Here's a breakdown:
* For Meaning: We primarily read for meaning in real-life situations. This involves understanding the information presented, grasping the author's intentions, and drawing inferences. We want to get the gist of what's being communicated and apply it to our own understanding of the world.
* For Form: We read for form to a lesser extent. This includes noticing the structure of the writing, the choice of language, and the literary devices used. While these elements contribute to the overall meaning, we're usually less focused on them in everyday reading compared to analyzing literature in a formal setting.
Examples:
* Reading a news article: We focus on understanding the events reported and their implications, not necessarily on the specific word choice or sentence structure.
* Reading a friend's email: We focus on the content of the message and their emotional tone, not on the grammatical accuracy.
* Reading instructions: We focus on understanding the steps and completing the task, not on the literary quality of the instructions.
In contrast:
* Reading a novel: We might pay more attention to the author's use of imagery, symbolism, and character development.
* Analyzing a poem: We might focus on the rhyme scheme, meter, and figurative language.
Therefore, in real-life situations, we read primarily for meaning, while paying less attention to the form of the prose.