking everything up.  

Do You Hear My Voice?

So I was reading my weekly science magazine, because I am a tremendous nerd, and I came across a rather shocking bit of information.  Apparently, approximately 85% of the population hear a voice when they read.  Like, a little voice, in their head, telling them the words.  WHAT?


Really?


Well, yes, apparently so, according to the information.  And chances are you, dear reader, are hearing these words in your head right now.  Weird.  What does my voice sound like in your head?  If I may make a request, I would prefer James Earl Jones or, at the least, Morgan Freeman.  But, let's face it, it's probably Andy Dick.  On helium.  Damn.


Anyway, I was shocked by this tidbit of information because I am apparently one of the minority of people who hear nothing when reading.  I just don't get it.  I look at a word, I know what the word is, I don't have a voice telling me what it is.  I guess I cut out the middleman?  But it raises so many questions in my mind, silent though they may be, such as...


Do people really have a running commentary while they read?  


Does punctuation, change what... you hear?!?  


Do typographical changes make it sound LOUDER or saucy or emphatic or dumb?  


If you read something en français does it sound différents?  


¿Qué hay en español?  


Do you hear different voices for each character in a book or the same for all?  


If it is a female versus male character do they have different voices?


Do ya'll hear accents or jus' the same ol' fer everyone?

Do people really have a running commentary while they read?  

Weird.  You all (well, 85% of you) are weird.  Just weird.  But I would like to sound like Marvin Gaye, if that's alright.  Weirdo.