104 
also acts more intensely. Subject D. takes up a place between 
R. and M. in that for sentences of an even number of syllables 
assimilation gets the start of inhibition when the sentences get longer, 
whereas for sentences of an odd number of syllables inhibition proves 
the stronger. We are unable to account for this strange phenomenon. 
reserve-airwhisper | 
ordinary speech — ‘1! 
By means of the normal average index vocalis 
which index presumably also holds for whispered sentences, we have 
reduced in Table IV the whisper-values for sentences of various 
length to ordinary-speech values. Both sorts of values in Table IV 
constitute the average of the hearing distances, determined for the 
subjects R., M., and D., with respect to the length of the various 
sentences. 
TABEL IV. 
| Syllables. | Whispers. Loud speech. 
3 | 4.67 | 60.71 
peel 3.61 46.93 
5 | 3.61 | 46.93 
6 | Sell 40.43 
d 3.42 44.46 
8 | 3.21 41.73 
Bist | 3.34 Cils de 
10 and more 2.41 | 31.33 
Be it observed by the way that owing to the more conspicuous 
survey of the data in Table IV, our conclusions deduced from 
Table II are shown here to a greater advantage viz, the great 
difference between the hearing distances for sentences of 3 and for 
those of 10 or more syllables (loud speech nearly 30 m.); the com- 
paratively slight difference for sentences of 4 to 9 syllables (loud 
speech + 3.5 m); the greater distance for sentences of an odd 
number of syllables, owing to their most often symmetrical con- 
struction; ete. 
We have already pointed out that symmetrical sentences are heard 
at greater distance than asymmetrical sentences. Table V shows that 
symmetry is highly favourable to our audition. Here also great 
individual differences are observed; for R., M. and D. they are resp. 
OG. Le and 0:24 mt 
