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I consider it reading. It is a different way of experiencing the book. It’s how many of us got started reading: having our parents read to us. ‘Being read to’ requires skill sets as well, for example, adapting to different narration styles and not allowing yourself to zone out. There are some narrators who ‘get in the way’ but that’s an extremely subjective assessment. I find the more I listen, the more I appreciate the skill of anyone who does it professionally, and some are very skilled indeed.
Reading electronically is different than reading print. It also requires skill sets apart from what is required for print.
Braille is another form of reading that takes in text via touch. Needless to say that also requires specific skill sets.
TTS is yet another way, I would argue somewhat distinct from experiencing audiobooks and requiring some proficiency to be able to enjoy it. Some people find that superior to audiobooks because it is a ‘flat’ reading that allows more freedom for personal interpretation. I am not necessarily one of those people, but it is something I use when my eyes are tired or my hands are not free.
And then there’s Kindle’s ‘immersion reading’: text with synchronized audio. Or Whispersync for Voice, where you switch between text and voice.
And there’s RSVP (rapid serial visual presentation). And someday maybe we’ll be able to induce the experience of reading directly to the brain, or have a way to generate video from text.
It is all reading in my book, and I’m happy to have so many options available.
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