How to pronounce symbols encountered in reading

Antimoon and others are very big on extensive reading to improve one's language. But how do you learn symbols? For example, 2x5=10, 40%, name@hotmail.com, 17>16, etc.?

They are not even consistent: 4x4 in math is "four times four," but for a four-wheel drive is "four by four." And even numbers aren't consistent, eg., 2 can be pronounced "two," or "second," or "squared," or "half," depending on position.

Any advise on how anyone does this, regardless of target language, would be appreciated.

I guess you just have to learn each symbol and each context by itself. Many times, symbols are silent. Examples:

fork()ed
malloc()ed
exec()ed-to

where () is not pronounced.

In other cases, it's not clear how to pronounce text with symbols:

void (*signal(int, void (*)(int)))(int);

Guest, your examples are everything but clear.

But yes, you have to learn the symbols by context or by listening. I'm sure it happens the same way in your own language.


<<4x4 in math is "four times four," but for a four-wheel drive is "four by four.">>

For a four-wheel you can actually also say "four times four", but think "four by four" sounds better as you're driving 4 wheels and not 16 =P