The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into the nature of the reading process through an understanding of the general nature of sensory processing mechanisms which reorganize and restructure input signals for central recognition, and an understanding of how the grammar of the language functions in defining the set of possible sentences in the language. Chapter 1 discusses neural coding in perceptual processing systems and explores such topics as short-term memory and developmental and learning factors which affect central human processes. Chapter 2 discusses linguistic theory on the nature of the language system and two models of perceptual processing. Chapter 3 discusses similarities and differences in decoding strategies for oral and written language inputs. (TS)