CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML+RDFa 1.0//EN" "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/DTD/xhtml-rdfa-1.dtd"> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" xmlns:fb="https://ogp.me/ns/fb#" xmlns:og="https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head profile="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/vocab"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/sil-favicon_0.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <meta name="description" content="In 'Beli, ([blm], Central Sudanic, Nilo-Saharan), the people virtually had to memorize any text before being able to read it with the correct tone and understanding. 鈥楤eli is a tone language where a change of pitch can mean a change in the meaning of a word. In this language, if there is no information in the writing system about the tone, about 12% of words could be confused" /> <meta name="generator" content="Drupal 7 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.sil.org/linguistics/reading-memory" /> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.sil.org/node/63117" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="SIL Global" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.sil.org/linguistics/reading-memory" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Reading from memory?" /> <meta property="og:description" content="In 'Beli, ([blm], Central Sudanic, Nilo-Saharan), the people virtually had to memorize any text before being able to read it with the correct tone and understanding. 鈥楤eli is a tone language where a change of pitch can mean a change in the meaning of a word. In this language, if there is no information in the writing system about the tone, about 12% of words could be confused with another word. Since there was no indication of the tone in the writing system they were using, the potential for confusion was great." /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2013-02-21T16:59:15-06:00" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.sil.org/linguistics/reading-memory" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Reading from memory?" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="In 'Beli, ([blm], Central Sudanic, Nilo-Saharan), the people virtually had to memorize any text before being able to read it with the correct tone and understanding. 鈥楤eli is a tone language where a" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2013-02-21T09:37:47-06:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2013-02-21T16:59:15-06:00" /> <title>Reading from memory? | SIL Global</title> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_lQaZfjVpwP_oGNqdtWCSpJT1EMqXdMiU84ekLLxQnc4.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_EM9PzeHZt2AxxQ3R05nXINg9akBOG66G3hxOgWtlp2E.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_y-6OGvqwgwpR259lzJYNwvxpJm3Q1qOD_DWt90goRpM.css" media="all" /> <style>.panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-region { padding: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-region-inside { padding-right: 0.5em; padding-left: 0.5em; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-region-inside-first { padding-left: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-region-inside-last { padding-right: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-column { padding: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-column-inside { padding-right: 0.5em; padding-left: 0.5em; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-column-inside-first { padding-left: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-column-inside-last { padding-right: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-row { padding: 0 0 0.5em 0; margin: 0; } .panels-flexible-new .panels-flexible-row-last { padding-bottom: 0; } .panels-flexible-column-new-main { float: left; width: 99.0000%; } .panels-flexible-new-inside { padding-right: 0px; } .panels-flexible-new { width: auto; } .panels-flexible-region-new-column_1 { float: left; width: 24.7329%; } .panels-flexible-region-new-column_2 { float: left; width: 24.7131%; } .panels-flexible-region-new-column_3 { float: left; width: 24.7712%; } .panels-flexible-region-new-column_4 { float: left; width: 24.7829%; } .panels-flexible-row-new-main-row-inside { padding-right: 0px; } .panels-flexible-region-new-trust_and_social_icons { float: left; width: 99.0000%; } .panels-flexible-row-new-2-inside { padding-right: 0px; } .not-front .main-container{padding-top:140px !important;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a{color:#333333;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .language-switcher li > a{color:#333333 !important;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate{color:#333333 !important;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate:hover{color:#ffffff !important;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate.active{color:#ffffff !important;}.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate.active:hover{color:#333333 !important;}@media (min-width :992px){.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li.dropdown > a:hover{background-color:#333333 !important;color:#ffffff !important;}}@media (max-width :992px){.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate{color:#ffffff !important;}}@media (max-width :992px){.not-front .navbar-wrapper .navbar-nav > li > a.donate:hover{color:#00a7e1 !important;}} .parallax-bottom-active #highlighted-bottom{background-image:url(https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/theme/parallax/canpain_image.jpeg) !important} </style>  <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="//maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/font-awesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css" media="all" /> <style>#highlighted-middle{position:relative !important;} </style> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_EhKKHcU3eXWscgImOiOmkZTkUJSr3SrY88xkZcWjc0o.css" media="all" /> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/css/css_XfmdLWG0kCq2PV9SCEGBSKtMD9NrBuhDSyStJknjr-0.css" media="all" />   <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_V5lP_0SZNBHRj2DzOtsb79Wy57mt73KasmtP5wbb8vc.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_DdXIKt68jGany_F78Mxy_6Rv5aLF94bA6_npMbGnkV4.js"></script> <script>document.createElement( "picture" );</script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_GOikDsJOX04Aww72M-XK1hkq4qiL_1XgGsRdkL0XlDo.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_WwwX68M9x5gJGdauMeCoSQxOzb1Ebju-30k5FFWQeH0.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_dUZrV47uHCW1KAkDxDA5V_w3L1YOQ88P2djNbTaNpy8.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_fqmWu4QRZZhJm6yfVviOLhWB28O0w0yZaudDdfklRVU.js"></script> <script>jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $(window).load(function() { $("#highlighted-bottom-transparent-bg").css("backgroundColor", "rgba(0,0,0,0.5)"); }); });</script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_94IxgeUwmEgixrLYNaYkkDirO2HX9f7X4hHe5HF31lg.js"></script> <script>jQuery.extend(Drupal.settings, {"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","setHasJsCookie":0,"ajaxPageState":{"theme":"sil_bootstrap","theme_token":"QrydxYV331XxLxTEIYw6-NHJX6HTYNjItaBbYAyXfbw","js":{"sites\/all\/modules\/picture\/picturefill\/picturefill.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/picture\/picture.min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/addthis\/addthis.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/bootstrap\/js\/bootstrap.js":1,"https:\/\/www.sil.org\/sites\/default\/files\/google_tag\/silorg_analytics\/google_tag.script.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/jquery\/2.2\/jquery.min.js":1,"0":1,"misc\/jquery-extend-3.4.0.js":1,"misc\/jquery-html-prefilter-3.5.0-backport.js":1,"misc\/jquery.once.js":1,"misc\/drupal.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/js\/jquery_browser.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/jquery_update\/replace\/ui\/external\/jquery.cookie.js":1,"misc\/form-single-submit.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/collapsiblock\/collapsiblock.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/entityreference\/js\/entityreference.js":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/caption_filter\/js\/caption-filter.js":1,"sites\/all\/libraries\/colorbox\/jquery.colorbox-min.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/js\/colorbox.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/styles\/default\/colorbox_style.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/js\/colorbox_load.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/js\/colorbox_inline.js":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/extlink\/js\/extlink.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/js\/jquery.hoverIntent.js":1,"1":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/js\/sil_bootstrap.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/js\/fading-text-expand.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/affix.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/alert.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/carousel.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/collapse.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/modal.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/tab.js":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/bootstrap\/js\/transition.js":1},"css":{"modules\/system\/system.base.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/collapsiblock\/collapsiblock.css":1,"modules\/field\/theme\/field.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/logintoboggan\/logintoboggan.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/luxe\/css\/luxe.css":1,"modules\/node\/node.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/picture\/picture_wysiwyg.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/video_filter\/video_filter.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/youtube\/css\/youtube.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/extlink\/css\/extlink.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/views\/css\/views.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/wysiwyg_align.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/caption_filter\/caption-filter.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/ckeditor\/css\/ckeditor.css":1,"sites\/all\/modules\/colorbox\/styles\/default\/colorbox_style.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/ctools\/css\/ctools.css":1,"public:\/\/css\/menu_icons.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/panels\/css\/panels.css":1,"profiles\/openenterprise\/modules\/panels\/plugins\/layouts\/flexible\/flexible.css":1,"0":1,"1":1,"2":1,"public:\/\/ctools\/css\/d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e.css":1,"\/\/maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com\/font-awesome\/4.7.0\/css\/font-awesome.min.css":1,"3":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil_bootstrap\/less\/sil_bootstrap.less":1,"sites\/all\/themes\/sil\/css\/context\/sub.css":1}},"collapsiblock":{"blocks":{"block-facetapi-sxczqu17k3p1teuubjnzgdpqcnjnvkot":"3","block-facetapi-bra7ew9xadjw3m0riibw59j9pzxofudd":"3","block-facetapi-qx8ea7ys3pbsu8hf9fvoduh8ehucxktr":"3","block-facetapi-lidxk4vqk7iu2dd1c112upiwmjo73xeg":"3","block-facetapi-is99jk8huqzsmdvfga0xv0xpj4t31qhf":"3","block-facetapi-pbobkettfcf1arhrcusbffs1m0zxlcd3":"3","block-facetapi-u1jlxckimb9sz4ld4ejcjf2sl9dxdwbk":"3","block-facetapi-5j1iqqy6ksitjoqym3gtackhqi22eauc":"3","block-facetapi-9yjxt7gg9p4o2yr2kjgc5b20gcckkfd0":"1","block-facetapi-uuiiuegqk08vxmdbrw8l8fi6byb9vmuy":"3","block-facetapi-1gbh2egrtauxgcnsvxkpau1l5ms3chng":"3","block-facetapi-280mtggtdtk5saa7obt8j7yvpfz9cvpu":"3","block-views--exp-resources-search-page-1":"1","block-current-search-standard":"1","block-facetapi-kyxhllbmnzmolrmqhmirlekgb9raaw6o":"1","block-facetapi-dxt6otypw8r6dhr924d0gj3mr934faqb":"1","block-blockgroup-sidebar-second-facets":"1","block-menu-block-17":"1","block-block-30":"1","block-views-ff9987dc08ee4a50295571c81f6f3da6":"1","block-menu-block-6":"1","block-menu-block-20":"1","block-menu-block-22":"1","block-block-28":"1","block-views-language-file-displays-block-3":"1","block-views-language-file-displays-block-4":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-facets":"1","block-menu-block-9":"1","block-menu-block-21":"1","block-block-16":"1","block-block-14":"1","block-block-13":"1","block-block-31":"1","block-menu-block-15":"1","block-menu-block-10":"1","block-menu-block-11":"1","block-menu-block-13":"1","block-menu-block-12":"1","block-menu-block-8":"1","block-menu-block-14":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-all-form":"1","block-bean-lca-teaser":"1","block-block-18":"1","block-views-jot-block-1":"1","block-menu-block-7":"1","block-views-jot-block-2":"1","block-ds-extras-sidebar":"1","block-block-32":"1","block-bean-front-page-block-1":"1","block-bean-front-page-block-2":"1","block-views-jot-block-3":"1","block-views-annual-reports-block-1":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-browse-secondary":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-browse-primary":"1","block-bean-language-and-culture":"1","block-bean-training-primary":"1","block-block-15":"1","block-block-5":"1","block-bean-software---sil-freeware":"1","block-block-33":"1","block-bean-software---program-recommendatio":"1","block-bean-scriptsource-block":"1","block-bean-scripts---browse-sil-script-reso":"1","block-bean-scripts---non-roman-script-initi":"2","block-block-35":"1","block-blockgroup-resources-bottom-block":"1","block-menu-block-4":"4","block-menu-block-3":"1","block-menu-block-24":"1","block-menu-block-2":"1","block-block-29":"1","block-block-34":"1","block-bean-software-product-block-1":"1","block-bean-software-product-block-2":"1","block-bean-software-product-block-3":"1","block-bean-software-product-block-4":"1","block-block-36":"1","block-bean-script-product-1":"1","block-bean-script-product-3":"1","block-bean-script-product-2":"1","block-bean-script-product-4-0":"1","block-bean-script-product-4":"1","block-bean-software-product-5":"1","block-facetapi-wjbh20fd82myvwxac1r4guvydxj40vll":"1","block-bean-font-block-1":"1","block-bean-font-block-2":"1","block-bean-font-block-3":"1","block-bean-font-block-4":"1","block-block-10":"1","block-block-37":"4","block-bean-training---highlights":"1","block-bean-lang-and-culture-resources":"1","block-menu-block-25":"1","block-menu-block-26":"1","block-block-6":"1","block-block-7":"1","block-block-8":"1","block-block-38":"1","block-block-12":"1","block-menu-menu-william-cameron-townsend":"1","block-menu-block-27":"1","block-block-39":"1","block-block-40":"1","block-block-11":"1","block-views-3a4d02d24e8d6ffc97701c027d522620":"1","block-views-3e6ac3c137e0004763fc426b70b1c7c6":"2","block-views-6951f455d6514a6a2e72d9b0dd02ac1e":"2","block-current-search-software-fonts-current-search":"1","block-facetapi-71mscsnhjsil81pavu2tn4mqe0wiydaf":"1","block-facetapi-jalsiyv6p64ukwvzpqlzb4pwahbrlsd1":"1","block-views-software-fonts-sidebar-block-1":"1","block-views-software-fonts-sidebar-block-3":"1","block-views-software-fonts-sidebar-block-2":"1","block-bean-software-and-fonts-banner":"1","block-ds-extras-related-software-fonts-block":"1","block-block-41":"1","block-sil-expertise-create-links":"1","block-bean-front-page-block-3":"1","block-facetapi-0":"1","block-facetapi-h31pi1pdxwgy3jaehhq6ntzgyvcbsw7h":"1","block-block-42":"1","block-block-46":"1","block-bean-sil-logo-kit-2014":"1","block-block-91":"1","block-facetapi-1dmq15yfejjdfj9denvsuibvgitrf3gq":"1","block-facetapi-dxiuj9brkgald0v4jzwyga1n8kn4s1eo":"1","block-menu-menu-social":"1","block-system-user-menu":"1","block-search-form":"1","block-menu-menu-legal-notices":"1","block-views-enterprise-news-recent-news":"1","block-sil-expertise-amazon-recommends":"1","block-block-121":"1","block-block-101":"1","block-block-106":"1","block-block-111":"1","block-block-126":"1","block-block-131":"1","block-block-141":"1","block-block-136":"1","block-block-146":"1","block-block-151":"1","block-block-161":"1","block-block-116":"1","block-block-156":"1","block-block-166":"1","block-menu-block-16":"1","block-facetapi-attrraeqpdaka4vfnmehalrgw0aa621r":"1","block-block-96":"1","block-block-66":"1","block-block-56":"1","block-block-76":"1","block-block-86":"1","block-block-71":"1","block-block-176":"1","block-block-181":"1","block-webform-client-block-145376":"1","block-views-oe-rotating-banner-block":"1","block-views-oe-rotating-banner-block-1":"1","block-menu-block-36":"1","block-menu-block-35":"1","block-menu-block-28":"1","block-menu-block-29":"1","block-menu-block-30":"1","block-menu-block-31":"1","block-menu-block-32":"1","block-menu-block-33":"1","block-menu-block-34":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-browse-pub-landings":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-browse-pub-home":"1","block-block-61":"1","block-block-51":"1","block-block-201":"1","block-block-186":"1","block-sil-search-sil-search-corresponding-section":"1","block-views-766748665522ec876fc6bec2a1464845":"1","block-views-9e625007999567ef71abf02717756ff6":"1","block-block-206":"1","block-block-211":"1","block-views-covid19-resources-block-sm":"1","block-views-covid19-resources-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-covid19-resources-block-xs":"1","block-block-216":"1","block-views-e9294bace58d24eb786a4b09a4d94fd1":"1","block-views-covid19-fund-impact-block-sm":"1","block-views-covid19-fund-impact-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-covid19-fund-impact-block-xs":"1","block-block-221":"1","block-block-231":"1","block-menu-menu-trust":"1","block-facetapi-appir9yyhglhxtsdoyrn1rxfjdu8t1xg":"3","block-facetapi-syjnvw1l7fkooe2hohki4dkdi07wmo4d":"1","block-block-236":"1","block-block-251":"1","block-views-board-of-directors-block-xs":"1","block-views-board-of-directors-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-board-of-directors-block-sm":"1","block-views-83a2c699ba8afdf28410cdb07fb976fe":"1","block-views-eef78efd51713dffc7ee0d0d1d563c6b":"1","block-views-07997a2abec496bd5c345de538b6eecb":"1","block-views-our-work-resources-block-sm":"1","block-views-our-work-resources-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-our-work-resources-block-xs":"1","block-views-cca898ab845004dd2c4b39249f59eba6":"1","block-views-f30cdcc7e48cd8d62beb3452ab3b4897":"1","block-views-f079dc227e932cbfe8c69703b8ac926f":"1","block-blockgroup-legal-footer":"1","block-menu-block-44":"1","block-menu-block-5":"1","block-block-296":"1","block-block-291":"1","block-block-316":"1","block-views-fe0ad2c61bc1bfb6e7b8e29b0f28d5d0":"1","block-views-annual-reports-block-year":"1","block-block-286":"1","block-views-enterprise-news-block-year":"1","block-views-e2b4e0d696e92c834bc993fa2934cf95":"1","block-views-enterprise-news-block-1":"1","block-menu-block-41":"1","block-views-f77c684fada6abd57c177541f9bbd169":"1","block-views-jclsr-recent-block-recent-jclsr":"1","block-views-publications-jclsr-block":"1","block-views-jclsr-block":"1","block-views-epubs-block-sm":"1","block-views-epubs-block-xs":"1","block-views-epubs-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-projects-for-funding-block-sm":"1","block-views-12c2e95fcae35a90095bb09eccaea82d":"1","block-views-projects-for-funding-block-xs":"1","block-block-326":"1","block-block-261":"1","block-block-19":"1","block-block-271":"1","block-block-331":"1","block-views-scripture-engagement-block-sm":"1","block-views-0c7816c1bc1df1fb295b97dbd14c8c85":"1","block-views-scripture-engagement-block-xs":"1","block-block-196":"1","block-views-afe4393348b4681305d0db54ff30958e":"1","block-views-461099af594ee1f0a580d3d4bc34de73":"1","block-views-engagement-block-sm":"1","block-views-engagement-block-xl-md":"1","block-views-engagement-block-xs":"1","block-views-engagement-recent-sm-xs":"1","block-views-engagement-recent-xl-md":"1","block-block-281":"1","block-block-306":"1"},"default_state":1,"slide_type":1,"slide_speed":200,"block_title":":header:first","block":"div.block","block_content":"div.content"},"colorbox":{"opacity":"0.85","current":"{current} of {total}","previous":"\u00ab Prev","next":"Next \u00bb","close":"Close","maxWidth":"98%","maxHeight":"98%","fixed":true,"mobiledetect":true,"mobiledevicewidth":"480px","file_public_path":"\/sites\/default\/files","specificPagesDefaultValue":"admin*\nimagebrowser*\nimg_assist*\nimce*\nnode\/add\/*\nnode\/*\/edit\nprint\/*\nprintpdf\/*\nsystem\/ajax\nsystem\/ajax\/*"},"video_filter":{"url":{"ckeditor":"\/video_filter\/dashboard\/ckeditor"},"instructions_url":"\/video_filter\/instructions","modulepath":"sites\/all\/modules\/video_filter"},"better_exposed_filters":{"views":{"hero_image_page_title":{"displays":{"block":{"filters":[]}}},"expertise_articles":{"displays":{"block":{"filters":[]}}},"expertise_publications":{"displays":{"block":{"filters":[]}}}}},"picture":{"required":true,"mappings":[["small","small"],["large","large"],["medium","medium"],["Not Set","not_set"]],"label":"Image size (required) (required)","ckeditorDefaultMapping":"not_set","editorCSS":" [data-picture-mapping=\u0022small\u0022] { width: 150px; height: 75px;}\n [data-picture-mapping=\u0022large\u0022] { width: 900px; height: 450px;}\n [data-picture-mapping=\u0022medium\u0022] { width: 400px; height: 200px;}"},"urlIsAjaxTrusted":{"\/search\/node":true},"extlink":{"extTarget":"_blank","extClass":0,"extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":0,"extIconPlacement":"append","extSubdomains":0,"extExclude":"^(http:\\\/\\\/|https:\\\/\\\/)(www\\.)?sil\\.org(\\\/)?","extInclude":"","extCssExclude":"","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":0,"extAlertText":"This link will take you to an external web site. We are not responsible for their content.","mailtoClass":0,"mailtoLabel":"(link sends e-mail)","extUseFontAwesome":false},"ogContext":{"groupType":"node","gid":"258"},"bootstrap":{"anchorsFix":"0","anchorsSmoothScrolling":"0","formHasError":1,"popoverEnabled":1,"popoverOptions":{"animation":1,"html":0,"placement":"right","selector":"","trigger":"click","triggerAutoclose":1,"title":"","content":"","delay":0,"container":"body"},"tooltipEnabled":1,"tooltipOptions":{"animation":1,"html":0,"placement":"auto left","selector":"","trigger":"hover focus","delay":0,"container":"body"}}});</script>    </head> <body class="html not-front not-logged-in no-sidebars page-node page-node- page-node-63117 node-type-expertise-page og-context og-context-node og-context-node-258 i18n-en parallax-bottom-active" > <div id="skip-link"> <a href="#main-content" class="element-invisible element-focusable">Skip to main content</a> </div> <div class="region region-page-top"> <noscript aria-hidden="true"><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-W4536JL" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> </div> <div class="page-hero "> <div class="navbar-wrapper"> <div class="container"> <header id="navbar" role="banner" class="navbar container navbar-default"> <div class="container"> <div class="navbar-header"> <a class="logo navbar-btn pull-left" href="/" title="Home"> <img src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/sil_logo_glyph.png" alt="Home"/> </a>  <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle btn btn-navbar" data-toggle="collapse" data-target=".navbar-collapse"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-menu-hamburger" aria-hidden="true"></span> </button> </div> <div class="navbar-menu menus navbar-collapse collapse"> <nav role="navigation" class="menu-inner"> <div class="nav-top"> <ul class="menu nav navbar-nav secondary"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/contact" id="usernav-contact">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/user/login" id="usernav-signin">Sign In</a></li> <li class="last leaf search"><a class="nolink" tabindex="0"><i class="fa fa-search" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="title">Search</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="search-box"> <form class="search-form clearfix" action="/search/node" method="post" id="search-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="form-wrapper form-group" id="edit-basic"><div class="input-group"><input placeholder="Search" class="form-control form-text" type="text" id="edit-keys" name="keys" value="" size="40" maxlength="255" /><span class="input-group-btn"><button type="submit" class="btn btn-default"><span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-search icon glyphicon-search" aria-hidden="true"></span></button></span></div><button class="element-invisible btn btn-primary form-submit" type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search">Search</button> </div><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-pVqJ2qLm1bMpWRXlNfE9bbB4RoPVumU6qe_Pir1jg7M" /> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_form" /> </div></form> </div> </div> <div class="nav-bottom"> <div class="mega"><ul class="menu nav navbar-nav"><li class="first expanded dropdown"><a href="/language-services" data-target="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-hover="dropdown">Language Services <span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-down hidden-xs hidden-sm"></span></a><span class="btn icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right visible-xs-inline visible-sm-inline"></span><ul class="dropdown-menu"><li><div class="mega-content"><div class="row"><ul class="col-md-3 list-unstyled"><li class="first expanded"><span><strong><a href="/language-development" id="mainnav-languagedev">Language Development</a></strong></span><hr/></li> <li class="first leaf"><a href="/dictionaries-lexicography" id="mainnav-dictionarieslex">Dictionaries & Lexicography</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/language-assessment" id="mainnav-languageassess">Language Assessment</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/language-programs-management" id="mainnav-languageprograms">Language Programs Management</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/language-technology" id="mainnav-languagetech">Language Technology</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/literacy-education" id="mainnav-literacyed">Literacy & Education</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/media-development" id="mainnav-mediadev">Media Development</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/orthography">Orthography</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/translation" id="mainnav-translation">Translation</a></li> </ul><ul class="col-md-3 list-unstyled"><li class="expanded"><span><strong><a href="/langculture" id="mainnav-languagecul">Language & Culture</a></strong></span><hr/></li> <li class="first leaf"><a href="/anthropology" id="mainnav-anthropology">Anthropology</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/arts-ethnomusicology" id="mainnav-artsethno">Arts & Ethnomusicology</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://sites.google.com/sil.org/global-diaspora-services" target="_blank">Diaspora Services</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/language-culture-documentation" id="mainnav-languageculdoc">Language & Culture Documentation</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/language-culture-learning" id="mainnav-languagecullearn">Language & Culture Learning</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/linguistics" id="mainnav-linguistics">Linguistics</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/sign-languages" id="mainnav-signlanguages">Sign Languages</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/sociolinguistics" id="mainnav-sociolinguistics">Sociolinguistics</a></li> </ul><ul class="col-md-3 list-unstyled"><li class="expanded"><span><strong><a href="/resources" id="mainnav-resources">Resources</a></strong></span><hr/></li> <li class="first leaf"><a href="/guide-planning-future-our-language">A Guide for Planning the Future of Our Language</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/resources/english-with-newcomers" class="langdev">English with Newcomers</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/resources/glossaries-linguistic-terms" id="mainnav-lingglossaries" class="glossaries">Glossaries of Linguistic Terms</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/resources/language-culture-archives" id="mainnav-languagearchives" class="langcult">Language & Culture Archives</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/resources/publications" id="mainnav-publications" class="public">SIL International Publications</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="http://software.sil.org/products/" id="mainnav-softwarefonts" class="software" target="_blank">Software & Fonts</a></li> </ul><ul class="col-md-3 list-unstyled"><li class="last expanded"><span><strong><a href="/training" id="mainnav-training">Training</a></strong></span><hr/></li> <li class="first leaf"><a href="/training/about-sil-training" id="mainnav-abouttraining">About Training</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/training/specialties" id="mainnav-trainingforspecialists">For Specialties</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.sil.org/training/hub">Online Training</a></li> <li class="last collapsed"><a href="/training/training-programs-language-development" id="mainnav-trainingprograms">Programs</a></li> </ul></div></div></li></ul></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/blog">Blog</a></li> <li class="expanded dropdown"><a href="/about/discover" data-target="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-hover="dropdown">Our Work <span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-down hidden-xs hidden-sm"></span></a><span class="btn icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right visible-xs-inline visible-sm-inline"></span><ul class="dropdown-menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/about/discover">Discover SIL</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/worldwide">Worldwide</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/related-sites">Related Sites</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/careers" target="_blank">Careers</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="https://www.sil.org/health">Health Initiative</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/idil">IDIL</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/trauma-healing">Trauma Healing</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded dropdown"><a href="/why-languages-matter" data-target="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-hover="dropdown">Why Languages Matter <span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-down hidden-xs hidden-sm"></span></a><span class="btn icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right visible-xs-inline visible-sm-inline"></span><ul class="dropdown-menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/about/why-languages-matter">Language & Flourishing</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/sign-languages">Sign Languages</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/about/endangered-languages">Endangered Languages</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded dropdown"><a href="/about" id="mainnav-about" data-target="#" class="dropdown-toggle" data-hover="dropdown">About SIL <span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-down hidden-xs hidden-sm"></span></a><span class="btn icon glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right visible-xs-inline visible-sm-inline"></span><ul class="dropdown-menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/about/history" id="mainnav-history">Our History</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/leaders">Our Leaders</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/financial-information" id="mainnav-financialinfo">Financial Accountability</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/media" id="mainnav-mediacenter">Media Center</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/about/reports/2023">Annual Report</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/about/news">News</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/give" class="btn btn-default donate">Donate</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </header> </div> </div> </div> <div class="page-bar"> <div class="col-md-12"> </div> </div> <div class="main-container container"> <div class="row"> <section class="col-sm-12 main-content-column"> <div id="page-title"> <h1 class="page-title">Reading from memory?</h1> </div> <a id="main-content"></a> <div class="region region-content"> <section id="block-system-main" class="block block-system clearfix"> <div class="ds-1col node node-expertise-page view-mode-full clearfix"> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>In 'Beli, ([blm], Central Sudanic, Nilo-Saharan), the people virtually had to memorize any text before being able to read it with the correct tone and understanding. 鈥楤eli is a tone language where a change of pitch can mean a change in the meaning of a word.聽聽In this language, if there is no information in the writing system about the tone, about 12% of words could be confused with another word. Since there was no indication of the tone in the writing system they were using, the potential for confusion was great. The language team realized there was a problem and worked together with consultants to find out how their language works and to move towards major changes in their orthography. The community then accepted 4 spelling rules that helped to clarify meaning distinguished by tone.聽 In a follow-up workshop, they successfully learned to use the rules, and have now begun publishing with the revised orthography.聽 Now they no longer have to memorize, and can read texts the first time they see them!</p> <p>Back to <a href="https://www.sil.org/linguistics/stories-field">Stories from the Field</a></p></div></div></div></div> </section> </div> </section> </div> </div> <footer class="footer"> <div class="footer-top"> <div class="container"> <div class="region region-footer"> <section id="block-panels-mini-sil-bootstrap-footer-menu" class="block block-panels-mini clearfix"> <div class="panel-flexible panels-flexible-new clearfix" id="mini-panel-sil_bootstrap_footer_menu"> <div class="panel-flexible-inside panels-flexible-new-inside"> <div class="panels-flexible-row panels-flexible-row-new-main-row panels-flexible-row-first clearfix footer-links"> <div class="inside panels-flexible-row-inside panels-flexible-row-new-main-row-inside panels-flexible-row-inside-first clearfix"> <div class="panels-flexible-region panels-flexible-region-new-column_1 panels-flexible-region-first "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-region-inside panels-flexible-region-new-column_1-inside panels-flexible-region-inside-first"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-block-276 pane-block footer-logo" > <div class="pane-content"> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/sil_logo_white.png" style="width: 100px; height: 54px;" /></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panels-flexible-region panels-flexible-region-new-column_2 "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-region-inside panels-flexible-region-new-column_2-inside"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-37 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/about">About Us</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-38 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/blog">Blog</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-41 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/about/news">News</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panels-flexible-region panels-flexible-region-new-column_3 "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-region-inside panels-flexible-region-new-column_3-inside"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-44 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/give">Ways to Donate</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-39 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/contact">Contact Us</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-42 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/leaders">Our Leaders</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panels-flexible-region panels-flexible-region-new-column_4 panels-flexible-region-last "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-region-inside panels-flexible-region-new-column_4-inside panels-flexible-region-inside-last"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-45 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/about/why-languages-matter">Why Languages Matter</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-43 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/about/discover">Our Work</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> <div class="panel-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-40 pane-menu-block" > <h2 class="pane-title"> <a href="/language-services">Language Services</a> </h2> <div class="pane-content"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panels-flexible-row panels-flexible-row-new-2 panels-flexible-row-last clearfix "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-row-inside panels-flexible-row-new-2-inside panels-flexible-row-inside-last clearfix"> <div class="panels-flexible-region panels-flexible-region-new-trust_and_social_icons panels-flexible-region-first panels-flexible-region-last "> <div class="inside panels-flexible-region-inside panels-flexible-region-new-trust_and_social_icons-inside panels-flexible-region-inside-first panels-flexible-region-inside-last"> <div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-menu-block-46 pane-menu-block footer-social" > <div class="pane-content"> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-46 menu-name-menu-social parent-mlid-0 menu-level-1"> <ul class="menu nav"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-483"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/silglobal" class="menu_icon menu-483" target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-facebook" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-114151"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/sil_global/"><i class="fa fa-instagram" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-114156"><a href="http://linkedin.com/company/silglobal"><i class="fa fa-linkedin" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-484"><a href="https://twitter.com/silglobal"><i class="fa fa-twitter" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-482"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SILglobal" class="menu_icon menu-482"><i class="fa fa-youtube-play" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-bottom"> <div class="container"> <div class="region region-footer-bottom"> <section id="block-block-316" class="block block-block clearfix"> <p>Copyright 漏 2024聽<a href="https://www.sil.org">SIL Global</a>聽|聽<a href="https://www.sil.org/terms-use" title="Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | External Links Disclaimer">Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | External Links Disclaimer</a>聽| <a href="https://sil.org/ai-ethics-statement">AI Ethics聽Statement</a></p> </section> <section id="block-block-271" class="block block-block clearfix"> <p class="text-center"><a href="https://www.guidestar.org/profile/75-1840827" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/candid-seal-gold-2022.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a>聽聽<a href="https://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=60424" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/ecfa-seal-charter.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;" /></a></p> </section> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_7-q4xx5FaXgFWWma9tMCS9Q__822jcg6rhczPisS8LQ.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_MLVgtzZ1ORq9krYqkeOsRay6ou_T-0QZytivuM9tTT8.js"></script> <script src="https://www.sil.org/sites/default/files/js/js_MRdvkC2u4oGsp5wVxBG1pGV5NrCPW3mssHxIn6G9tGE.js"></script> </body> </html>