When Lip Reading Is Easy
November 13, 2005 – 3:19 pmWhy is it so easy to tell when someone says the f-word, even if you can’t hear them say it? I have noticed this phenomenon most prevalently on sports telecasts. The camera shows someone reacting to a call a referee makes (usually a head coach), and seemingly inevitably, you get a “mother f’er” or “f’ you”. Plain as day.
Lip reading is hard. Have you ever tried to watch the television when it’s muted? That’s tough. You can make out a word here or there, or maybe you can use some context clues to fill in the blanks. You usually don’t get a whole lot out of it. But, if someone drops an f-bomb, it’s as if you heard it yourself. No debate.
I have never found myself watching a sporting event on television and having to lean over to someone and ask, “Did that guy just drop an f-bomb? Or did he say ‘forget you’?” “Was that really the f-word? Or did he ask if that guy was freakin’ kidding him?” No need. I know what he said. And so does most, if not all, of the television audience. Good times.
One Response to “When Lip Reading Is Easy”
Part of lip reading is context. There may be many words that fit the movement of the lips, but given the context there may only be one or two.
As for lip reading being hard, I’d say that it probably just takes practice. My dad has substantial hearing loss (and I will to when I’m his age). He has augmented his hearing with lip reading. In fact, occasionally he’ll run across someone who has a habit of covering their mouth when they talk (something I find rather annoying). My dad’s response is generally something along the lines of “Dammit! I can’t understand what you’re saying with your hand in front of your mouth!” My guess is that I’ll be saying the same thing in another 20-30 years.
By Adam on Nov 14, 2005 at 3:50 am