I'm answering before I read other people's comments.
Reading to me is primarily about sound, not appearance. When I start a book (or I realize that I've lost track of what's going on while reading on the bus and I have to focus again) I hear each word in my head.
When I'm reading messages from my friends (like this LJ, or email or IMs) I continue to read at that speed and for the most part I hear the words in their voice, or at least in their cadence.
After a page or two I devour entire sentences at once. Then they make a picture directly in my head and the words are incidental. Keep in mind that I read fiction at a rate of 120 pages an hour.
I don't think this actually answers your question, though. I'll read other answers and see if I can think of it from a different perspective.
no subject
Reading to me is primarily about sound, not appearance. When I start a book (or I realize that I've lost track of what's going on while reading on the bus and I have to focus again) I hear each word in my head.
When I'm reading messages from my friends (like this LJ, or email or IMs) I continue to read at that speed and for the most part I hear the words in their voice, or at least in their cadence.
After a page or two I devour entire sentences at once. Then they make a picture directly in my head and the words are incidental. Keep in mind that I read fiction at a rate of 120 pages an hour.
I don't think this actually answers your question, though. I'll read other answers and see if I can think of it from a different perspective.