8 PREFACE. 



The wide prevalence of another Helmholtz theory, that of hearing, 

 on which the use of the simple harmonic analysis was based and for which 

 unthinking writers suppose the possibihty of such an analysis to be a 

 proof, makes it necessary to consider what form of analysis is appropriate 

 to represent the process in the ear (Chapter IX). That Helmholtz supposed 

 the simple harmonic analysis to correspond to his theory of hearing is an 

 interesting case of lapsus cogitationis (if the term may be permitted) ; it is 

 easily shown that the simple harmonic analysis can not give the tones 

 corresponding to the resonating fibers. 



Chapter XI gives detailed examples of vowel analysis; it is intended 

 as a guide for the investigator, but it also shows clearly how false are 

 the results obtained by improper methods. 



The schedules at the end are to aid the investigator in preparing his 

 patterns. With the advance in methods it becomes necessary to use more 

 and more ordinates for an analysis. For the higher partials up to the 

 thirty-sixth it is necessary to use seventy-two ordinates. As far as I am 

 aware the schedules for seventy-two ordinates have never before been made. 

 I hope that the great labor of preparing and testing them has been given 

 to a worthy object. The schedules for thirty-six ordinates are also pub- 

 lished for the first time. 



Using the methods and fundamental principles explained in this vol- 

 ume, I have traced and studied a number of records of American speech; 

 the results are nearly ready for publication. A large amount of material 

 on rhythm and verse has also been collected and partly prepared for pub- 

 hcation; the investigations thus return to the problems with which they 

 began. 



E. W. Scripture. 



Carnegie Institution, 



Washington, D. C. 



