ABSTRACT
This chapter is focussed on the reading aloud that is done when completely alone, starting with illustrations from the RABiT questionnaire and then analysing the range of alone practices across the entire RABiT data. It explores both what we could see as cognitive purposes (to focus or concentrate; to memorise or learn; to understand, unpick or interpret) as well as more affective purposes (for spirituality or enjoyment; related to identity; for comfort or company). It theorises the role of the voice and ears in these processes, examining why and how people may feel more able to understand dense text, to memorise or learn text, through reading and listening, and why using and hearing one’s voice (including reading to animals) may be able to bring solace.
